Anuta by Richard Feinberg

Author:Richard Feinberg
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Anuta: Polynesian Lifeways for the Twenty-First Century
ISBN: 9781612774787
Publisher: The Kent State University Press
Published: 2011-11-18T00:00:00+00:00

Tau Makitanga (‘Father’s Sister-Brother’s Child’)

The father’s sisters and close female patrilateral parallel cousins may be in ego’s own household. Upon reaching adulthood, however, they are expected to marry out—an event that often takes place before their brothers’ children have been born. Therefore, even one’s closest makitanga usually are in a different unit from oneself.

Anutans respect the makitanga and identify her with the tamana. Restrictions placed on freedom of interaction between the tama and tamana apply to the tau makitanga relationship as well, but in the case of a male ego they are modified somewhat by the sex difference. Therefore, in certain situations (e.g., when meeting on a path where one or the other must step aside), if the tama is an adult male the makitanga must defer. This contrasts with Tonga and Samoa where women outrank their brothers, and the respect due the father is intensified rather than diminished in dealing with his sisters or his female cousins.

A woman takes a great interest in the children of her kave. During the first few weeks of an infant’s life, she may spend a good deal of time helping the mother. Even later, she spends much time with the tau pae, assisting the mother in her tasks or taking custody of the child for longer or shorter periods. Often a makitanga initiates adoption procedures. As in the tau tamana relationship, the prescribed restraint permeating relations between a makitanga and her tama is alleviated to some degree by strong ties of affection, which continually manifest themselves and are obvious even to a casual observer.

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