Batek Ethics

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The Batek society is a part of the Orang Ashi occupying the areas in or close to the tropical forests of Peninsular Malaysia and account for a minute portion of the Malaysian population. (Wawrinec, 2010, pp. 96-97) The Batek people were studied by Karen and Kirk Endicott, who chronicled their observations during their time spent with them in The Headman was a Woman. This essay will discuss the ethics of the Batek people, in particular, their practice of cooperative autonomy and how this is expressed in childrearing practices. It will also discuss the leadership position of the headman and the marriage of the young couple featured in Endicotts’ book The Headman was a Woman.
The key values behind Batek ethics are understood by the Endicotts’ …show more content…

Non-competitiveness is most obviously manifested in the directly contrary cooperative behaviors of the Batek. As the Endicotts’ noted “[c]hildren’s play was strikingly noncompetitive. Games did not have actual rules; children simply created and then repeated activity patterns as they went along. Play was not structured to produce teams of winners and losers” (Endicott & Endicott, 2014, p. 5). Sharing is a key element of cooperative autonomy. Skills, food and material goods, defending against threats and raising children are all shared which not only served an economic purpose but also according to Gray, enabled survival. (Gray, Play as a Foundation for Hunter-Gatherer Social Existence, 2009, p. 489). Sharing in hunter-gatherer groups like the Batek are referred to as ‘demand sharing’ and is considered a fundamental element of social life that should not be violated. (Gray, Play as a Foundation for Hunter-Gatherer Social Existence, 2009, p. 489). Sharing is the clearest expression of cooperation among the Batek people. Finally, non-violence is never acceptable but rather an action engaged in by others who do not belong to their people (Endicott & Endicott, 2008, p. 50). As with non-competitiveness, the principle of non-violence is established in children as a value early on and appeared to be maintained by the fear of divine …show more content…

She actively participated and engaged in discussions, possessed advice giving abilities, nurturing and accommodating personality (Endicott & Endicott, 2008, p. 6). More specifically, however, she was not only of high intelligence with expertise in the main areas of the group’s practices (Endicott & Endicott, 2008, p. 64). She also had good judgment, experience, and strong persuasion skills (Endicott K. , Property, Power and Conflict among the Batek of Malaysia, 1988, p. 123). In many ways, these qualities were akin to those of a skilled politician. Headmen within the society must be natural leaders to have influence within the community and are chosen from among men (Endicott K. , 1999, p. 301) but, in this case, stood out as a female who embodied the required qualities. This display of gender equality in Batek societies can also be seen to extend to the family

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