MAN and women of traditional Melanesia were alike. Alike in the sense that just like the men had clearly defined roles to play in the community, women had theirs too.

Women in traditional Melanesia were the most important people since they were the ones who established social security and were the back bone of stability and sustainability in their communities.

Unlike a man, a woman was her family’s primary caregiver and nurturer and was responsible for everything relating to the home.

When saying that women provide stability, they go out to collect or grow food for their family so that the men and children’s appetites may be fully sated before theirs.

When the woman is successful in completing her duties or fulfilling her specific roles to the best of her ability for the well-being of not just her family but for the community, she will earn her respected position within the community.

You can imagine the workload one woman has to bear especially if she is married throughout her lifetime and they vary throughout different regions and provinces.

Despite the daily or weekly workload you can imagine, this was the average day of a Melanesian woman.

In contrast to most modern societies, women can change jobs, roles and place of living if they wish to but that was not the case for the traditional Melanesian women.

But don’t be too judgemental or feel bad just yet, or even think that their roles were hard, unfair or they had no freedom.

In fact, most traditional societies had power structures and women most certainly had their places meaning women also had areas of control and spheres of influence just as men did.

Yes! You read right. We know in most Melanesian societies, made publicly led communities making decisions of war and land but women domineered the home, the smaller children, production of certain items, the garden, pigs youname it.

Women knew who they were, where they were in control and what they would accomplished. Talk about outstanding leadership traits!

Not only that, they were the main bread winners for their families while their husbands were out engaging in community activities.

You may notice some of the stark differences from women in modern societies than the ones living in traditional Melanesia. In doing so too, you will notice point out whose role was most important.

There was no questions asked about equality or inequality because if the community was to prosper, everyone was responsible.

Most origin myths and stories recognized the power of women and even began their myths with women over men.

Although women’s powers were feared and recognized, they were also resisted by men who took steps to defend and protect themselves from the power and influence women were able to wield.

Men, especially in the highlands held low opinions for women and developed a culture that limited women’s participation in all aspects of the society.

But that is just the way culture is. It is diverse, alive and have to be respected. Mahatma Ghandi once said that a nation’s culture remains in the heart and soul of the people and at the end of the day, it’s the different cultures that make the world go round.

The world would be a very boring place if all the people were uniform and all the cultures were uniform. But it might also be a god thing to hold on to the good cultures, and enter the modern world by letting go of the destructive cultures.

 Amanda Kundil