Bridewealth is recognized as vital in the reproduction and reconfiguration of Pacific environments and women play an integral role in this process. In contemporary Papua New Guinea (PNG), bridewealth is reconfigured by kin to acknowledge the considered actions of women as they enter into relationships with men. This paper will explore how women's choices impact and influence their experience of these exchanges and determine the role of women and their kin as they undertake these practices. Here I aim to understand how the social relatedness that frames bridewealth exchanges enables the practices of bridewealth to be used as a tool for recognition of women's choices, autonomy and personhood. Although women enter into relationships without initial kin approval, bridewealth practices converge ultimately with a women's autonomous choice of husband. Wardlow suggests (2006:86) 'bridewealth confers value and dignity on female gender', and going beyond her observation, I show that bridewealth has been useful in achieving this in regard to managing and supporting social, kin and affinal relationships. This article will explore two cases, to identify what each tells us about women's ability to act in ways that are beneficial to them and important to kin. I show how moral evaluations frame (pasin) and recognize (luksave) kin and social relationships that ultimately constitute their personhood.
In Oceania, Papua New Guinea (PNG) appears large in the consciousness of exploring social life through the notion of sociality. Scholarship within the Melanesian region employs sociality to interrogate forms of social life and the different ways research methods account for the understanding of interactions between individuals and communities. Yet for the three PNG authors this assumed coherency between epistemes and method highlighted specific conceptual challenges for us as researchers and participants. We identified with two conceptual notions: “pasin” and “luksave” as distinct Austronesian language ideas derived from Tok Pisin—a creolisation of English utilized as a lingua franca throughout the country. We explored the development of pasin and luksave and the ways the conceptual claims served a dual function of developing a methodological and epistemic pathway toward an ethical assurance of meaningful relationality. We extend on current understanding in two ways. Firstly employing the methodology of story as critique of research assumptions and secondly, extend on the process of story work to suggest storying as a novel but relatable research methodology. Storying such research experiences as both method and epistemic accountability, guided our responsibility toward the relationships we hold to people, community and knowledge. Pasin and luksave embed an emancipatory and de-colonial intent through the guise of oral stories. These intentions in our scholarship fostered a form of coherent expressions of research claim and method assumption and also raised questions for us regarding what decolonizing Papua New Guinea ought to consider. Our paper also highlights a reformulation of the different ways research considers Oceania in particular Melanesia and the Papua New Guinean research context.
Background Women who are spouses of students at a faith-based university in Papua New Guinea (PNG) are afforded proximal power. These women are perceived as leaders and regularly approached by members in their communities to provide advice on sexual and reproductive health matters. Women leaders therefore need access to sexual health information and training to provide appropriate advice. Objective The aim of this paper is to review the characteristics of community-based sexual health training in Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs), as reported in published literature. This is evidence to inform the development of sexual health training programs for women in PNG. Methods A systematic search of databases, repositories and websites identified peer-reviewed studies. Grey literature was also sourced from government and non-government organisations and PNG health professionals. Six published papers, one report, one health worker practice manual and one health worker training package were identified for inclusion. Selected papers were assessed against the Canadian Hierarchy of Evidence to determine quality of evidence for practice. Themes were identified using a thematic analysis approach. Results Three themes became apparent from the literature synthesis: i) program development ; ii) mode of delivery , and iii) evaluation . Social and cultural context influenced all elements of sexual health training in PICTs. Few studies reported evidence of comprehensive evaluation. Conclusions Successful sexual health training programs in PICT communities are designed and delivered accounting for local contexts. Programs that engage participants with diverse abilities inspire change to achieve desired outcomes. Key findings from this study can be used to assist women leaders to contextualise and operationalise sexual health training to promote the wellbeing of members in their communities.
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