The Trobrianders

The Trobrianders
1. “The social and cultural system in which we live in determines who we define as kin.” Describe the a) economic; b) political/power, c) moral obligations kin have toward one another in this society. Since the Trobriand society follows a strict belief in matrilineage, the relationship between the mother and her family as well as the father and his family is very important. Economically, the status of a person in the family, would often determine how many items he receives, and/or gives during a marriage, death and important events such as gardening that continues throughout the years. Depending on the individual’s rank in society, the services one receives at different occasions are fit to their rank. A chief for example,
A man’s yam house is a representation of that man’s wealth, as well as another man’s fine gardening skills and a woman’s status, since she is the title owner of the yams. Often, yams are used as a symbol of wealth at harvest festivals where women compete for the wealth title by bringing in yams. The higher the title, the more praise and honor goes to that woman’s matrilineage. In marriage, people from the bride’s side of the family bring gifts of yams to the groom’s relatives; later they are awarded with valuables depending on the generosity of the yam giving. Therefore, yams and valuable items such as stone axe-blades often serve in economical exchanges that define the relationships and status of the givers and receivers in the
All these things are directly related to social relationship of the individuals in the society. Take a couple who eats yams together to announce their marriage, they are directly linking yams, which is property, to marriage. Same goes for the food that the groom’s mother provides for a year after marriage, and the exchange that occurs during the marriage. “In marriage exchanges, each person from the bride’s side who contributed to the first yam exchange receives a valuable when they are collected by the groom’s