"I'll tell you because I love you", Wan said as she sweetly peeled me off the counter, onto which I had hopped after a long morning of chopping carrots ad rolling sushi. And so she and Biton explained that Marshallese custom, or Manit, does not allow for women to sit on counters, or tables, or anything higher then where the men sit. I had heard that women cannot climb coconut - or any other type of - trees. I just didn't know that these ancient rules were still alive, among young Marshallese in an urban environment. And if I want to respect these people then I guess I will have to respect the ethical framework they operate in.
How do I consolidate this with being a feminist? I have no idea! But I know that I love these people and I would never want to hurt them by disrespecting their Manit. I am also here to do fieldwork.... A good story for my intro sociolinguists class: Fieldwork is hard,morally and ethically challenging!
How do I consolidate this with being a feminist? I have no idea! But I know that I love these people and I would never want to hurt them by disrespecting their Manit. I am also here to do fieldwork.... A good story for my intro sociolinguists class: Fieldwork is hard,morally and ethically challenging!