Isobel Mary White (1912–1997) was an English-Australiananthropologist whose publications beginning in the 1960s concentrated on the role of women in Aboriginal societies in Australia.[1]
Isobel Mary Lunn, known to her friends as Sally, was born and grew up in Harrow, Middlesex (now part of London), until the family moved to Birmingham so her father could accept an appointment as a headmaster there.[2]
A gifted mathematician, she read economics at Cambridge, under John Maynard Keynes.[3] She completed the course in 1933, although the university did not then award degrees to female students. At completing her studies she was awarded a traveling scholarship for 1934/1935 to undertake research in Canada concerning "migrants and outworkers."[1][2]
She married scientist Michael White in 1938 and had two sons during World War II.[3] During the war Michael and Sally both worked in government service and spent significant time in London in spite of the London Blitz, periods of intense bombing. After the war, the family moved to the United States so Michael could pursue his career and Sally could begin to explore her new interest in anthropology, which grew from her research in Canada. Ten years later, her husband was awarded the chair of Zoology in Melbourne, Australia, causing the family to move there.[1]
Career
In Melbourne, White first pursued her interest in anthropology through her membership in the Victorian Anthropological Society and then, beginning in 1964, with her appointment to the staff of the new Department of Anthropology at Monash University.[1]
White chose to research the roles of women in Australia's Aboriginal societies. To do so she studied desert groups, conducting major fieldwork in the late 1960s and 1970s with the collaboration of linguist Luise Hercus and musicologists Catherine Ellis and Helen Payne. The resulting research was well received.[1]
According to Standish, White noticed how women were marginalized in these societies,
Her own field work with Tiwi, as well as with Andagarinja, Jangkundjara and Pidjanjara women, looked at the exclusion of women from male rites examined in the light of reported ignorance of physiological paternity; role of women in physical procreation and birth, role of men in spiritual rebirth at initiation; acceptance of junior status by women and reinforcement of male superiority by men.[3]
Beginning in the early 1980s, Sally served on the editorial board of Aboriginal History. She was a reviewer there for many years and co-edited with Judith Wilson and Isabel McBryde two special volumes (numbers 11 and 12) honouring their Canadian colleague Diane Barwick.[1]
White died in 1997[3] (not in 1998 as some sources claim,[1] which was the year of her memorial ceremony).
Selected publications
Hercus, Luise and Isobel White, 1973. 'Perception of kinship structure reflected in the Adnjamathantha pronouns'. In B. Schebeck, L.A. Hercus and I.M. White, Papers in Australian Linguistics No. 6. Pacific Linguistics Series No. 36, Department of Linguistics, R.S.P.S., Australian National University, Canberra, pp. 47–72.
White, Isobel, 1970. 'Aboriginal women's status: A paradox resolved'. In F. Gale (ed) Women's role in Aboriginal society, AIAS, Canberra, pp. 21–29.
White, Isobel, 1972. 'Hunting dogs at Yalata'. Mankind 8, pp. 201–205.
White, Isobel, 1975. 'Sexual conquest and submission in the myths of Central Australia'. In L.R. Hiatt (ed) Australian Aboriginal Mythology, AIAS, Canberra, pp. 123–142.
White, Isobel, 1977. 'From camp to village'. In R.M. Berndt (ed) Aborigines and Change: Australia in the 70s. AIAS, Canberra, pp. 100–105.
White, Isobel, 1979. 'Rain ceremony at Yalata'. Canberra Anthropology 2(2), pp. 94–103.
White, Isobel M. 1980. 'The birth and death of a ceremony'. Aboriginal History 4(1), pp. 32–41.
White, Isobel, 1985a. 'Mangkatina: Woman of the desert'. In White, Barwick and Meehan (eds), Fighters and singers Allen and Unwin, Sydney, pp. 214–226.
White, I.M., Barwick, D. and Meehan B. (eds). 1985b. Fighters and Singers: The lives of some Aboriginal women. Allen and Unwin, Sydney.
White, Isobel (ed) 1985c. Daisy Bates: The Native Tribes of Western Australia. National Library of Australia, Canberra.
White, Isobel, 1993. 'Daisy Bates: Legend and reality'. In Julie Marcus (ed) First in their Field: women and Australian Anthropology. Melbourne, Melbourne University Press, pp. 47–65.
White, Isobel, and Helen Payne, 1992. 'Australian Aboriginal myth'. In Caroline Larrington (ed) The Feminist Companion to Mythology. Pandora Press, London, pp. 251 287.
