Towards a Complex Model of Parenthood: Two African Tales.
- Authors
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1988
- Source
- HAL-INRIA
- Keywords
- Language
- English
- License
- Unknown
- External links
Abstract
The analysis of two African folktales suggests a novel cross-cultural model of parenthood. It is argued that the representation of jural mother- and fatherhood are universally constrained by the limiting conditions of their relationship. These conditions are defined by alternative hierarchical schemes in which fatherhood in one case, and motherhood in the other, are defined recursively: the fulfillment of fatherhood relies upon an identification with prior fatherhood, that of motherhood upon an opposition to prior motherhood.
