Betel Mania, from Culture to Cancer: Digestive and Discursive Uses of the Betel Nut (Areca catechu) in Guam

Hattori, Anne Perez (December 2018). "Betel Mania, from Culture to Cancer: Digestive and Discursive Uses of the Betel Nut (Areca catechu) in Guam". Pacific Studies. 41 (3): 199–221. ISSN 0275-3596.

• Has attachment: File:3IXXXLE2.pdf

Abstract: This article examines the historical and contemporary roles of betel nut (Areca catechu) in Guam, tracing its transformation from a deeply embedded cultural practice to a subject of biomedical and public health concern. It explores how betel chewing functions within Chamorro society as a marker of identity, sociality, and tradition, while also engaging with colonial histories, class distinctions, and racial tensions. The study further analyzes the impact of international health discourse linking betel nut to cancer, highlighting tensions between cultural preservation and public health interventions in the modern Pacific.