Yapese women dancers in traditional dress celebrating Yap Day

Women in the Federated States of Micronesia are women who live in or are from the

Federated States of Micronesia The Federated States of Micronesia (, abbreviated FSM), or simply Micronesia, is an island country in Micronesia, a region of Oceania. The federation encompasses the majority of the Caroline Islands (excluding Palau) and consists of four Admin ...

, an independent

sovereign ''Sovereign'' is a title that can be applied to the highest leader in various categories. The word is borrowed from Old French , which is ultimately derived from the Latin">-4; we might wonder whether there's a point at which it's appropriate to ...

island nation An island country, island state, or island nation is a country whose primary territory consists of one or more islands or parts of islands. Approximately 25% of all independent countries are island countries. Island countries are historically ...

composed of four states. Thus, FSM women includes women from the States of

Yap Yap (, sometimes written as , or ) traditionally refers to an island group located in the Caroline Islands of the western Pacific Ocean, a part of Yap State. The name "Yap" in recent years has come to also refer to the state within the Federate ...

, Chuuk,

Pohnpei Pohnpei (formerly known as Ponape or Ascension, from Pohnpeian: "upon (''pohn'') a stone altar (''pei'')") is an island of the Senyavin Islands which are part of the larger Caroline Islands group. It belongs to Pohnpei State, one of the fou ...

(formerly Ponape) and

Kosrae Kosrae ( ), formerly known as Kusaie or Strong's Island, is an island in the Caroline Islands archipelago, and States of Micronesia, state within the Federated States of Micronesia. It includes the main island of Kosrae, traditionally known as Ual ...

(previously known as Kusaie).

Roles

By tradition, clan membership in Micronesia society is generally passed down through women. Women were the cultivators of the land and they were the producers of staple food crops. They also did inshore fishing and were sea food gatherers. Women were also involved in arts and crafts such as in the production of thatch weaving, "loom-woven lavalavas, ''

pandanus ''Pandanus'' is a genus of monocots with about 578 accepted species. They are palm-like, dioecious trees and shrubs native to the Old World tropics and subtropics. Common names include pandan, screw palm and screw pine. The genus is classified ...

'' mats, medicine and ornaments". They are caretakers and "primary teachers" of children. Micronesian women were the initiators in community planning, the peacemakers, economic contributors, "preservers of the home", "acquirers of prestige", and they also have roles in Micronesian politics. In general, women share power with their male counterparts in Micronesian society. Women's roles were complementary to the roles of men. Some Micronesian women contribute decisions regarding disposal of family land, and they have the "power to disinherit members of the family", as well as the imposer of taboos regarding the use of both land and sea. Traditionally, men and women would balance labor by performing different roles in cultivating and preparing food. However, with recent changes in island culture such as the rise of imported foreign foods, the duty of working in the kitchen has largely been given to the women. This imbalance of labor performed by women is being addressed by the minority of modernized Micronesian families where traditional roles shared by men and women. Micronesian women can force men to make peace with their enemies. Women were often the drafters of the "terms of peace". A senior female would have a title that is parallel to the senior male member of the so-called

an lineage, and she would have "considerable authority" over the group. The senior women can act as a person intervening matters such as in stopping a man from beating his children" and when and how long a man should refrain from sleeping with his wife after childbirth. During the

Yap Day Yap Day is a legal holiday in Yap State, one of the four states of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), held annually on March 1. It is a celebration of traditional Yapese people, Yapese culture. Common activities held during this time inclu ...

festival in March, Micronesian women wear traditional costumes and perform traditional dances.

References

External links

Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the Federated States of Micronesia: Mixed progress on women's rights

Chuuk Women's Council

Understanding Micronesian Culture

The Role of Women in Micronesian Society
Micronesia Forum.org {{DEFAULTSORT:Women In The Federated States Of Micronesia Women in Oceania Micronesian people

Micronesia Micronesia (, ) is a subregion of Oceania, consisting of approximately 2,000 small islands in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean. It has a close shared cultural history with three other island regions: Maritime Southeast Asia to the west, Poly ...

Roles

See also

References

External links