Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 10.djvu/430

 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

Among the Indo-Chinese races equality of the sexes prevails, and prevailed long before Buddhism took any hold upon the country. Mr. Crawford maintains that in the Malay Archipelago " the lot of women may be considered, on the whole, as more fortunate than in any other country of the East ; " they associate with the men " in all respects on terms of such equality as surprise us in such a condition of society." The Dyak shows great respect for his wife, and generally asks her opinion ; he regards her, " not as a slave, but as a companion." In Bali the women are on a perfect equality with the men. In Serang they have equal rights with the men in all communal matters, and are, consequently, treated well. In some parts of New Guinea the position of women is described as one of dignity :

They have a large voice in domestic affairs, and occasionally lord it over their masters. It is not only in domestic affairs, but also in the affairs of state, that their influence is felt.

In the Pelew Islands, according to Kubary, the women are in every respect the equals of the men ; the eldest man, or obokul, of a family can do nothing without taking advice with its eldest female members. In the Kingsmill Islands very great considera- tion is shown women : they seem to have exclusive control over the house, and all the hard labor is performed by the men. In Tonga "women have considerable respect shown to them on account of their sex ; " they are not subjected to hard labor or any grossly menial work, and their status in society is not inferior to that of men. In Samoa they

are held in much consideration treated with great attention, and not

suffered to do any thing but what rightfully belongs to them.

Among the Line Islanders

no difference is made in the sexes ; a woman can vote and speak as well as a man, and in general the women decide the question, unless it is one of war against another island.

Turning, finally, to the African continent, we find that among the negro races the woman, though often heavily burdened, and more or less subservient to her husband, is by no means without influence. Biittner observes: