Final answer:
For the women of the Kawelka tribe, caring for pigs is a key aspect of their daily lives, influencing their social status and the tribe's economy. Their ability to raise healthy pigs impacts family prestige and social alliances, as pigs play a major role as social currency in ceremonial exchanges like the Moka.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Ongka’s Big Moka, which provides an ethnographic look at the Kawelka tribe of Papua New Guinea, the role of women in caring for pigs is central to their daily lives and social status. Pigs are considered valuable assets and are often used in significant exchanges like the Moka, which are ceremonial gifts.
The women of the Kawelka tribe are primarily responsible for raising and tending to the pigs, a task that greatly influences their routine, status, and contribution to the tribe’s economy. The effort put into pig husbandry reflects the women's skills and diligence and can affect the family's prestige within the community. This care involves feeding, cleaning, and keeping the pigs healthy, which in turn ensures the animals grow to be valuable assets for ceremonial exchanges. The pigs are so integral to the tribe’s cultural practice that a woman's ability to raise healthy pigs can enhance her family's reputation and her husband's social standing, affecting the relationships and alliances between families.
The pigs are not only a source of food but also serve as a social currency within the tribal community, showcasing the interplay between horticultural practice and social complexities. Thus, women's role in pig care becomes a reflection of their family's potential generosity and wealth during social and ceremonial events like the Moka and is directly tied to their societal position.