ASSIGNMENT 4: ESSAY WRITING

NAME: XXX
ID#: XXX
CAMPUS: XXX
COURSE CODE: SO201
ESSAY QUESTION: Essay Topic 2, Describe and critically analyses a situation OR an issue of
change OR changes currently taking place in your society OR culture OR religion.
TITLE: Changes affecting women’s role in matrilineal societies in the Solomon Island.
 Title: Changes affecting women’s role in matrilineal societies in the Solomon Island.

There are some countries within the Region that practice matrilineal land tenure systems,
referring to the rights of women to land ownership and to their leadership and gender roles.
Matrilineal system is the kinship traced through female lineage whereby a woman inherits land
property from her mother, it also speaks volumes about a society where traditionally, women
have the power and control in decision making and leadership roles. This essay contextualizes
that in Solomon Islands, the trend and fact is that women are increasingly less likely to
participate and engage in leadership roles and decision making in their various societies. Women
are important in any institution, community and society as they play a key role in enhancing the
development (political, economic and social) of our society especially in Solomon Islands. This
essay will draw on 3 issues that’s affecting the role of women in leadership in matrilineal
systems that is; Women and land ownership rights, Cultural Mindset and Modernity change. In
this essay it will further explain how this affects Societies, communities, governments and
women.

Firstly, this paragraph will attempt to discuss women and land ownership rights. There are few
societies within Solomon Islands such as on Guadalcanal, Isabel, Makira, Central and Western
Provinces that practice matrilineal land tenure system. Women play an important role as a land
management caretaker, their role and links to land usage however has recently declined
systematically in most matrilineal societies throughout the Solomon Islands. For example, Santa
Isabel which has a deeply entrenched matrilineal society where women hold numerous informal
roles associated with power and leadership within their communities (Maezama, 2015). It applies
to land ownership rights where, because land is a valuable resource, women’s traditional
authority over rights to occupation and usage is being undermined, through male dominance
triggered by greed and selfish motives.

The shift to modernization through commercial agriculture, extractive resource industries and
other innovative activities has marginalized women, and their status and authority, are being
undermined. These changes surfaced during the postcolonial era and were initially influenced by
the introduction of Christianity and later, westernization lifestyle brought about by Government
activities. Decision making under the matrilineal system, which involved the process of choice of
the best option, had an effect on leadership roles. Women’s leadership roles in matrilineal
societies, for which decision making played a central part when it comes to land issues, were
being negated. Part of the issue is that women lacks the ability to present themselves as equal
alongside men in different decision making situations. (Maetala, 2008). For example, while
women in the Solomon Islands traditionally played a significant role in decision making,
including in land resource management in matrilineal system, those recognized roles were
eroded over the years through the introduction of patriarchal religions, legal, economic and
political systems. As a result, women’s voices and contributions are absent today even in the
national political sphere (Braun, 2012). In view of men always being the spokesperson, they
have also become the decision-makers regarding land management, this has led to the
suppression of the role and status of women especially in matrilineal societies. Statistics revealed
that almost 47% of women drop out of mainstream careers for domestic obligations, compared to
men at 12% (Taeheniu, 2016). Therefore, it indicates why men are always the decision maker,
labelling women as inferior, simply to engage in certain roles of domestic responsibilities,
distribution of food and other maternal duties.

Cultural mindsets also affect the role of women in matrilineal societies. Negative cultural
perception has a significant impact on women’s role causing discrimination and stereotyping. In
Solomon Islands tradition the domain authority laid down by ancestors for men and women has
set boundaries where the belief states that women are simply to bear, rear children and do
domestic chores, while men remain the boss. Power and control largely rest with men, as in most
Melanesian cultural societies. In such cases leadership roles and power have been said to be
traditionally a male preserve, upheld by the ‘big man’ and ‘chief’ (Akao, 2008). This hindrance
continues to restrict women roles in leadership and decision making processes at the family,
tribal and community levels. Therefore, the established stereotype is that women are subjected to
men.

This cultural mindset has been instilled within the society of the Solomon Islands even up until
today. Such stereotyping is reflected in the current process of non- election of women to national
leadership roles in National and Provincial legislatures. It comes down to other specific areas
relating to employment, education, health and justice. For example, despite the Solomon Islands
having ratified the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against
Women (CEDAW), Solomon Island women continue to be invisible in formal leadership
positions because of male dominant practices that deny women access to equal participation in
society (Maezama, 2015). The point I want to emphasize here is these social and political
perspectives has effected women to push forward even with the capabilities they have, hence
why this cultural mindset hardly disappears within our society? The question itself comes back to
us human beings as our duty to embrace equality when we come across such societal practices
that points out discrimination or stereotyping. However, this affects the perception of women, the
issue today is women lack the capability of participating in decision making and leadership roles.
Still the context that connects us together is to give each other the opportunity not to judge one
another based on gender, skin and appearance (Ernst, 2012). No matter our differences, different
backgrounds or different identities whether male or female all human beings have the same equal
rights to do whatever they are capable of, and are entitled to, this includes decision making and
leadership roles.

