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THE ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT OF WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION IN WESTERN SAMOA, 1830-1977
Penelope Schoeffel
WESTERN SAMOA is one of the few nations of the world where there are strong , multifunctional women’s associations which are a major social institutions. Most cross cultural analyses of
female roles and status suggest that a common feature of the universal subordination of women is their exclusion from participation in the public domain. Some writers have suggested that this is a causal factor in
the subordination of women, for example, Hammond and Jablo in a cross-cultural comparison of the status and roles of women in 75 cultures comment:
Despite the cultural diversity in the definition of what is masculine or feminine, certain well nigh universal regularrities do occur in the assignment of roles. Everywhere
women’s primary roles are determine by the structure of the family, and her activities are related to domesic life.The relegation of women to the domestic sphere would seem automatically to place them in a
subordinate position, Public life, which confers power and authority, is the concern of men. Male activities, interests and attitudes tend to dominate the values and ethos of every society (Hammond and Jablo,
1976:6)
THE STRUCTURE OF RETAIL FOOD OUTLETS IN SUVA, FIJI*
Rajesh Chandra
FOOD recquirements of urban consumers in Suva comprise fresh vegetables and fruits, native root crops, (mainly dallo, cassava and yams), various processed foods,
fresh and frozen meat and fish. While the Suva municipal market (henceforth referred to as the Market) is the chief commercial source source of fresh vegetables, fresh
fruits, and root crops for the majority of consumers, retail foods. Save for products such as rice, dhal, spices, onions, potatoes, garlic, oil, ghee, and powered yaqona,
that are available at retail stores as well as the market, they both have different but complementary roles in the food distribution system of Suva. The Market specialises
in fresh vegetables and fruits, root crops, fresh fruits, frozen meat and fish and other sea-food, eggs and live poultry. Stores carry processed foods such as canned meat
and fish, canned and frozen vegetables, semi-processed dry foods such as rice, sugar, dhal, etc., beverages, and milk and milk products.
THE ‘CONFLICT’ MODEL OF PLURALISM:
some evidence from Somosomo, Taveuni
Vijay Naidu
IN THIS PAPER I seek to question the existing assumption of one school of pluralist thinkers that cultural racial, religious or ethnic diversities invariably lead to
disagreeement and conflict, and that the mere existence of differences is sufficient in itself to cause social discord. By looking at a specific area in some detail, a greater
understanding of the intricacies involved in inter-ethnic interactions may be achieved. Hitherto, pluralists theorists have concentrated on society as a whole, thereby missing
aspects of relationships between ethnic groups that are pertinent to any balanced discussion of ethnic relationships.
INHERITANCE, MAGIC AND OLITICAL POWER IN SOUTH EAST PAPUA
Michael Monsell Davis
MELANISIAN leadership is characterised by the entrepreneur - the man who can successfully manipulate social, political and economic factors in his quest to win su
pporters and gain prestige influence in the community.
Such ‘big man ‘ leadership has been described by numerous ethnographers, with perhaps Oliver (1967) ,Hogbin (1951), and writers on the Highlands providing
classic examples. Some authors (e.g. Bulmer 1961, Epstein 1972) have pointed out that the son ( or sister’s son in matrilineal communities) of a big man has an initial
advantage over other man in the competition over other status. However the primary thrust of such writings is that the winning of big man status is due almost entirely to the
personal entrepreneurial efforts of the ambitious man, and that almost any man is eligible to compete for the title.
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