The Legacy of Mesoamerica History and Culture of a Native American Civilization, 2nd Edition

CHAPTER 12 WOMEN AND GENDER IN MESOAMERICA 441

tivism in the face of domination and oppression. These themes challenge stereo-

types of Mesoamerican women as passive and self-sacrificing.

THE PREHISPANIC MESOAMERICAN

GENDER SYSTEM

What kind of gender system prevailed in Mesoamerica before the arrival of the

Spaniards? In the past decade, archaeologists and ethnohistorians working in the

region have made strides in interpreting codices and archaeological remains from

feminist perspectives. Their findings indicate that gender systems varied widely across

space, time, and ethnic group (Kellogg 2005).

The Mayan Gender System

In Classic and Postclassic Mayan imagery, noble women were portrayed as mothers

or queen consorts, depicted in a lower position than men (Figure 12.1). Rulers of im-

portant cities married off their daughters or sisters to create political alliances with

lesser cities. In such contexts, women were regarded highly. Mayan rulers derived

Figure 12.1The Oval Palace

Table and Pascal's Accession"

from A FOREST OF KINGS by

LINDA SCHELE and DAVID

FREIDEL. COPYRIGHT (C)

1990 BY LINDA SCHELLE AND

DAVID FREIDEL. Reprinted by

permission of David

HarperCollins Publishers.

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