National Unity and Gender Difference

How gender differences are evolved, sustained and embedded in social and political structures and how they vary across cultures and times are long-term questions of the humanities, social, cognitive and biological sciences. The book examines traditional polyphonic song performances as a marker of national identity and unity in Georgia, Caucasus. However, dominant gender ideologies and power relationships have shaped the different ways in which women and men have traditionally approached singing. While individual women have practically challenged patriarchy and redefined gender roles in Georgian music and society, symbolically, at the level of value system, men are still seen as central to Georgian traditional polyphony. The book sheds light on the ways in which gender differences are “performed” (to use Judith Butler''s concept) and should be especially useful for gender and feminist scholars, ethnomusicologists, students of Georgian and Caucasus cultures, and anyone interested in related topics. The book includes listening examples of song performances.