Women in Tonga
 | This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (October 2013) |
 | |
| General Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Maternal mortality (per 100,000) | 110 (2010) |
| Women in parliament | 3.6% (2013) |
| Women over 25 with secondary education | 87.5% (2012) |
| Women in labour force | 53.5% (2012) |
| Gender Inequality Index[1] | |
| Value | 0.631 (2021) |
| Rank | 160th out of 191 |
| Part of a series on |
| Women in society |
|---|
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As female residents of
Traditional position in society
The LA Times further described that Tongan women have a mehekitanga (meaning "auntie") or "fahu" (the eldest aunt), a senior women who shared with a brother the authority and power over a family group. The mehekitanga has a special position during "weddings, funerals and birthday parties". The mehekitanga is usually seated in front during these special occasions. Prior to getting married, permission was to be asked from the mehekitanga.[2]
Royal line
The LA Times mentioned that the royal Tongan line "descends through women".[2]
Education
During her reign from 1918 to 1965,
Roles in society
Traditional Tongan women perform activities such as cooking, sewing, weaving and jobs that are entrepreneurial in nature.[2]
Traditional dress
In the 1800s, before the arrival of Methodist missionaries, Tongan women dress in a topless manner.[2]
Lifestyle
During 1806 to 1810, English author and sailor William Mariner described Tongan women in his book entitled "Tonga Islands" as liberal, who upon marriage lived as faithful wives; as single women, Tongan females may take lovers; Tongan women can divorce their husbands and may remarry "without the least disparagement to [their] character."[2]
Upon the arrival of Christianity and the eventual conversion of most Tongan women, the female members of Tongan society became described as "deeply religious" and "respectable girls" never walked alone with Tongan boys. The practice of cannibalism also disappeared. In terms of the Miss Tonga beauty pageant, the annual contest does not involve a portion of the program that displays the wearing of
In general, modern-day Tongan women work outside the home. They are not obliged to perform manual labor.[2]
See also
References
External links
