Summary:
Niina Timosaari, Gender and Civilization in the Thought of Edvard Westermarck (1862–1939)
It has often been argued that anthropology in the late nineteenth century was actually part of the Western imperialistic project, and it has been correspondingly termed as politics disguised as science. Information about the conquered “other”, gained through anthropological study on indigenous peoples, could be used to justify the political, economical and social expansion that the Western world pursued at that time. Conceptions on sexuality and gender played a part in the imperialistic project, too. Concepts like uncontrollable desire and lust were connected to indigenous people, while Western society was seen to be characterized by controlled sexuality. In line with theories of evolution, the Western world was regarded as being superior in matters of both societal development and sexual morality. Thus, anthropology helped to legitimize the contemporary status quo in society with its gender system.
This article examines the views on gender and sexuality as conveyed in the writings of the Finnish sociologist, anthropologist and philosopher Edvard Westermarck in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. It can be claimed that as one of the first anthropologists, Westermarck, too, was part of the imperialistic scheme. For instance, in one of his inaugural lectures, Westermarck argued for the benefits of the anthropological research by stating that it was cheaper than gun powder. However, he also criticized and thereby deconstructed the contemporary views and stereotypes, according to which primitive societies were far behind Western societies with regard to sexual morality and the status of women. Hence they, the “others”, were seen to be in need of civilizing.
Westermarck did not only criticize these ethnocentric views on the gender system and sexuality, but also pointed out the existing shortcomings of Western society with the help of his anthropological knowledge. For instance, in his works he depicted prostitution as a problem resulting from the unnatural way of living and poverty brought on by civilization. He regarded the lack of suffrage as a weakness, paying attention to the fact that upper-class women, in particular, did not take part in productive work. Therefore, the distinction between the “self” and the “other” proved a way to point out the failures of Western society as well as to suggest possible improvements. The scientific and social views adopted by Westermarck seem to be tightly intertwined. Standing out from most of his contemporaries, Westermarck resorted to science to comment on and criticize the society of his own time.
