What Can the Rock Art of South Australia Tell Us about Gender Relations?

Christine M. Stephenson

Department of Anthropology

Northern Arizona University

Box 15200

Flagstaff AZ 86011-5200

cms3@dana.ucc.nau.edu

The analysis of gender in Australian Aboriginal rock art is scarce. Too often the stereotype of males producing rock art for ritual purposes permeates the anthropological literature. The ritual activities of Aboriginal women have been downplayed or negated in favour of male activities, based on Western notions of gender roles. Therefore, I will present evidence from South Australia that shows Aboriginal women had a complex ritual life that may have involved the production of rock art. I will suggest that rock art has the ability to reveal the nature of gender relations in past Aboriginal society, especially if rock art is not viewed through an androcentric lens.