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Feminist Theory, Leadership, and the Spirits of States in East Asia

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Abstract

Feminist theory (not merely adding women to archaeological interpretations) is still needed in archaeology to eliminate earlier biases that are expressed in many ways. This paper uses the example of shamanism in early East Asia and the formation of states as a case study to demonstrate the advantage of a shift in focus from a theoretical stance that implies male leaders to one that is open to the possibility of female leaders.

Résumé

La théorie féministe – qui ne se contente pas d’ajouter les femmes aux interprétations archéologiques – est toujours nécessaire en archéologie pour éliminer les vieux préjugés qui s’expriment de façons très diverses. Cet article utilise l’exemple du chamanisme dans l’Asie de l’Est ancienne ainsi que la formation des États comme étude de cas pour démontrer l’avantage qu’il y a à réorienter la position théorique qui présuppose des dirigeants hommes vers une autre se montrant ouverte aux dirigeantes femmes.

Resumen

La teoría feminista (no limitada a la inclusión de las mujeres en las interpretaciones arqueológicas) sigue siendo necesaria en la arqueología para eliminar anteriores prejuicios, que se reflejan de muchas maneras. Este trabajo se sirve del ejemplo del chamanismo en la antigua Asia Oriental y de la formación de los estados a modo de estudio de caso para demostrar la ventaja que aportaría un cambio de enfoque, es decir, pasar de una postura teórica que implique a los líderes masculinos a otra que esté abierta a la posibilidad de líderes femeninas.

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Acknowledgments

Parts of this paper are rewritten from the final chapter of Shamanism and the Origin of the State, Spirit, Power and Gender in East Asia. Thanks to Left Coast Press for permission.

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Correspondence to Sarah Milledge Nelson.

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Nelson, S.M. Feminist Theory, Leadership, and the Spirits of States in East Asia. Arch 7, 34–55 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11759-011-9165-9

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