Ritual Homosexuality Among The Sambia Of New Guinea

Deviant Behavior: Ritual Homosexuality among the Sambia of New Guinea
? The Sambia are a former war-like tribe.

? They believe that every man is a warrior at heart.

? They separate boys from their village at 7-10 years of age.

? These boys lead a ritual homosexual life for the next 10 years.

? The boys always act as the fellator: the insertee.

? The men and older boys act as the fellated: the insertor.

? This is the only way that boys can acquire the semen that is needed for puberty and growth.

? Once the boys are older, they are fellated by younger boys. They “share the wealth”.

? Once married, they lead a bisexual life.

? Once they become fathers, all homosexual behavior stops, until the next batch of boys are initiated.

? Deviant Sambian acts are: fellating boys, leading a homosexual life outside of the ritual, and having any non-homosexual sex during the rites of passage.

? The Sambian style of homosexuality is vastly different than the American version, i.e., there is no physical/emotional/sexual attraction between the men and the boys- it is simply a practice that ensures the strength of the men.

Sociology