Some Nuer Notions of Nakedness, Nudity, and Sexuality

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Periodical article

Title:	Some Nuer Notions of Nakedness, Nudity, and Sexuality
Author:	Beidelman, Thomas O.
Year:	1968
Periodical:	Africa: Journal of the International African Institute
Volume:	38
Issue:	2
Period:	April
Pages:	113-132
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Sudan
Subjects:	Nuer Peoples of Africa (Ethnic Groups)
External links:	https://www.jstor.org/stable/1157242 https://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&res_dat=xri:pao:&rft_dat=xri:pao:article:4011-1968-038-00-000010
Abstract:	Tries to show how Nuer, though a people not much disposed towards clothing, have certain important notions about undress and that these relate to rather complex ideas which may be usefully distinguished as nakedness and nudity. The customs considered relate to these occasions when Nuer are concerned about the passage of persons from one social category or state another. Prohibitions against nakedness maintain certain separations and prevent persons passing from one social category to another. Prescriptions for nudity dissolute such categorization so that new ordering may be achieved. The considerations of the nature of such symbolic manipulations of the attributes of social roles and values gives an insight about the most essential values and ideas in Nuer philosophy. The most striking and revealing aspect of this is the medial and ambiguous association by Nuer with certain ambiguities and conflicts within their social system itself. Bibl., notes, French summary.