Nacirema Tribe Summary

After reading the article, I conclude the author is trying to teach or inform us about the Nacirema tribe and their way of life. By writing about their civilization the reader can learn how they live through rituals and what they practice. Miner discusses about Nacirema’s exotic customs, ritual activities, the shrine, their magical practitioners, oral care, harsh physical ceremonies, witchdoctors, breast rituals, thoughts on intercourse, and magical power. Once I read about these aforementioned topics, I realized just how different their society is than from my own. Perhaps Miner also wants the reader to notice contrasts with their life compared to Nacirema. I definitely did as I read through the article. How would I describe the Nacirema to a
The materials (hog hairs and magical powder) are placed inside the decaying teeth or healthy teeth (when healthy, their teeth are gouged out to make space) to prevent decay and welcome friends. Another custom they practice is breast rituals. If one’s breast are too large and need to be shrunk they will perform a ritual to shrink them and vice versa with small breasts. Intercourse is a scheduled act and is typically not discussed. Reproduction is not as common in this tribe. Once pregnant the woman will hide herself and childbirth happens in secret. These are just a few of the topics I would tell a stranger about to describe Nacirema. “The Listener” is a witchdoctor who is powerful enough to cure or help individuals who are bewitched. The practitioner listens to the troubles of client as far back as he or she is able to recall to resolve their problems. Even sometimes as far back as childbirth. Mothers of the clients are often accused of cursing the client through the teachings of secret body rituals. Witchdoctors perform incredible exorcisms to cure the bewitched. Nacirema tribes have many other body rituals I did not discuss, but during the course of this paper I touched on a few I felt were