Terra Warford
Brief Background of the culture:
The Ifaluk culture settled on the small island of Elato in the group of islands called the Caroline Islands. This culture is not only isolated from the large landmasses, but also being a ring like coral island, is also a human environment that is subject to chance or unknown conditions. Since most of this island is only fifteen feet above sea level, the settlement resides on the swampy central areas of the island, where the taro gardens (the staple crop for the Ifaluk culture) were developed. Other important foods include coconut, breadfruit, banana, papaya, and sweet potato. These plants were not only important because of the food the produced, but the branches of the coconut tree were used for building materials, and the fibers from the banana plant were used for weaving clothing.
As the Caroline Islands became colonized, the Ifaluk culture became heavily influenced by both German and Spanish practices and many of the men were captured and used as slaves for both countries. Through many years of being traded and sold, the Caroline Islands finally ended in the hands of Micronesia, where the pattern of the Ifaluk's nature is reflected.
Gender Differences:
Men and women have many different roles in the Ifaluk culture, and spend much of their time separate. Although during the day work and labor fosters conversation and interaction between the two genders, relaxation time is often separate. Men tend to go to the sea, or in the meeting house to work on rope, fishing gear, or tending to children under the age of five or six (because women over this age are not allowed in the meeting house). Women on the other hand, typically work in the garden tending the taro, tending to an infant, cooking, or weaving clothing. There is also a possibility that women will reside in houses with relatives, or in birth houses where women go to birth their children, and men are not allowed.
There are many taboos in this society that cause men and women to remain separate from each other. This avoidance is even evident when walking on a path, if a man is approaching a woman, she will move off of the path to avoid contact with him. Although sexual encounters and other romantic actions between unmarried individuals are acceptable, this can only happen when surrounding people are away or asleep; during the day, no contact is made. These night meetings are common and because of this, when men and women are found talking during the day, it is assumed that they are arranging a night meeting.
Along with avoidance comes the issue of respect among the Ifaluk culture. There are many actions that are required of women when in the presence of men. Since men are seen as the protectors of the society, women must remain "smaller" at all times thus women must walk bent over form the waist when walking past a group of men that she may be taller than (including men sitting down). This act remains dramatic even in brother sister relationships in the home, when the woman will crawl on her hands and knees if need be, to remain at a lower level than the men in her home.
Despite all the injunctions of avoidance in the culture, gender role differences are also seen through the matrilineal society. Inheritance from the household, land, and taro gardens is passed through the line of the mother. While men distribute the fish that they catch, women distribute the product of their gardens. Matrilocal inheritance then places the families in particular areas on the island giving women support from other female family members. Men then bring to the marriage their fishing skills and claims to coconut trees while women give land, food, and shelter to their husbands.
So, as women continue to have socially high status regarding land, they are viewed as "needy" and in need of protection, which is the job of the husband. Since women are seen as needy, it is custom to obey the wishes of one that is less needy. Thus, women are expected to obey their husbands. However, because of this view, men are expected to completely protect their wives from any type of danger both physically and emotionally. An example of this idea is that men will occasionally carry women through shallow waters to the shore to avoid any type of unseen danger in the water.
Therese Moore
The Ifaluk people love children. Much of what was done back then in this culture has changed, but there are some things that are just too important to change. This information was written in a text to make sure that others and their generation know how to protect their infants, and appreciate the importance of teaching their child to be maluwelu and of being maluwelu themselves, and to understand why a baby should never be left alone. Three important issues that have not been changed are weaning, feeding, and sleeping.
Feeding
The mother and the father are the only people who may feed the baby during their period of confinement. The little one should be fed whenever he or she cries or whenever else the attendants think it is necessary. In the beginning, feeding follows the same routine as in the birth house-first water, then breastmilk. The baby is always held in the arms when breastfeeding. To make sure that the child's head does not fall back, they wrap the little one in a cloth (in the old days the cloth would have been very stiff). They also feel it is important to give the infant a special medicine twice a day-once in the morning and once in the evening- for the first three months to ensure a healthy stomach. The medicine given is a concoction of water and three types of leaves mixed together. After feeding, they return the little one to the cradle.
Sleeping
During infancy, after the first day at home, the baby may sleep during the daytime either in the cradle or on the pandanus mat made for the baby. The babies often usually sleep during the day. At night, the baby should sleep between the mother and the father, as protection from the yalus. The child may continue to sleep with the mother and father until three years of age, or until another child is born. In early childhood, young children do not have regular sleeping habits. They usually sleep when they are tired, so the mother and father should allow the child to sleep at any time he or she wishes. However, the Ifaluk people believe that it is important that the child not stay out after dark, when the yalus come to capture children and harm them. After three years of age (or before, if they have had another baby), the child will no longer sleep between the mother and father, but next to them. Alternatively, the child may go to sleep with another adult.
Weaning
There are two stages of weaning the baby from the mother's breast. The process begins at three months, when they start feeding the baby taro and fish. First, the food is chewed by the adult, then given to the baby a little bit by fingers. If they discover that their children do not like solid food, then they suggest not forcing it, but to introduce solid food routinely until the baby gets used to it and likes it. In earlier times, the children nursed for three or four years, but now usually breastfeed for just two years. When the mother is ready to wean the baby totally, they shame the child by warning that other children will laugh if he or she continues to nurse.
Another important idea in the Ifaluk culture is teaching proper behavior. At two or three years of age, having learned to talk and to walk, the child is just beginning to have thoughts and can now start to learn things. The mother and father should seriously begin to help the child to acquire repiy (adult-like-intelligence). As parents, they should start teaching and even lecturing the child about the proper ways of behaving in Ifaluk society. Obedience is valued greatly, but they say that children only start to obey when, and because, they can understand language. Thus, they prefer lecturing to spanking. Neither the mother or father should ever impose physical punishment on the child. On the other hand, when the child does something right, the mother and father, and anyone else should offer praise.
Parents should actively encourage children to express emotions in the Ifaluk manner. The ideal person is maluwelu (gentle, calm, and quiet). They should also teach their children to be metagu (afraid, anxious) in the presence of large groups of people or strangers that may visit the atoll. By teaching, metagu, the parents help avoid dangerous situations, including unfamiliar people, physical injury, death and the yalus.
