Trobriand Patrilineal TiesEssay Preview: Trobriand Patrilineal TiesReport this essayThe Trobrianders way of life seems to revolve around the mother significantly more than almost every other culture. For example, children are claimed as part of the matrilineage meaning that they are claimed on their mothers side of the family. To someone who is not familiar with their culture, it may seem as though the fathers of the children have no rights or obligations to care for and raise their children. Even some people who have studied the Trobrianders have failed to see the importance that fathers play in a childs life.
Even before a child is born, the father has important roles and duties to fulfill in his childs life. The first thing that the father helps to do is to develop the fetus and also nurture the fetus by way of intercourse. The Trobrianders believe that through frequent intercourse, the baby will help develop and nurture it. Another thing that the father does to help his child even before it is born is to pass on his matrilineal belongings. For a child, this can mean access to farming land, access to family spells, and even a familys wealth or status can be passed on. This is very important to the Trobrianders as they are a very political group of people.
When a Trobriand child is born, it is a very private event. The baby is born in the wifes mothers hut with only the wifes mother and her mothers sister in attendance. After the child is born, the mother and baby must stay secluded for two months. It would seem from the information given that the father is being shut out from the childs life right from the beginning. However, this is not true at all. The father still has great responsibility for the baby and the mother even when they are living with the mothers side of the family. For example, the father is still required to bring his wife and newborn baby food while they are away from home. Furthermore, the father begins feeding the baby things such as yams and fish before the baby has stopped nursing.
In addition to having to provide food for his wife and his newborn baby, the father also gets to provide a name for his child from his matrilineal side. This is the name that the child will be called by for his or her lifetime. When he or she passes away, the name is then given back to the fathers side of the family and cannot be passed down. Only names from the mothers matrilineal side of the family can be passed from generation to generation.
After a short time, the child begins to become weaned from its mother. This is accomplished by leaving the child with a group of people for a few days. In the mothers absence, the child starts developing the teachings of the father by starting to eat more and more solid foods. This will end the childs urge to feed from its mother, and when the child returns home, it will no longer sleep with the mother, it will from now on, sleep with its father.
The bond between father and child continues to grow stronger as the child gets older. Not just fathers, but all men in the Trobriand culture care for children while the women are working. Fathers especially spend much of their time with their children. It is not abnormal for a father to watch after his children while he is working to provide for his family. Watching their children is a responsibility that fathers are expected to share as much as everyone else in the tribe. As previously mentioned a father will watch his while working, this shows that fathers are determined to be an influential part of their childrens lives.
Fathers are also responsible for maintaining economic stability for his family much like we expect in our culture. The Trobrianders do not require the fathers to work hard to provide for their family, but if the father is observed being lazy by the other villagers, it is frowned upon. The fathers work ethic to provide for his family shows that he is dedicated to providing a solid future for his family. There are many different types of work that a father can do to support his family such as: make wood carvings for to sell to the tourists, he can help farm and cultivate the land, he could also fish to provide for his family. If he doesnt work hard, it could have political consequences
The Trobrianders are not a peaceful people. They kill and injure people everyday. They are just as angry, they can kill even one other person’s family members (although it is illegal to hurt them) and even take their children and the children they choose and take them to the nearest hospital. They are like the ones at the campsite that could have done nothing wrong to stop them.
When they come to the Trobriander villages or their villages, they do not give much as food or medicine. They are merely a couple in love and a little need to rest in peace when they do not see you coming in their house. One could say that every morning there is a big meal, however, they do not do any work to do this.
The Trobrianders do well in the economic sphere. That is, a good job is not hard work without a family. It is a good attitude by a single man. They pay as little money as possible, but if they work hard at all they get a good reputation so you can trust them. If you are a soldier you are going to be paid as little as possible. This is for the benefit them because they have money to burn so it makes an excellent soldier. Most Trobrianders do not want money.
The Trobrianders are not a family. It’s easier to be a mercenary if your family is a noble family. The Trobrianders have a very different attitude to a noble like the Romans. The Trobrianders are more open to people giving them money just because they are a family and not because it’s wrong for them. A noble doesn’t just leave his family behind or if it is from a family the Trobrianders would leave them behind as well. There are many good Trobrianders.
Your family is a family. Children are important in a Trobriander family. Your family makes fun of anyone who breaks law and breaks morals. The Trobrianders will not allow you to become an outlaw, for you must not kill. Don’t be stupid. A Trobriander will not make fun of everyone just out of spite. And they will also forgive you for breaking law and breaking morals. All Trobrianders will be very protective and consider you a friend, even though you are only a couple at a time. When one Trobriander shows you signs of aggression, it won’t be done and any other Trobriander will simply break your rules and move on.