Frazer says that the custom of the Kaffir woman of South Africa not to speak the name of her own or husband’s relations has given rise to an almost entirely different language from that of the men through the substitution of new words for the words thus banned.  Once this “women’s speech” had arisen, it would of course not be used by the men because of the universal contempt for woman and all that pertained to her.  This may have been the origin of the use of different dialects in some tribes, such as the Japanese, the Arawaks, some Brazilian tribes, and others.[49]

Although the division of labour between the sexes had a natural biological basis, and indeed had its beginning in the animal world long before man as such came into existence, the idea of the uncleanness of woman was carried over to her work, which became beneath the dignity of man.  As a result, there grew up a series of taboos which absolutely fixed the sphere of woman’s labour, and prohibited her from encroaching on the pursuits of man lest they be degraded by her use, quite as much as they barred man from her specific activities.  In Nicaragua, for example, it is a rule that the marketing shall be done by women.  In Samoa, where the manufacture of cloth is allotted to the women, it is taboo for a man to engage in any part of the process.[30] Among the Andamanese the performance of most of the domestic duties falls to the lot of the women and children.  Only in cases of stern necessity will the husband procure wood or water.[50] An Eskimo even thinks it an indignity to row in an umiak, the large boat used by women.

They also distinguish very definitely between the offices of husband and wife.  For example, when a man has brought a seal to land, it would be a stigma on his character to draw it out of the water, since that is the duty of the female.[51] In the Marquesas Islands, the use of canoes in all parts of the islands is rigorously prohibited to women, for whom it is death even to be seen entering one when hauled on shore; while Tapa-making, which belongs exclusively to women, is taboo to men.[30] Among the Betchuanas of South Africa the men will not let women touch the cattle.[52] The Baganda think that if a woman steps over a man’s weapons they will not aim straight or kill until they have been purified.[21] Among many South African tribes, if a wife steps over her husband’s assegais, they are considered useless from that time and are given to the boys to play with.  This superstition rings many changes and is current among the natives of all countries.

The taboos which have thus been exemplified and reviewed are based on the feeling that woman is possessed of a demonic power, or perhaps of a mana principle which may work injury; or else upon the fear that she may contaminate man with her weakness.  It is very probable that many of these taboos originated even as far back as the stage of society in which the line of descent was traced through the mother.  There