Sex and Gender in Olmec Imagery

Abstract

Scholars of Gulf Coast Olmec imagery note that, while large stone Olmec anthropomorphic sculptures are clearly identifiable as humanoid, their features range from naturalistic to abstracted—often on the same sculpture. As pubic genitalia are rarely depicted in Olmec art, identifying the physical traits associated with sex and gender is not intuitive. However, systematic research has done much to isolate sexed and gendered physical characteristics and costume in Olmec imagery, revealing that many Olmec images were overtly sexed with clearly dimorphic male or female physical traits, and both strongly gendered and gender-neutral costume elements are identifiable. Some high-status garments and accouterments also may be strongly associated with one sex, but occasionally may have been appropriated by the opposite sex, suggesting that certain roles and levels of status were not necessarily restricted by sex or gender, and that power—and perhaps gender—were more fluid among the Olmec than previously realized.

Department(s)

Art and Design

Document Type

Article

DOI

10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190900304.013.0046

Publication Date

1-1-2025

Journal Title

Oxford Handbook of the Olmecs

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