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Patrescence in Southern Thailand: Cosmological and social dimensions of fatherhood among the Malay-Muslims

Merli, C.

Patrescence in Southern Thailand: Cosmological and social dimensions of fatherhood among the Malay-Muslims Thumbnail


Authors

C. Merli



Abstract

This paper examines fatherhood among the Malay Muslims of Southern Thailand (representing a minority at the national level, but constituting the majority population in the region). Traditional practices related to birth and the postpartum period are upheld as a marker of ethnic and religious identity by such groups. Building on the concept of patrescence as ‘becoming a father’, proposed by Raphael (1975:70) the data presented show how the process of assuming fatherhood develops during pregnancy and continues after birth through a series of ritual practices in which a man contributes to female postpartum practices. The medicalisation of birth in synergy with recent literalist interpretations of Islam has impacted on these practices, making it difficult to comply with the ritual burial of the afterbirth, which constitutes the cosmological and physical anchoring of individual and ethnic identity to the soil.

Citation

Merli, C. (2011). Patrescence in Southern Thailand: Cosmological and social dimensions of fatherhood among the Malay-Muslims. Culture, Health & Sexuality, 13(S2), S235-S248. https://doi.org/10.1080/13691058.2011.558592

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Mar 14, 2011
Deposit Date Sep 29, 2010
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Culture, Health & Sexuality
Print ISSN 1369-1058
Electronic ISSN 1464-5351
Publisher Taylor and Francis Group
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 13
Issue S2
Pages S235-S248
DOI https://doi.org/10.1080/13691058.2011.558592
Keywords Patrescence, Thailand, Malay-Muslims, Traditional birth customs, Identity.

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