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Women never participate in a !Kung hunt. Furthermore, the !Kung believe that femaleness weakens the hunter’s prowess and endangers his chance of success, and they practice certain avoidances for keeping femaleness apart from hunting. They believe that women must not touch bows and arrows, for instance. When they are menstruating, women are believed to exert an especially weakening influence on hunting. [...] Little boys play with toy bows and arrows from an early age. A woman avoids touching real weapons but may handle toys. Di!ai made a bow and arrow for her son.

  • Source: Marshall, Lorna. The !Kung of Nyae Nyae. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1976.
  • Culture: San
  • Location: Africa