The Gendered Paradoxes of the First-Born: An Auto-Enthnographical Study of a Matrilineal Society

Abstract

This paper discusses the first-borns among the matrilineal Garos, and their statuses, positions, privileges and responsibilities. Interestingly this ascribed status is rather fluid among them, and thus the paper discusses the circumstances which lead to a change in the status that was bestowed by birth, reiterating the fact that birth alone is not the criterion in the status given to the "first-born". The paper follows the narrative sh;le and uses the auto-ethnographical methodologt; since it discusses the author's own experiences and community.