Love, romance, marriage and polygyny in the Lebou village of Yoff, Senegal

Abstract

The thesis takes as its topic love, romance, marriage and polygyny in the village of Yoff in Senegal. The theory of cultural models is used to analyze expression and management of emotions. It is emphasized that to avoid reification and determinism, this theory should be modified by connectionist theory and a dialogic model of identity. Cultural models are seen as dynamic entities existing in a context of actors reflexivity. Various cultural models of emotion management are described, and informants narratives of love are analysed. The thesis concludes that love and romance are important for many informants in Yoff, and that these elements, together with factors like caste, family and economy, play a part in marriage decisions. The mix of emotional and non-emotional elements that such decisions are based on the cultural models - may vary from a mix that is seen in other parts of the world. To analyze this cultural variation, models based on a dichotomization that takes as a given that romance is an emotion that belongs to Western culture are seen as insufficient. One important sub-topic is the management of emotions in polygyny. It is suggested that an idea of romance may play a part, when polygyny does not seem to disappear with modernization, as was earlier expected.