A Social and Ecologic Analysis of Systematic Female Infanticide Among the Netsilik Eskimo¹

Abstract

Systematic female infanticide among the Pelly Bay Eskimos is subjected to functional analysis wherein the adaptive rather than purposive nature of the behavior is stressed. The trait is seen to be ecologically adaptive insofar as it increases population, and in turn ecosystem, stability. It is argued that the explanation for the uniquely systematic infanticide practiced by this group is to be sought within the social dynamic of the individual household, and is not satisfactorily explained by recourse to environmental‐demographic explanations.