# Girls who break the taboo will be infertile. **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [December 17, 2008, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-who-break-the-taboo-will-be-infertile/477643 "2008-12-17T22:06:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Sr\_Siete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@Sr\_Siete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sr_Siete)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-who-break-the-taboo-will-be-infertile/477643/21 "2008-12-17T22:51:22Z")
> [@blinkingblinking](#): > > My point is that women have changed the world significantly in the last 100 years. This ‘cultural’ crap that the Aboriginal elders come out with sounds very like the same crap spouted by many men 100 years ago. A good equivalent in western religion would be a woman donning a catholic frock, or giving communion or any of those things only male priests are allowed to do in Catholicism. I can imagine outrage from certain Christian groups. ---
**Author:** ![Giltathriel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b38774/32.png) [@Giltathriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giltathriel)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-who-break-the-taboo-will-be-infertile/477643/22 "2008-12-17T22:55:10Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > You mean like getting married? > > I wonder how many gay marriage opponents hold the aboriginal’s view in contempt? Perhaps. I am looking at this too personally. I was trying to find something that would provoke the same level of irrational horror in **me** and I can’t think of any. ---
**Author:** ![Giltathriel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b38774/32.png) [@Giltathriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giltathriel)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-who-break-the-taboo-will-be-infertile/477643/23 "2008-12-17T22:58:11Z")
> [@Sr\_Siete](#): > > A good equivalent in western religion would be a woman donning a catholic frock, or giving communion or any of those things only male priests are allowed to do in Catholicism. I can imagine outrage from certain Christian groups. This is a good example, although I imagine that most women who would do this know that they are being inflammatory. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-who-break-the-taboo-will-be-infertile/477643/24 "2008-12-17T22:58:30Z")
> [@catsix](#): > > If this were true I would have a house full of these things and I would play them 40 times a day. What she said. Or to quote Mark from “Empire Records,” “Maybe I wanna be sterile.” ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-who-break-the-taboo-will-be-infertile/477643/25 "2008-12-17T23:00:29Z")
> [@blinkingblinking](#): > > White women should not play the clarinet because they are bad at it and it will make them hysterical Sustained! _bangs gavel_ ---
**Author:** ![Darryl\_Lict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@Darryl\_Lict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darryl_Lict)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-who-break-the-taboo-will-be-infertile/477643/26 "2008-12-17T23:07:02Z")
I can’t find the documentation for my digeridoo, but I thought it was actually painted by an aboriginal woman. I bought it in Alice Springs. I wonder if the taboo is universal? I could be wrong though, I’ll root around for the pamphlet. ---
**Author:** ![Mtgman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@Mtgman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mtgman)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-who-break-the-taboo-will-be-infertile/477643/27 "2008-12-17T23:18:56Z")
> [@blinkingblinking](#): > > But how about our Nicole and her barren womb? I suppose it must be done sooner or later. Nikki, call me. Enjoy, Steven ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-who-break-the-taboo-will-be-infertile/477643/28 "2008-12-17T23:38:00Z")
> [@blinkingblinking](#): > > Why is it fine? It’s not fine. I was being glib about an idiotic superstition. If aborigine women choose not to play the thing, that’s their business, and they can do so for any stupid reason they see fit, just as Muslim women can choose not to drive because it’s a sin or whatever. (Or they could pick a sensible reason, like the fact that digeridoos are cool to look at but sound annoying if you have to listen to them for more than 20 seconds.) If they want to play and are forbidden to, that’s wrong. But I think most of the aborigines figured that out a long time ago. It’s only people like razor blade guy who are threatened that someone not of his culture might not pay heed to his pointless traditions. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-who-break-the-taboo-will-be-infertile/477643/29 "2008-12-17T23:56:40Z")
> [@Sr\_Siete](#): > > A good equivalent in western religion would be a woman donning a catholic frock, or giving communion or any of those things only male priests are allowed to do in Catholicism. I can imagine outrage from certain Christian groups. My mother used to drive around town to shut-ins and distribute (Roman Catholic) communion to them. I don’t think she ever encountered any outrage. She didn’t consecrate the wafers, of course. That was the job of the priests. ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-who-break-the-taboo-will-be-infertile/477643/30 "2008-12-18T00:24:05Z")
The Aboriginal offenderati are out in force this month, aren’t they? David Unaipon’s family are [angry at Paypal](http://www.theage.com.au/national/30-million-claim-is-all-about-face-20081127-6k2a.html) for an ad showing Unaipon with a helmet superimposed because “no Aboriginal people have a helmet”. They also want $30 million compensation from the Government because they claim the relative who gave permission for their uncle’s image to be used on the 50 dollar note was not really a relative. And now Nicole Kidman has -shock- played a didgeridoo and they are outraged, I tell you, outraged! :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-who-break-the-taboo-will-be-infertile/477643/31 "2008-12-18T00:28:06Z")
