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Transition to Worker in a Traditional Society
Dianna DiPalma

In her book, Coming of Age in Samoa, anthropologist, Margaret Mead, describes the transition to adulthood for both genders. 

 The community ignores both boys and girls from birth until they are fifteen or sixteen years of  age… at a year or two beyond puberty both boys and girls are grouped into a rough approximation  of the adult groupings, given a name for their organization, and are invested with definite  obligations and privileges in the community life³ .

Thus, we begin our look into the Samoan values and belief system concerning the preparation of adolescents for the workforce, according to studies conducted by Margaret Mead and several other anthropologists in the earlier part of the twentieth century.  When compared to the western civilizations, one will see that the role of the worker is established much earlier in the Samoan culture and under different circumstances.

Where are the Samoan Islands?

Among the Polynesian islands, off the coast of Australia, lies the archipelago of the Samoan.  Despite western influence, the land has remained relatively untouched with a self-sufficient economy⁴. 

The Samoans represent a typical Premodern Culture. 

• Economy: Their economy is based on agriculture and fishing 
• Education: Role modeling and apprenticeships make up much of what could be considered Samoan education 
• Values:  Loyalty to the group is favored over individuality; and shame is a greater enforcer of social order than any other tool. 

Sex roles are determined at birth by way of the handling of the newborn’s umbilical cord.  For a Samoan girl, the cord is buried underneath the paper mulberry tree, the source for the village’s bark cloth.  This custom symbolizes the female Samoan’s future place in the household.  In contrast, the cord of a male infant is thrown out to sea in recognition of his future as a fisherman³. 

Tautala lai titi
It is important to be aware of one’s role in society. Tautala lai titi, to talk above one’s rank, is considered the ultimate sin in Samoan culture.  The ideal man in Samoan society is reserved, courteous, and displays no false pride⁴. 

The pace of an activity is set by the slowest participant.  This means at an early age Samoan males and females must learn to balance ambition with humility. It is better to be encouraged to work harder by one’s elders than to be reprimanded for precocity³. 

Older siblings and cousins scold young infants for crying out at awkward times or for refusing to be still when in the presence of their elders. It is of greatest importance that a Samoan learn to act responsibly in public at an early age.  Once out of earshot, children may act foolishly and spontaneously around their caretaker; however, such thoughtless behavior is scornful in public³.  Children grow to respect authority and their elders as family, teachers and employers.

The Gender Divide

The unambiguous divide between men and women’s formal work exists throughout the lifespan³.  The work of the other gender is different but respected.  For example, the construction of houses and boats are left to the men while the formal weaving houses of the women are never to be visited by the men out of respect for the workers³.  In childhood, the experiences of boys and girls are dramatically different due to the gender divided workforce⁴.  Therefore, in order to gain insight on the transition of the worker in this traditional culture, it is best to examine genders separately. 

Middle Childhood 
While American girls are preparing for the transition from their parents’ arms into kindergarten at around age six, a young Samoan girl starts her first job.  Her position is as a baby tender or nursemaid for a younger sibling or cousin.  Mead³regards the nursemaid as one, “who is not strong enough to lift a baby over six months old, but who can carry the child straddling the left hip, or on the small of the back,”³.  The older females of the household are the teachers.  If the baby should act out, it is the young nursemaid who is reprimanded for not properly doing her job³.  She quickly learns to take responsibility for her own actions and to consider the welfare of another.  Consequently, the girls rarely socialize with children of their own age and do not develop skills for cooperative play³. Samoan women concentrate on smaller groups throughout the lifespan, unlike the larger undertakings of the Samoan males³.

Early Adolescence
The Samoan girl’s education level advances when her role as the nursemaid is passed down to a younger female sibling or cousin who has reached the proper age.  Though the bulk of the cooking is handled by the males, she will begin to learn advanced food preparation for foods such as taro leaves, fish and cocoanut meat³.  These are sacred foods for the village.  Her improved understanding of these foods earns her respect from the community and directs her toward a working role in the village³. 

