A Social and Ecologic Analysis of Systematic Female Infanticide Among the Netsilik Eskimo¹

Milton M. R. Freeman,

Milton M. R. Freeman

Memorial University of Newfoundland

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Milton M. R. Freeman,

Milton M. R. Freeman

Memorial University of Newfoundland

Search for more papers by this author

First published: October 1971

https://doi.org/10.1525/aa.1971.73.5.02a00020

Citations: 21

Preliminary versions of this paper have been presented to the International Congress of Americanists, meeting in Stuttgart, August, 1968, and to the Seminar in Ecological Anthropology, Columbia University, March, 1969. I am indebted to various colleagues for helpful discussions, and especially to Drs. David Damas and Robert Paine.

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Abstract

Systematic female infanticide among the Pelly Bay Eskimos is subjected to functional analysis wherein the adaptive rather than purposive nature of the behavior is stressed. The trait is seen to be ecologically adaptive insofar as it increases population, and in turn ecosystem, stability. It is argued that the explanation for the uniquely systematic infanticide practiced by this group is to be sought within the social dynamic of the individual household, and is not satisfactorily explained by recourse to environmental-demographic explanations.

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Volume73, Issue5

October 1971

Pages 1011-1018

A Social and Ecologic Analysis of Systematic Female Infanticide Among the Netsilik Eskimo¹

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A Social and Ecologic Analysis of Systematic Female Infanticide Among the Netsilik Eskimo1

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A Social and Ecologic Analysis of Systematic Female Infanticide Among the Netsilik Eskimo¹