Andrew Mortensen
BI-218X
HR: notes, videos, readings from class
Artifact 2: Girl Power
The majority of cultures around the world, past and even present, are based off of a patrilineal heritage in which the male is recognized as superior in a hierarchical system. Although it is not as prominent in the culture of the United States as it is in Middle Eastern countries, there are still examples that have settled into society that have become the norm for citizens to live by. One example is the idea that women usually take her husband’s last name when they wed. Despite this common lineage of ranking throughout history, there are many instances where a culture has a matrilineal system, tracing descent through the female line, and even a bilateral system in which there is equality between both the male and female. This artifact will explain the society throughout the history of the Tonga, as well as the Mousua of China; two very different, yet non-patrilineal cultures.
The Tonga of the South Pacific was based off of a stratified system, meaning that there were relations founded off of hierarchical rankings of people, whether it was male or female. Essentially no two individuals were of equal rank. In order to determine an individual’s status, there were three basic and abstract principles in which rank was decided: seniority, gender, and sisterhood. This system would split the culture into two groups based off of the three principles: chiefs and non- chiefs. According to the handout from class, these groups contrasted in their relationship to land and in their roles in subsistence. The chiefs would normally obtain food and goods from the work of the non chiefs. Furthermore, the economy was based off men’s products (ngaue) and a woman’s product (koloa). Because koloa were products made by women, they were considered more valuable than ngaue. Additionally, there were two buffer groups that separated the chiefs and non chiefs. The Matapules functioned as artisans, warriors, and attendants to chiefs. The Mu’as typically took care of the chief’s offspring and ensured that they were raised properly in order to hold the same morals as their parents. Marriages were primarily monogamous although chiefly men were known to have several wives. Respect was also prominent in these marriages and violence was rare, however, men were the only ones who could initiate a divorce. After the arrival of Europeans into the South Pacific region, the influence they had on the existing cultures would alter and conform to that of the Europeans, transforming a stratified society into a patrilineal society.
On the other hand, the Mosuo contain a matrilineal society, serving as the last of its kind in China as it is very uncommon. The Mosuo have walking marriages, in which the women are allowed multiple lovers who only spend the night, only to return home in the morning to care for their kids, while the woman works. Because of this style, relationships are free of jealousy and possessiveness. Additionally, women are the ones who decide how many children they are going to have and then it is up to the men to stay at home with them. The mom serves as the honorary head of the household and receives all the money that is earned from the rest of the family members. Unlike the rest of China, daughters are preferred over having sons, yet they will all usually take their mother’s surname instead of the father’s. However, due to an increase of tourism in this society, the culture is beginning to conform to that of the rest of China where households are small and both the male and female work for a living to increase income. Regardless, this society completely differs from that of cultures with a patrilineal style.