In anthropology, an “all-male party” refers to a social or ritual gathering composed exclusively of men, often serving functions of solidarity, initiation, or political organization. It is not a universal institution but appears in many ethnographic contexts where gendered divisions of labor and ritual are emphasized.

🌍 What Is an All-Male Party?

• Definition: A gathering restricted to men, usually for ritual, ceremonial, or political purposes.
• Functions:
  • Reinforce male solidarity and identity.
  • Provide space for initiation rites or age-grade transitions.
  • Serve as councils for decision-making, warfare planning, or resource distribution.
  • Act as ritualized spaces where men perform dances, feasts, or storytelling.

🔑 Anthropological Contexts

• African Societies:
  • Among the Maasai and Samburu, all-male warrior parties (morans) reinforce age-set solidarity and prepare for defense.
• Native North America:
  • Plains tribes often had all-male warrior societies that held exclusive feasts, dances, and councils.
• Melanesia & Papua New Guinea:
  • Men’s houses (haus tambaran) served as ritual centers where only men gathered for ceremonies, initiation, and political decisions.
• Ancient & Medieval Europe:
  • Guilds, hunting parties, and warrior bands often functioned as all-male gatherings with ritual and social significance.

📚 Importance in Anthropology

• Gendered Spaces: Highlights how societies construct separate spheres for men and women.
• Social Cohesion: All-male parties reinforce bonds of trust, cooperation, and shared identity.
• Ritual & Symbolism: Often tied to initiation, warfare, or fertility rituals.
• Power & Authority: These gatherings frequently serve as loci of political decision-making and resource control.

In short: In anthropology, an all-male party is a gender-exclusive gathering that reinforces solidarity, ritual, and authority, often marked by distinctive material culture.