article
The birth and growth of a Polynesian women's exchange network
Oceania • 65 (3) • Published In 1995 • Pages: 234-256
By: Small, Cathy.
Abstract
This is an article on the history of women tapa cloth manufacturing and exchange groups, called KAUTAHA, which first appeared in the early 1900s. Small discusses the expanding network of exchanges in womens' prestige goods in the region and more recently across the globe. She also discusses the ideology surrounding the exchanges, which are seen as 'giving warmth,' or what Small calls 'love gifts.' Western goods and cash became included in the exchanges and both kinds of exchanges increased by 1500 percent between 1920 and 1982. However the KAUTAHA work group died out by the late 1960s and was replaced by a different manufacturing arrangement, the TOU LANGANGA. Small marks the shift in manufacturing and exchange practices due to migration and she examines in more detail the transnational exchanges of the 1990s. In conclusion she comments on the theoretical import of such local practices in context of modernization and globalization.
- HRAF PubDate
- 2006
- Region
- Oceania
- Sub Region
- Polynesia
- Document Type
- article
- Evaluation
- Creator Type
- Ethnologist
- Document Rating
- 4: Excellent Secondary Data
- 5: Excellent Primary Data
- Analyst
- Ian Skoggard; 2004
- Field Date
- 1981-1995
- Coverage Date
- 1875-1975
- Coverage Place
- Tongatapu, Tonga
- Notes
- Cathy A. Small
- Includes bibliographical references (p. 255-256)
- LCCN
- 38017490
- LCSH
- Tongans