FAMILIES IN THE MALDIVES
The family is the basic unit of society. Most Maldivian households consist of a single nuclear family rather than an extended family. The man is usually the head of the family household, and descent is patrilineal. Women do not accept their husbands' names after marriage but maintain their maiden names. Inheritance of property is through both males and females. [Source: Helen Chapin Metz, Library of Congress, 1994]
Families in the Maldives tend to be nuclear and fluid because of the high divorce and remarriage rate. Women often own a house and the children remain with her after a divorce. Maldivians have traditionally maintained a tidy houses of several rooms and a kitchen, with a fenced garden. The elderly are not automatically accorded any special respect. They may live with their family or alone. They are expected to still earn their keep and do their share of work. By law, all children equally share the responsibility of taking care of their elderly parents. [Source: Clarence Maloney and Nils Finn Munch-Petersen, “Encyclopedia of World Cultures Volume 3: South Asia,” edited by Paul Paul Hockings, 1992 |~|]
Islamic laws on inheritance are observed. Daughters get half the share of sons. Some parents will all their property to one child in return for old-age support. Women often inherent houses while men inherit boats. Because of the frequency of divorce couples often own property as individuals. When a woman dies, the first share of her property goes to her legal guardian (usually her father) and then in turn to husband, sons, and daughters. Inheritance matters are presided over by a qazi (Islamic judge). |~|
Contrary to the trend in many other Muslim countries, households in Maldives typically do not include extended family members. In the 1990s, roughly 80 percent of households were comprised of nuclear families with a married couple and their children, with the father typically recognized as the head of the family. Unmarried people generally live with their families rather than alone. [Source: “Countries and Their Cultures”, The Gale Group Inc., 2001]
The close-knit island communities practice mutual aid to survive difficult circumstances. A system of extended families provide a safety net for members of a family going through a difficult period. In addition to the parents other members of the family also contribute in the care of children. Traditionally men go out fishing during the day and women are responsible to look after the affairs of the family. These traditions remain most alive among the smaller island communities. [Source: Oceana Maldives Holidays visitmaldives.info ]
King Groups in the Maldives
The Maldivian kinship system has both southern Indian and Arab elements. The island communities outside of Malé are generally close-knit, self-contained groups in which most everyone is related through generations of intermarriage. [Source: “Countries and Their Cultures”, The Gale Group Inc., 2001]
Clarence Maloney and Nils Finn Munch-Petersen wrote in the “Encyclopedia of World Cultures”: “Descent can be classified as bilateral and residence mostly as ambilocal or neolocal, or in a few places duolocal. Divehi kin terms are few, of mixed Sinhala, Arabic, and Dravidian origin. The terms "grandFather" (kafa ) and "grandmother" (mama ), and "father" (bappa ) and "mother" (mamma ) may be applied to other kin of their generation. The terms "elder brother" (bēbe ) and "elder sister" (datta ) are extended to elder cousins. Terms one uses for one's juniors, as "younger sibling" (kokko ), "child" (dan ), and "child-in-law" (danbi ), do not distinguish sex. As for in-laws, all males are covered by one term (liyanu, of Malayalam origin) and females by another (fahari ). [Source: Clarence Maloney and Nils Finn Munch-Petersen, “Encyclopedia of World Cultures Volume 3: South Asia,” edited by Paul Paul Hockings, 1992 |~|]
“In Fua Mulaku atoll there is a word for "mother's brother," maber, to whom a male may have a special relationship, a Dravidian remnant. There are no terms or marriage rules about cousins, any of whom can marry, as in Islam. There are hardly any Ritual relationships with one's own children, and none with Siblings or other kin. In this sparse system, most of the special kin relationships in the three underlying systems historically canceled each other out, compatible with the extreme frequency of divorce and remarriage.
Gender Roles in the Maldives
Maldives society has strong social divisions. Women have traditionally been expected to stay at home and take cares of the household, while the men made all the major decisions and were the bread winners for the family. Men are generally head of the households but women often oversee the family finances and the raising of children. Men have traditionally fished, built boats, grown millet, conducted trade, climbed coconut trees and worked in crafts such as stonework, cotton and silver Law guarantees women equal rights in education and work.
Gender Statistics in the Maldives:
Labor Force Participation by persons aged 15 to 24 by sex: 55.8 percent for men and 41.6 percent for women in 2016
Labor Force Participation by persons over 15 by sex: 75.1 percent for men and 42.2 percent for women in 2016.
Enrollment in secondary school: 64 percent for men and 74.6 percent for women in 2004.
Under Five mortality rates (deaths per 100,000 births): 11 for men and 8.9 for women
Proportion of seats held by women in parliament: 4.7 percent.
Adolescent birth rate (births per 1,000 females, aged 15-19): around 10.
