GENDER EQUITY IN THE HIGHLANDS

I just saw a fight at the Gordons Market in Port Moresby. It was a one-sided fight between a woman and a man. The man just stood and took the blows.

She was built like a brick out-house and came from the highlands. Accusing the man of stealing money, she bashed him and threw him around like a rag doll.

If this is highlands violence, it was at the hands of a woman who punched the man repeatedly in the face like a prize boxer. The fact that he did not respond might mean they were not married. Or he was afraid that a fight may attract extreme violence from her tribesmen who were probably in the crowd.

It did demonstrate that with many man-woman fights in the highlands, the man may see that he has to smash the woman down or be seriously injured. It is not a gender equity issue but an issue of survival. At least she did not try to crush his testicles as is the practice among some highlands women.

There is gender equity in the highlands. Many women are equal in bashing men. Highlands women are strong and not afraid of violence. These women must laugh at the talk among expatriate woman advisors who speak only about violence of men. That is only half the story in the highlands.