Running head: LIBRARY ASSIGNMENT

Jordan Ebanks 1

Library Assignment
Jordan Ebanks
International College of the Cayman Islands
Instructor: Odale Mulgrave
West Indian Societies
November 20, 2016

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Gender assignments begin from birth with a gender ceremony, in the Aztec community.
When girls are born they are given a spindle, whorl, broom, and a basket of cotton. For girls, at
the end of the ceremony, the umbilical cord is detached and buried in the ground of the home.
This signifies her role as a woman. Majority of girls were also named after goddesses to display
their birth order (Lopez, 2012).
According to Lopez (2012), after the age of three, mothers are the primary care givers of
their daughters. When they reached five years old their mothers would teach them how to spin,
weave, and embroider. At seven years old they learned to grind maize and sweep the house. As
they grew older they were taught the days of the week, names of signs, to count, and the
attributions of their gods. They also perfected their skills in cooking, cleaning, and music.
Whether in school or at home, girls were taught to become proper wives and skilled in
domestic housework. They were sternly disciplined in their responsibilities and well aware of
what their expectations as women were. If they did not obey or participate in the tasks they were
given they would be punished by being pricked all over their body or forced to breathe smoke
from roasted chilies (Lopez, 2012).
As the girls grew older their mothers continuously instilled in them the traits of a proper
woman. They were taught how to walk and hold their heads and bodies. Girls were taught to
speak gently and to use intelligent words, not yell or rush. They were even taught how to dress.
Girls were not to dress in any clothes that would seek attention or else they would be viewed as
vain.
In regards to sexuality, girls were never to speak of or partake in any sexual activity.
Lopez (2012) states that if she were to disobey she would be punished by death and their families

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would be ridiculed and shamed. Virginity and premarital restraint were highly important to the
Aztecs. In some instances if a young couple were to partake in sexual activity their families
would insure their marriage after, in order to refrain from being shamed.
Girls and women clothes were made from spun palm or cotton. They also wore skirts that
were very plain and made from one piece of straight cloth. Noblewomen would wear a couple
more skirts. Their shirts were either full, sleeveless or a small triangular cloak. Their hairstyle
represented their marital status, class, and age. Younger girls, between the age of three and
eleven, had their hair styled in a crew cut. Older girls, from twelve until marriage, let their hair
out with bangs. Once they got married, their hair would be parted in two and braid to the top of
their head and shaped like two horns (Lopez, 2012).
According to Lopez (2012), women were expected to have excellent hygiene. Their
breath should always be fresh and teeth cleaned. They would mix a drink to have before meals or
chew a gum to keep their teeth clean and breathe smelling nice. Everyone bathed numerous times
throughout the day. Along with their bodies, they were expected to have clean clothes and
homes. They made perfumes to spray in their rooms, soaps for their clothes and face, and creams
to keep their hair soft and shiny.
In regards to marriage, the mens family would choose the bride for them based on their
social class and the brides characteristics. The ideal bride would be modest, submissive, and able
to manage the household activities. Once the husbands family had approved and their signs
matched, they would give the brides family gifts, and a wedding date would be set. The wifes
family would approve and the wife would have no say. The wedding ceremony consisted of the
brides family taking her to her husbands house. There, they would sit in front of a fire and a

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priest would knot them together. It was tradition for the couple to fast for four days to insure that
they would have a good marriage and a lot of children (Lopez, 2012).
Polygamy was accepted in their culture. They could only have one wedding ceremony,
but a man could have as many secondary wives as he wanted. This was common of the higher
social class, not for the poor.
Lopez (2012) states that if the poor people wanted to get married they would not have a
big celebration. They would often have relations prior to being wed. However, the man would
ask the womans family for forgiveness and most times they would move in together. After that
moment the people in the neighborhood would consider them married.
According to Lopez (2012), the Aztecs had what was called a temazcalli for women to
give birth. It was a room made from stone that was kept closed, warm, and moist, to represent the
womb. This room was also used throughout pregnancy. Stoned would be heated and water
thrown on them to create steam. This steam would be directed towards the pregnant woman with
herbs and leaves. During labor, there would be a midwife there to assist the soon to be mother.
She would insert her fingers and administer tobacco to ease the pain as well as a drink to help
deliver the baby. If this did not work it was thought that the woman had had transgressions and
was being punished. If she did not confess then saliva would be used to deliver the baby. They
only gave the mother one day and one night to deliver the baby. After that, they would check to
see if the baby died. If so, they would cut and remove the baby or leave the mother in the room
to deliver the baby or in some cases she would die.
In old age, women would become active in childbirth and marriage ceremonies. They
often became healers and midwives. Even in death women were treated differently from men.

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When they died, noblewomen would be cremated in they wore and their tools for spinning and
weaving.(Lopez, 2012).

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References

Lopez Hernandez, M. (2012). Mesoamerican Women, Volume 1: Aztec Women and Goddesses.
FCAS- Fundacion Cultural Armella Spitalier.