Women in Guam

Women in Guam—sometimes referred to as "Guamanian women" or "Chamorro" (also spelled as Chamoru) women, live in and are native to Guam; an unincorporated territory of the United States. According to the Guamanian culture, women are the managers of family resources like land and food, which made them more popular in the family set-up, more especially with children. Currently, women participate in jobs that belong to the wage economy category, but there are also women who work in the agricultural sector.

In the culture of Chamorro people, there is a balance in gender roles for both men and women. For example,the oldest daughter in the Guamanian family shares power with the oldest son on traditional perspective. The eldest daughter has the responsibility of caring for her parents during their elder days. Women, by tradition, are powerful figures within the household, while men excel in areas of public affairs such as hunting and fishing.

Guam has undergone a change after three centuries of colonialism. While men dominate the political sphere, women have become more active participants in organizations that are socially, religiously, and culturally oriented. Roman Catholicism also brought about changes in Guam. One such change was the rendering of "higher status" to the role of men in government, business, and church while women were delegated roles that were related to controlling resources of the family. During the 2nd half of the 20th century, some women of Guam were elected as political officials and as leaders in many civic and governmental organizations.

In practice of poksai, a common form of the adoption system in Guamanian society, childless Guamanian women may raise a niece or a nephew as a member of her domestic unit, known as the clan or extended family (the core of Guamanian society).<ref name=Perez>Hattori, Anne Perez. "Guam". Countries and Their Cultures. Retrieved 6 October 2013.

The three literacy generations of Guam women

Chamorro women are categorized into three evolutionary groups generations based on purpose and value for English literacy.The first category valued English literacy for school education and official business domains while the second category valued English literacy for school education and professional competence. The first category of evolutionary purpose for English language literacy purpose and the second one are closely related. The only difference existent, is the business purpose in the first category. The third generation attached value to English literacy for private and public spheres of influence. Despite the differences in purpose for English literacy, the three generations commonly use their original language Chamorro for religious purposes inclusive of prayer and songs.<ref name=Landy>Landy, Thomas Landy. Matriarchal traditions endure from pre-colonial Guam "Catholics and cultures". Retrieved 20 April 2019. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)

Respect to elders rituals

The people of chamoro have a unique way of showing respect to elders. children are taught in their early ages on how to seek blessings ritually from the elders. For example, before children go to play,they must look for their aunts and uncles to seek blessings from them by smelling their hands.The young members of the society also hold the hands of the elders and smell them to seek blessings from them and also as a way of demonstrating respect.Such a unique ritual could only be compared to the Filipino Mano which had similar characteristics,with one major purpose of demonstrating respect for elders.The concept of elders was not confined to men only , but women were also part of the elders, from whom the younger generation could learn from and be blessed, contrary to many chauvinist societies that regard men as the only elders in a society.

See also

• Women in Hawaii
• Women in Puerto Rico
• List of people from Guam

References

Landy, T. M. (2018, July 30). Matriarchal traditions endure from pre-colonial Guam. Retrieved April 20, 2019, from https://www.catholicsandcultures.org/guam-matriarchal-culture-endures-sex-considered-private-issue

External links

• Guam Women's Clinic
• Women in Guam History from Guampedia
• Women & Gender Studies Program, College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences, University of Guam
• [https://www.jstor.org/stable/20204865?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents