Transformations of Gender in Melanesia

doi:10.22459/tgm.02.2017

Cited by 15 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…To this end, anthropologists are paying greater attention to the ways that Melanesian masculinities are 'changing' (Taylor, 2008b) and 'moving' (Jolly, 2008) as men meet the challenges of rapidly changing environments and societal expectations, blending received modalities of gender, sexuality, economy and authority with exogenous forms. The historical processes of colonialism, Christian conversion, market penetration and urbanisation have upset and displaced once 'hegemonic' forms of masculinity, as the flux and change of Melanesian gender relations has given rise to a plurality of masculinities and 'emergent' expressions of these new masculine ideals (Biersack, 2016;Jolly, 2008;Jolly, Stewart & Brewer, 2012;Munro, 2017;see also McDougall, this volume;Zimmer-Tamakoshi, this volume).…”

Section: Gender Relationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unequal Lives in the Western Pacific

Bainton¹,

McDougall²

2021

Unequal Lives: Gender, Race and Class in the Western Pacific

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as Papua New Guinea (PNG) prepared to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting in Port Moresby, journalists reported on stark disparities that were drawing the ire of the nation. News headlines announced that the national government had just splurged on 40 Maseratis for APEC leaders (Beldi, 2018). Photos showed cargo planes unloading carefully sheathed luxury cars, each one valued at more than 100 times PNG's per capita gross domestic product (GDP). Government officials claimed these were needed to transport visiting dignitaries in 'comfort and safety' (if not style). In a nation where most roads are in disrepair and four-wheel-drives are a transport necessity, rather than a luxury, many people were outraged by the purchase. Meanwhile, in Enga Province, hundreds of kilometres from the APEC hype, a young child died of polio, more than 20 years after the last polio death and 18 years after the country was declared free of polio. His death was not an isolated case; approximately 140 other Papuan New Guineans were reportedly suffering from severe polio symptoms (Murray-Atfield, 2018). The outbreak of this once-vanquished disease, contrasted with such ostentatious displays of wealth in the nation's capital, was a vivid manifestation of a failing health system, entrenched inequalities and perverse political priorities.

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Section: Gender Relationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unequal Lives in the Western Pacific

Bainton¹,

McDougall²

2021

Unequal Lives: Gender, Race and Class in the Western Pacific

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“…The Kulu Language Institute curriculum presents a challenging exploration of the structure of local language-it differs from other vernacular language initiatives around the country that teach very young children how to associate letters and sounds in their own language before quickly moving on to English (Burton, 2012;Cox, 2017;Glasgow, Ha'amori, Daiwo & Masala, 2011). Through dialogue with the first generation of Luqa grammar teachers, Zobule developed a corpus of materials, including eight textbooks and thousands of pages of text, that develops a new vernacular metalanguage for describing the grammar of Luqa.…”

Section: The Kulu Language Institute Of Ranonggamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Solomon Islanders rarely encounter the bald racism that Papuans suffer in secondary and tertiary schools dominated by non-Papuan Indonesians, but Munro's analysis of processes of 'belittlement' is nevertheless relevant to schooling within the independent nations of the Western Pacific. In Solomon Islands, like Papua (Munro, 2017), there is a gendered dimension to hope and humiliation in schooling. Many young men with whom I spoke expressed anger, frustration and dismay about schooling; they told me how disappointed and uncertain they were regarding their futures.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Across her writings, Macintyre has insisted that contemporary forms of gender inequality should be understood in the context of colonial and postcolonial histories, rather than some imagined traditional culture (see e.g. Macintyre, 2017). This approach is evident across her ethnographic work, from rural Tubetube (Macintyre, 1987(Macintyre, , 1988, to mining compounds in Lihir (Macintyre, 2006(Macintyre, , 2011a and among urban working men and women (Macintyre, 1988(Macintyre, , 2000(Macintyre, , 2008(Macintyre, , 2011b).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Gendered Ambition and Disappointment: Women and Men in a Vernacular Language Education Movement in Melanesia

McDougall¹

2021

Unequal Lives: Gender, Race and Class in the Western Pacific

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Bridewealth a Pardon: New Relationships and Restoration of Good Daughters

Neuendorf

2020

Oceania

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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.

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Transformations of Gender in Melanesia

Cited by 15 publications

References 31 publications

Unequal Lives in the Western Pacific

Unequal Lives in the Western Pacific

Gendered Ambition and Disappointment: Women and Men in a Vernacular Language Education Movement in Melanesia

Bridewealth a Pardon: New Relationships and Restoration of Good Daughters

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