Adolescence
During adolescence, girls are considered strong enough to be sent on fishing adventures together in order to capture and prepare fish.  At the same time, the girls continue to learn a woman’s role in the household.  Her tasks include weaving of highly valued items such as Venetian blinds, baskets, fans³ and the ie toga (ceremonial floor mats)¹.  Learning to weave the ie toga is introduced as a rite of passage for the Samoan girl around the age of thirteen.  The article will take years to construct.  It is intended for important ceremonies of the household and is included in a bride’s dowry.  The ie toga illustrates a woman’s industry in the Samoan society, which makes her an attractive candidate for marriage.

The woman’s role as a worker in adulthood is derived from her training of food preparation, weaving and certain agricultural techniques learned during adolescence³.  The Samoan culture believes in a continuous development. After early childhood, children and adolescents are regarded as simplistic versions of adults.  As they accumulate more knowledge about their culture, they will become more valuable in their society³. 

Specialization for women in the Samoan workforce is limited to some herbal medicine techniques and midwifery.  The training for women who choose to specialize appears sequentially.  After caring for their own children during their twenties and thirties, the women will be taught how to assist younger women in the birthing process.  Consequently, those who choose to specialize will receive their education as middle-aged women from their elderly female relatives³. 

What is a Matai
All Samoans receive an untitled name when born such as Ioane (John); however, a young boy’s goal is to receive a titled name during manhood¹.  Each man in a family group made up of eight to fifty persons⁴, wishes to be chosen for the position of matai  (the head of the household).  As a matai, he will represent his family at the regular meetings of the fono or village council¹.  He is in charge of the family property as well as the ‘aiga or family name².  Once chosen as matai, he is to be addressed with a separate, formal vocabulary that signifies his high position of rank in the society¹.  It is important to note that much mobility exists between social classes and it is not uncommon for a young man to move from aumaga (group of untitled men) to a titled position¹. 

Receiving a Title

Transition to the position of matai or other chosen positions, such as orator of Samoan tradition, is indirect.  A young man does not apply to be the next matai in his household, nor is the position assumed to the kin of the present matai¹ .  The position is chosen by the older family members based on a young man’s service to the family and the former matai.  He must display a sincere interest in the concerns of the community². 

Beoming a Worker

The behaviors of the boy are observed from the age of six, when he begins assisting the adolescent boys on fishing voyages³.  During adolescence, he will begin to transfer his knowledge onto the younger generation as he becomes part of the aumaga, considered “the strength of the village,” as stated by Mead³. 

Specialization opportunities exist for young males as housebuilders, fishermen, wood carvers or orator.  A young man must choose one in which to specialize in order to keep him qualified for future positions of title and as a suitable mate³.  For example, the chief fishermen are usually the matai of a village.  In adolescence, the young man will begin to develop his skills through an apprenticeship under a relative.  The head craftsman is referred to as a chief⁴.

• Fluid transition (as compared to industrialized societies)
• Roles are predetermined at birth based on the child's sex³
• Specialization opportunities, especially for males¹
• Vocational and applied education³
• The old teach the young

Interesting Fact:
Post-menopausal women actually perform the hardest work of anyone on the plantations after her child bearing responsibilities are fulfilled.  Those at the end of their role as the worker are treated with respect from the younger generation and an opportunity to “sit in the sun and talk softly without regard for taboo or sex,”³. 

What is most significant about the Samoan economy, is the focus on the public good.  Unlike American education, there exist no career exploration classes or individual treatment.  It is expected that all positions held in the community emphasize contribution to the social group over individual achievement³.  Adolescent identity is ascribed or preordained in a social role rather than explored.  The Samoans are a harmonious, collective society that wishes to maintain traditions in their premodern culture.
 

References

Grattan, F.J.H. (1948). An Introduction to Samoan Custom.  Apia, Western Samoa:  Samoa Printing and Publishing Co. LTD.

Lockwood, Brian Albert (1971). Samoan Village Economy.  New York: Oxford  University Press.

Mead, Margaret (1961). Coming of Age in Samoa.  New York: M. Morrow & Company.

Mead, Margaret (1967). Cooperation and Competition Among Primitive Peoples.   Boston: Beacon Press.