Growing up on the Trobriand Islands in Papua New Guinea

Download or read book Growing up on the Trobriand Islands in Papua New Guinea written by Barbara Senft and published by John Benjamins Publishing Company. This book was released on 2018-05-22 with total page 276 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume deals with the children’s socialization on the Trobriands. After a survey of ethnographic studies on childhood, the book zooms in on indigenous ideas of conception and birth-giving, the children’s early development, their integration into playgroups, their games and their education within their `own little community’ until they reach the age of seven years. During this time children enjoy much autonomy and independence. Attempts of parental education are confined to a minimum. However, parents use subtle means to raise their children. Educational ideologies are manifest in narratives and in speeches addressed to children. They provide guidelines for their integration into the Trobrianders’ “balanced society” which is characterized by cooperation and competition. It does not allow individual accumulation of wealth – surplus property gained has to be redistributed – but it values the fame acquired by individuals in competitive rituals. Fame is not regarded as threatening the balance of their society.