From Flowers to Sin: Exploration of Sexuality and Gender in Ancient Mesoamerica

Summary

This is an abstract from the "SAA 2024: Individual Abstracts" session, at the 89th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

In modernity, sexuality manifests in a dynamic spectrum of expressions which centers on individual sexual awareness, contesting antiquated sentiments of traditional sexual hegemony. In this presentation, we will journey into ancient Mesoamerica in the attempt to conceptualize Maya and Aztec notions of sex and gender by examining various lines of information: archaeological, epigraphical, lexical, and historical sources to isolate and identify representations of sexuality. In addition to the recognition of practices and identity, we will locate, identify, and acknowledge Spanish colonial interpretations of Mesoamerican sexuality in the attempt to understand and counter its influence. In addition, I question modern western theories of sexuality and their ability to truly describe Mesoamerican ideologies of sexual identity.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• SAA 2024: Individual Abstracts   •
• Society for American Archaeology 89th Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA (2024)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 40404.0