One of the most intriguing aspects for anthropologists and sociologists has been the way attitudes towards sex have evolved. The way sex is perceived not only differs from region to region but also differs in small areas within every region. From the most prudish to the most risqué sexual behavioral patterns have been a subject of intense scrutiny for years. This article attempts to deconstruct the puzzle by documenting sexual behavior amongst some of the most primitive populaces in existence today.
America
One of the surviving American tribes – Caddo consists of matrilineal clans. In the winter, both men and women would wear deerskins. During the summer, they stayed virtually naked. Men had elaborate hair decorations and women painted themselves and had tattoos. There was no formal wedding ceremony. If a man desired a woman, he would try to find the best gift he could manage and give it to a woman. If she accepted, they'd have sex and considered the act of sex 'marriage.' Sometimes these marriages would only last a few days and women were allowed to accept gifts from several different men, and also engage in sexual relations with those different men with no repercussions.
Another American tribe – Calusa was characterized by marriages within in the family. The chief had many wives and was polygynous. He also married his sibling sisters. The Cerokee tribe too had had matrilineal clans. In some religious studies it is believed that their main deity, the Sun God, was actually female. Children were not considered blood relatives of their fathers, but only a blood relative to their mother. Both men and women had a high degree of sexual freedom. After marriage, the couple goes to live with her mother and in divorce the man had to return home to live with his own mother. There were incidents of polygyny. During pregnancy, the mother-to-be had a ceremonial bath under every new moon prior to the baby's birth.
The Chickasaw too had matrilineal clans. Children were not considered to be related to their fathers, but only related to their mothers. When a man wanted to court a woman, he would give gifts to her mother and sisters. If they approved, he moved in. If a man married one girl in the family, he was allowed to have sex with all of her sisters. There was polygyny. After marriage, there was a mother-in-law taboo between the groom and the bride's mother. If his brother died, he could marry his brother's widow. If he did not, the widow would go without a husband for four years. At puberty, girls were sent to menstrual huts and each month after that during menstruation.
Africa
The Ibo tribe of Nigeria had a rule that all women must be marital virgins and the groom’s relatives would physically examine the bride on the wedding day. In the African Potok tribe young women undergo a public cliterodectomy. The Turu of Tanzania is characterized by a high divorce and assault rate. Men treat marriage as a business enterprise. This tribe is infamous for the number of extra marital affairs that take place. The Yoruba of Nigeria follows the painful practice of female circumcision. Having a number of wives is a sign of wealth for men and polygamy is encouraged.
Asia
The Tre-ba of Tibet was a polyandrous society where only one marriage is allowed for all brothers in a family, who all marry the same wife. The Muria tribe of the Bastar region in India had a system called Ghotul where children above the age of 6 are encouraged to have sex with each other. They are punished if they have sex with one person for more than 3 consecutive days. Boys are known to carve out penises and genitals in wood and gift it to the girls. Women are however not allowed to return to the Ghotul after marriage and couples have to maintain strict monogamy after marriage. The Dahari tribe of India has a system where wives are bought by a family and all the brothers are allowed to have sex with her. If the family has more money then they can purchase more wives.
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