|
| |
DISTRIBUTION OF LABOUR Children assist their parents in the daily work, the boys taking care of the ducks and cows and weeding the ricefields; or, if their father is a craftsman, they become his apprentices. Little girl help their mothers to carry loads, to cook, to weave, or sell in t market. The activity of the women seems to increase with age; by far the most active person in our household was Gusti's aunt, proud old woman over sixty. Women of the common class cat even greater loads than the young, but she, being a Pregusti could not carry loads. Her hands, however, were never still a she was reputed the best maker of offerings in the bandjar. Endowed with a knowledge acquired only by age, elderly women are essential to the religious festivals and many act as priestesses. Although old men are mainly concerned with sitting in the bale bandjar discussing literature, chewing sirih, and drinking tuak, they also have duties to perform: they are the leading members of the village association, the priests, witch-doctors, story-tellers, and of course the teachers of writing, poetry, and the arts. Old men are often duck-shepherds, guiding the flocks of ducks to the fields and back. At one time the dramatic arts were restricted to the men, although older women danced in religious ceremonies. But today girls have successfully invaded the theatrical field. In general the condition of Balinese women is better than in other Eastern countries. A
woman has definite rights; the income she derives from the sale of her
pigs, her weaving, or the garden produce she sells in the market is
her own, and she may dispose of her belongings without the knowledge
of her husband. Most women are not only economically independent, but
contribute to the expenses of the household. A woman's debts are her
own and her husband is not liable for them. The women keep the finances
of the family and control the markets.
|