Modernity change is also one change affecting the role of women in matrilineal societies. The
role to maintain land ownership, decision making and leadership are greatly influenced by
education, formal employment, Christianity and monetary activities. One of the modernity
changes being Education, as the formal process of learning, for women who obtain new
knowledge, skills, values and norms apart from their traditional ways of learning. Education
changes women’s role in Solomon Island society through attending higher levels of education
(Dyer,2017). This indicates a change of perspective on gender roles with the opportunity for
women attaining a higher level of education, giving women the confidence to perform on equal
footing with men. Thus, the more accessible to new information the more it will help women
understand the key norms and values of their equal rights. The barriers women face particularly
in rural areas is the lack of access to information (Stege, 2008)..

Also, transformation through urbanization and social identity where people migrate from villages
to settle in Urban centres for work purposes. People tend to forget their history, traditions and
identity, focusing more on Modern lifestyles and values. Similarly, this contributes also to the
fact that women’s exposure to outside influences and values and the notion of paid employment,
adds to their diminishing matrilineal roles and authority. To participate in decision making rather
focuses more on money making activities than subjecting themselves under men’s dominance.
For example, in Honiara women are less attached to tradition and to its weight in the ordering of
the urban social world (Jourdan, 1996). However, through this transformation of sociocultural
setting and perspective gives women their equal choice and roles to blend within the modernity
change and at the same time it shifts their identification from tradition perspectives and roles.

In conclusion, many women in Solomon Islands have experiences that’s affecting their role not
only in matrilineal societies but also with patrilineal societies with which almost three quarters of
men dominate. Changes that occurs to women’s traditional role is seen through; women and land
ownership rights, cultural mindsets, and modernity change. The point that dwells on Women and
land ownership, shows that not all decisions in matrilineal societies are made by women, but
men who were always the spokesperson when it comes to land related matters, maintained that
authority even if the traditional role was for women to participate in decision making. The other
point was cultural mindset, this has a great impact on women’s role that limits them from their
traditional roles. The nurtured values and norms of our people in the Solomon Islands, are that
they always see the masculine dominance as the normal order in every aspect of leadership roles
and decision making. Modernity change is also a factor in the changing role of women as they
adopt new influences, this includes education and transformation of urban social setting and
identities. These issues greatly affects the role of women in matrilineal societies and can be
improved by changing ones perspective as to how a women’s role can also compliment men’s
responsibility and role of breadwinner. Also to recommend Women’s ministry to initiate more on
advocating for their place in decision making and recognition in the political sphere, as an
additional demonstration of responsibility to enhance their traditional roles and responsibilities.
REFERENCE

Akao, S. M. (2008). Seen but not heard: Women's experiences of educational leadership in Solomon
Islands secondary schools (Doctoral dissertation, The University of Waikato).

Dyer, M. (2017). Growing down like a banana: Solomon Islands village women changing gender
norms. The Asia Pacific Journal of Anthropology, 18(3), 193-210.

Ernst, M. (2012). Changing Christianity in Oceania: A regional overview, Archives de sciences

Jourdan, C., 1996. Where Have All the Cultures Gone? Sociocultural Creolisation in the
Solomon Islands. Melanesian modernities, pp.34-

Maezama, S. (2015). Shifting leadership out of the backyard: Expanding opportunities for
women leading in higher education in the Solomon Islands. Journal of Educational Leadership,
Policy and Practice, 30(1), 51-64.

Maetala, R. 2008. “Matrilineal Land Tenure system in Solomon Islands: The cases of
Guadalcanal, Makira and Isabel Provinces.” In Land and Women: The Matrilineal Factor. The
Cases of the Republic of the Marshalls, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, edited by Elise Huffer,
35-72. Suva: Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat.

Stege, K.E.,2008. Land and Women: The matrilineal factor: The cases of the Republic of the
Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat.
Teaheniu, D.K., 2016. Experiences of Matrilineal Solomon Islands Women Leaders in the
Formal Sector (Doctoral dissertation, University of Waikato).