Mosuo culture

The Mosuo are a ethnic group living in Yunnan and Sichuan Provinces in China, close to the border with Tibet.

The matriarch (“Ah mi” or “elder female”) is the head of the house. The Ah mi has absolute power and she decides the fate of all those living under her roof. Women are responsible for much of the work done around the house and financial decisions. The matriarch also manages the money and jobs of each family member.

When the Ah mi wishes to pass her duties on to the next generation, she will give her female successor the keys to the household storage, signifying the passing on of property rights and responsibility.

Walking marriages are the most prominent form of marriage in Mosuo culture. In a walking marriage, during the day, both partners live separately under the roof of their own family; however, at night it is common for the man to visit and stay at the women's house (if given permission) until sunrise.

Mosuo families tend to trace their lineage through the female side of the family. Occasionally, in fact, they may not know who the father of a child is. Unlike in most societies, this does not carry a stigma. The father doesn’t raise children of parents who have a walking marriage. The brothers of the mother (maternal uncles) in the marriage take on the responsibilities of the father since the father isn’t typically around during the daytime.

It is possible for a Mosuo woman to change partners as often as she likes and the Na language (used by the Mosuo) has no word for 'jealousy'.

Considering women are responsible for most domestic jobs and that they have the larger role in the walking marriage, they are viewed with more respect and importance in this society.

Source: wikipedia

Minangkabau

Minangkabau people also known as Minang, are an ethnic group indigenous to the Minangkabau Highlands of West Sumatra, Indonesia. The Minangkabau strongly profess to Islam while at the same time also follow their ethnic traditions, or Adat.

Women hold a relatively advantageous position in their society, as most property and other economic assets pass though female lines. Historically, and through the customary Adat, women control the land, the property, and the workers.

It is customary for the female and her family to be involved in most of the wedding plans, including making the marriage proposal.

After marriage, the bride does not go to the groom's house but stays at her mother's home. The husband moves his possessions to his wife's house, to prove that he is man of substance. The groom normally brings his own bed, chairs, and other necessities of comfort for his stay with his wife in her room and in her family house. However, as per community custom, he stays with his sisters even after marriage and visits his wife's house only at night.

The children take the surname of their mother.

While the chief of the village is male, he is often chosen based on his connections to the women of the village, as is his successor. In fact, the structure of entire towns and villages is often based upon the relationships among and between the women of prominent families.

Iceland

On October 24, 1975, Icelandic women went on strike for the day to “demonstrate the indispensable work of women for Iceland’s economy and society” and to “protest wage discrepancy and unfair employment practices.” Participants, led by women’s organizations, did not go to their paid jobs and did not do any housework or child-caring for the whole day. 90% of women took part, including those in rural communities. Many industries shut down for the day as a result. There was no telephone service and newspapers were not printed since the typesetters were all women. Theatres shut down for the day as actresses refused to work. The majority of teachers were women so schools either closed or “operated at limited capacity.” Flights got cancelled since the flight attendants did not come into work and bank executives had to work as tellers to keep the banks open on this day.

The “Day Off” opened the eyes of many men who referred to it as “the long Friday.” In 1976, Iceland’s parliament passed a law guaranteeing equal rights for women and men.

In 1980, Iceland’s Vigdís Finnbogadóttir, a divorced single mother, became the world’s first democratically elected female president. She stepped down in 1996 after four terms in office.

After the 2016 elections, more than 45% of members of the Parliament were women. In 2018, 45% of Government Minsters are women.

Starting 2018 it is illegal to pay women less than men for a similar position. More than 40% of company board members are women. 

The total parental leave period is nine months long. Each parent has three months leave which is non-transferable and in addition the parents can divide three months, as they like. During their leave parents who have been working full time receive 80% of their former salary up to a certain ceiling. Fathers have grasped this opportunity with enthusiasm and around 90% use their paternal leave.

In 2016, there were 19 primary and nursery schools, empowering girls from an early age. In these schools, girls are not taught to play with dolls and imaginary kitchens. Instead, they are taught to have initiative, show courage and have critical thinking.

The country is ranked as 3^rd happiest country the world, a ranking that takes into account both social and economic data.

TASK 1

 Address these discussion questions:

•  Is the culture presented similar to the one in your country? What are the main similarities and differences that you observe?
• Did you imagine that such a system/such transformations may exist in the world?
• How would it be for you to live in such a culture?

TASK 2

Prepare in the group a short presentation of the culture you received.