References
^ abcdefgMcBryde, Isabel (1997). "A Tribute to Isobel Mary White". Aboriginal History. 21: ix–xii. ISSN 0314-8769. JSTOR 24046332. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
^ abMelbourne, National Foundation for Australian Women and The University of. "White, Isobel Mary - Woman - The Australian Women's Register". www.womenaustralia.info. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
^ abcdStandish, Ann. "White, Isobel Mary - Woman - The Encyclopedia of Women and Leadership in Twentieth-Century Australia". www.womenaustralia.info. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
February 24, 2023
isobel, mary, white, 1912, 1997, english, australian, anthropologist, whose, publications, beginning, 1960s, concentrated, role, women, aboriginal, societies, australia, bornisobel, mary, lunn1912harrow, englanddied1997nationalityenglish, australianother, name. Isobel Mary White 1912 1997 was an English Australian anthropologist whose publications beginning in the 1960s concentrated on the role of women in Aboriginal societies in Australia 1 Isobel Mary WhiteBornIsobel Mary Lunn1912Harrow EnglandDied1997NationalityEnglish AustralianOther namesSally WhiteOccupationAnthropologistSpouseMichael WhiteChildrenTwo Contents 1 Life 1 1 Career 2 Selected publications 3 ReferencesLife EditIsobel Mary Lunn known to her friends as Sally was born and grew up in Harrow Middlesex now part of London until the family moved to Birmingham so her father could accept an appointment as a headmaster there 2 A gifted mathematician she read economics at Cambridge under John Maynard Keynes 3 She completed the course in 1933 although the university did not then award degrees to female students At completing her studies she was awarded a traveling scholarship for 1934 1935 to undertake research in Canada concerning migrants and outworkers 1 2 She married scientist Michael White in 1938 and had two sons during World War II 3 During the war Michael and Sally both worked in government service and spent significant time in London in spite of the London Blitz periods of intense bombing After the war the family moved to the United States so Michael could pursue his career and Sally could begin to explore her new interest in anthropology which grew from her research in Canada Ten years later her husband was awarded the chair of Zoology in Melbourne Australia causing the family to move there 1 Career Edit In Melbourne White first pursued her interest in anthropology through her membership in the Victorian Anthropological Society and then beginning in 1964 with her appointment to the staff of the new Department of Anthropology at Monash University 1 White chose to research the roles of women in Australia s Aboriginal societies To do so she studied desert groups conducting major fieldwork in the late 1960s and 1970s with the collaboration of linguist Luise Hercus and musicologists Catherine Ellis and Helen Payne The resulting research was well received 1 According to Standish White noticed how women were marginalized in these societies Her own field work with Tiwi as well as with Andagarinja Jangkundjara and Pidjanjara women looked at the exclusion of women from male rites examined in the light of reported ignorance of physiological paternity role of women in physical procreation and birth role of men in spiritual rebirth at initiation acceptance of junior status by women and reinforcement of male superiority by men 3 Beginning in the early 1980s Sally served on the editorial board of Aboriginal History She was a reviewer there for many years and co edited with Judith Wilson and Isabel McBryde two special volumes numbers 11 and 12 honouring their Canadian colleague Diane Barwick 1 White died in 1997 3 not in 1998 as some sources claim 1 which was the year of her memorial ceremony Selected publications EditHercus Luise and Isobel White 1973 Perception of kinship structure reflected in the Adnjamathantha pronouns In B Schebeck L A Hercus and I M White Papers in Australian Linguistics No 6 Pacific Linguistics Series No 36 Department of Linguistics R S P S Australian National University Canberra pp 47 72 White Isobel 1970 Aboriginal women s status A paradox resolved In F Gale ed Women s role in Aboriginal society AIAS Canberra pp 21 29 White Isobel 1972 Hunting dogs at Yalata Mankind 8 pp 201 205 White Isobel 1975 Sexual conquest and submission in the myths of Central Australia In L R Hiatt ed Australian Aboriginal Mythology AIAS Canberra pp 123 142 White Isobel 1977 From camp to village In R M Berndt ed Aborigines and Change Australia in the 70s AIAS Canberra pp 100 105 White Isobel 1979 Rain ceremony at Yalata Canberra Anthropology 2 2 pp 94 103 White Isobel M 1980 The birth and death of a ceremony Aboriginal History 4 1 pp 32 41 White Isobel 1985a Mangkatina Woman of the desert In White Barwick and Meehan eds Fighters and singers Allen and Unwin Sydney pp 214 226 White I M Barwick D and Meehan B eds 1985b Fighters and Singers The lives of some Aboriginal women Allen and Unwin Sydney White Isobel ed 1985c Daisy Bates The Native Tribes of Western Australia National Library of Australia Canberra White Isobel 1993 Daisy Bates Legend and reality In Julie Marcus ed First in their Field women and Australian Anthropology Melbourne Melbourne University Press pp 47 65 White Isobel and Helen Payne 1992 Australian Aboriginal myth In Caroline Larrington ed The Feminist Companion to Mythology Pandora Press London pp 251 287 References Edit a b c d e f g McBryde Isabel 1997 A Tribute to Isobel Mary White Aboriginal History 21 ix xii ISSN 0314 8769 JSTOR 24046332 Retrieved 5 December 2020 a b Melbourne National Foundation for Australian Women and The University of White Isobel Mary Woman The Australian Women s Register www womenaustralia info Retrieved 5 December 2020 a b c d Standish Ann White Isobel Mary Woman The Encyclopedia of Women and Leadership in Twentieth Century Australia www womenaustralia info Retrieved 18 April 2020 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Isobel Mary White amp oldid 1085060981, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