I got a digeridoo Nicole can play anytime, by the way. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-who-break-the-taboo-will-be-infertile/477643/32 "2008-12-18T00:29:47Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Questions for debate: is Harper-Collins doing the right thing by catering to this sexist cultural tradition? From a PR point of view, probably yes. Otherwise no. > [@](#): > > Should non-Aborigines appropriating one aspect of Aboriginal culture be expected to follow Aboriginal cultural taboos? That’s up to them to decide. Personally, staying in Australia, I wouldn’t climb on that big red rock, for instance. If I were a woman I might not play the whatever it is called for the same reason. On the other hand I’m perfectly OK with other people talking picture of a cross in a jar of piss or playing the whatever it is called. I have a certain level of respect for the sacred on a personal level, but I hate it when institutions, companies, etc… cave in the religious-based demands of some group or another. > [@](#): > > Is this a facet of Aboriginal culture that should be maintained, or is it better to let this sort of practice fall by the wayside? Whatever floats their boat. If women want to wear a veil and not play the whatever it is called, that’s their privilege. > [@](#): > > Should they Aborigines be criticized for still following this practice? As long as they don’t stone women who play the whatever it is called, don’t firebomb movie theaters showing a movie where a woman is depicted playing the WIIC and don’t prevent the publishing of a book explaining to women how to play the WIIC, no. > [@](#): > > To what extent does the history of European immigrants attempting to suppress or destroy Aboriginal culture be factored into a decision to criticize this facet of said culture? The two issues shouldn’t be linked. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-who-break-the-taboo-will-be-infertile/477643/33 "2008-12-18T00:34:52Z")
> [@Darryl\_Lict](#): > > I can’t find the documentation for my digeridoo, but I thought it was actually painted by an aboriginal woman. I bought it in Alice Springs. I wonder if the taboo is universal? The article linked to by the OP said it wasn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Rune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e68b1a/32.png) [@Rune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rune)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-who-break-the-taboo-will-be-infertile/477643/34 "2008-12-18T01:26:36Z")
The publishing house is a piece of shit and if I was Australian I’d certainly never buy the book after such cowardly behaviour, so I don’t think it was a wise PR decision. But who really gives a damn about a women taboo on didgeridoo-playing? Women can play or don’t. I don’t care either way. As long as they don’t stick it in the pussy at band camp. The taboo is wrong btw. I bought one on a trip to Australia once, which my ex-wife played on before going on to have two children. So I guess that proves the Aboriginals are stupid idiots too. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-who-break-the-taboo-will-be-infertile/477643/35 "2008-12-18T01:31:35Z")
> [@clairobscur](#): > > From a PR point of view, probably yes. Unless they catch blowback from feminists. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-who-break-the-taboo-will-be-infertile/477643/36 "2008-12-18T02:15:32Z")
> [@blinkingblinking](#): > > I thought the Western equivalent was all the sexism not letting women vote or compete in sports etc in previous centuries. Previous centuries? Try this one. According to the IOC, women’s ski jumping is not currently an Olympic event because there are not enough quality competitors (with 135+ women competing internationally). But that’s sort of the shiny happy PC reason. From [Newsday](http://feministing.com/archives/002750.html): > [@](#): > > Gian-Franco Kasper, head of the International Ski Federation, had a pretty explanatory answer: > > “Ski jumping is just too dangerous for women. Don’t forget, [the landing] it’s like jumping down from, let’s say, about two meters to the ground about a thousand times a year, which seems not to be appropriate for ladies from a medical point of view.” > > And it only gets worse. The reasons given to Alissa [re: why women can’t compete] were a bit more in detail: > > “So far, we’ve been told every excuse in the book. That it’s too ‘dangerous’ for girls. That there aren’t enough of us. That we’re not good enough. That it would damage our ovaries and uterus and we won’t be able to have children, even though that’s not true. It’s so outdated, it’s kind of funny in a way. And then it’s not.” As for the didgeridoo, sorry, human rights trump tradition. Yeah, touching an instrument hardly seems to be worth fighting for, but it’s a slippery slope. ---
**Author:** ![manila](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@manila](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manila)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-who-break-the-taboo-will-be-infertile/477643/37 "2008-12-18T07:59:15Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > I got a digeridoo Nicole can play anytime, by the way. I have a sneaky suspiscion that this is at the heart of the taboo. An woman’s mouth embracing a large phallic symbol. For the aboriginal dude maybe its just a musical (sic) instrument… but hey what’s that woman doing? ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 8:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-who-break-the-taboo-will-be-infertile/477643/38 "2008-12-18T08:39:25Z")
> [@blinkingblinking](#): > > I thought there would be more people upset with the rampant sexism being justified on ‘cultural’ grounds. There seems very little discussion about this in Australia.. Outrage fatigue? When is the last time people have heard positive news about aboriginal culture? ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 8:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-who-break-the-taboo-will-be-infertile/477643/39 "2008-12-18T08:51:49Z")
> [@blinkingblinking](#): > > I thought there would be more people upset with the rampant sexism being justified on ‘cultural’ grounds. There seems very little discussion about this in Australia.. That’s because no-one here (quite rightly) cares. ---
**Author:** ![firstname](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7ab992/32.png) [@firstname](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/firstname)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2008, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-who-break-the-taboo-will-be-infertile/477643/40 "2008-12-18T09:05:05Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > That’s because no-one here (quite rightly) cares. Pretty much what I was coming in here to say. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-who-break-the-taboo-will-be-infertile/477643.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girls-who-break-the-taboo-will-be-infertile/477643.md?page=3)