Categories: Culture

Kihnu Island, the last bastion of women in Europe figures in UNESCO heritage list

<p>
<strong>While the majority of societies around the world are patriarchal, there are some exceptions. In Europe there is an island which is completely managed by women. Kihnu island of Estonia, is probably Europe’s last matriarchy stronghold.</strong></p>
<p>
One of the largest – seventh — of Estonia’s 2,000 islands, Kihnu boasts of picturesque beaches, forests and farmhouses is also a place known for being dominated by women – as they constitute about 90 percent of its total population.</p>
<p>
Kinhu island has been registered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in its intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list.</p>
<p>
<img alt="" src="https://www.indianarrative.com/upload/news/Estonia_Kinhu_Women1_Twitter.webp" style="width: 720px; height: 480px;" /></p>
<p>
Going back in the past, men of the island in the 19th Century would be out in sea hunting for fish and seal for days and months and thus women in response had to come forward to take over the reins of every aspect of the place.</p>
<p>
The traditional roles of the women expanded to include all those functions that were necessary for a society to function. They took charge of weddings and funerals, dance, song and handicrafts, all aspects of the society and culture. An article in the New York Times talks about Mare Mats who does multitasking. She not only manages several homestays on the island which include one at her home, but is also a tour guide and lighthouse keeper.</p>
<p>
Now the traditional Kihnu society is facing the stresses and strains of modernisation. The number of people in the place are reducing as many are moving away due to lack of jobs. With the fishing industry changing, men are returning home for longer periods, with some even staying on.</p>
<p>
Despite these new developments, Kihnu women are keeping the customs and traditions of the place intact and passing them</p>

IN Bureau

Recent Posts

India should be branded as a ‘Responsible Capitalist’ nation: Nirmala Sitharaman

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has called for branding India as a "Responsible Capitalist" nation, emphasizing…

36 minutes ago

Taiwan reports hike in Chinese military activity

Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence (MND) reported Chinese military activity on Saturday and detected 25…

44 minutes ago

VINBAX 2024: Vietnam-India bilateral army exercise concludes at Kaushalya Dam

The fifth edition of the historic Indo-Vietnam Joint Field Training Exercise, VINBAX-2024, successfully concluded its…

17 hours ago

India-Russia strengthen defence ties at 22nd Working Group meeting on military technical cooperation

The 22nd meeting of the India-Russia Working Group on Military technical cooperation and defence industry…

17 hours ago

“I want to have strong representation of India at World Nuclear Exhibition 2025”: Sylvie Bermann

Sylvie Bermann, President of the World Nuclear Exhibition expressed confidence in India's nuclear supply chain…

19 hours ago

PoJK: Joint Awami Action Committee protests against government following new ordinance, many injured

Joint Awami Action Committee core member Shaukat Nawaz Mir has condemned the attack of police…

19 hours ago