[Source: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Statistics Division, genderstats.un.org ]
Women have made significant contribution to social, political and economic affairs in the Maldives and have been employed in education, health and welfare, services, tourism, transport, and communication sectors. In the 1990s, over 25 percent of women were employed, primarily by the government. In the 2010s the figure was over 40 percent (see above). According to “Countries and Their Cultures”: The government sector employed 15,862 people in 1996, approximately 64 percent males and 36 percent females. Women in the atolls generally are employed only in domestic or selected duties within the family, such as tending crops and producing general handicraft items such as coir rope and woven coconut palm leaves for domestic use. Women also collect cowrie shells from the shores. [Source: “Countries and Their Cultures”, The Gale Group Inc., 2001]
Women in the Maldives
The status of women has traditionally been fairly high, as attested to in part by the existence of four sultanas. Women do not veil, nor are they strictly secluded, but special sections are reserved for women in public places, such as stadiums and mosques. [Source: Helen Chapin Metz, Library of Congress, 1994]
Percentage of the population that is female: 36.7 percent (2019, compared to 50.5 percent in the United States, 53 percent in Estonia and 37.1 percent in Bahrain). Presumably the figure is so low because there a lot of foreign men in the Maldives for work. In the 1990s, females made up 49.5 percent of the population. [Source: World Bank data.worldbank.org ]
Women have always had an important role in the family and community. In the early history of Maldives, it was not uncommon to have sultanas (female sultans) serving as rulers. In pre-Islamic times, it is believed the Maldivians were a matriarchal people. One Persian traveler in A.D. 851 wrote the "ruler of these islands is a woman." Another travelers a century later wrote the "people of these islands practice Buddhism and they ruled by a woman.” In the modern Maldives women hold positions of responsibility in government and business. A large percentage of government employees are women. The male-female ratio for enrolment and completion of education to secondary education are roughly equal. Women serve in the cabinet and the Parliament. [Source: Oceana Maldives Holidays visitmaldives.info ]
Women in the Maldives keep their maiden name and can acquire land and property and engage in business. Women inherit less money and property than their male counterparts. Under the current system, based in Islamic law, a daughter inherits half of what sons gets because according to Islamic tradition men are responsible for taking care of their female relatives. After a divorce a woman is given half of all property.
Largely successful efforts have been made to keep women in school longer and encourage them to get married later to provide continuity in the workplace and reduce the birth rate. Despite this in some places menstrual pollution is still strongly observed. Because of superstitions related to this women have traditionally not been allowed into boats but have been involved in boiling, sun-drying, salting and smoking the fish.
Abuse of Women in the Maldives
A survey by Avaaz found that 92 per cent of Maldivians want a reform of national laws to protect women from sexual assault, while 73 per cent are opposed to punishments for women for “sexual crimes”. One in three women between the ages of 15 and 49 has suffered either physical or sexual abuse over the past five years.Nine out of 10 sentences for flogging in the Maldives in 2011 were given to women, while no one has been convicted of rape in the past three years. [Source: Jane Merrick, The Independent, August 24, 2013]
Percentage of women (aged 15-49 years) who consider a husband to be justified in hitting or beating his wife for at least one of the specified reasons: 26 percent
Percentage of men (aged 15-49 years) who consider a husband to be justified in hitting or beating his wife for at least one of the specified reasons: 21 percent
[Source: UNICEF DATA data.unicef.org]
Children in the Maldives
Children are raised benevolently. Violence is discouraged. Control is exercised through the emotions. Aggressive behavior is not acceptable. Boys like to swim, fly kites , climb trees, walk on stilts and play with boats. Girls like to play shell games, hopscotch and “kitchen.” The Maldives has a boy scout and girl scouts program. Children's play is not encouraged. On most islands there is little that is new to explore, no new personalities, and no real schooling. Mothers teach children to read and write Divehi, using chalk on little slate boards. [Source: Clarence Maloney and Nils Finn Munch-Petersen, “Encyclopedia of World Cultures Volume 3: South Asia,” edited by Paul Paul Hockings, 1992 |~|]
About 22.13 percent of the population is 14 and under. Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 15.9 percent; male: 19.1 percent; female: 12.1 percent (2016 estimated); compared with other countries in the world: 85. [Source: CIA World Factbook, 2020]
In the Maldives, children’s rights are spelled out in law and provisions are in place to protect children from abuse. However, people are now criminally responsible for their acts starting at the age of ten. In some cases like theft, fornication, consumption of alcohol and apostasy, the age limit drops to seven. In the case of murder, the sentence cannot be carried until the culprit reaches the age of 18. This means that children have to remain incarcerate on death row until the age of 18. Despite condemnations from top United Nations and European Union officials for the reintroduction of the death penalty, President Yameen, as justification for the move, said that "Murder has to be punished with murder". [Source: asianews.it, May 23, 2014]
See Education
Life Cycle Events for Children in the Maldives
Important life cycle celebrations include giving a name about a week after birth, circumcisions of boys, symbolic circumcision of baby girls (less practiced than it used to be) and girl’s puberty ceremony. Marriage is less important as a life ceremony. [Source: Clarence Maloney and Nils Finn Munch-Petersen, “Encyclopedia of World Cultures Volume 3: South Asia,” edited by Paul Paul Hockings, 1992 |~|]
According to the “Worldmark Encyclopedia of Religious Practices”: A Maldivian baby is usually given an Arabic name on the seventh day after the birth. The naming ceremony is accompanied with ritual prayers followed by a celebration with close friends and relatives. Food is also frequently given to the poor. In some of the islands, it is also customary to shave a baby's hair on the day of naming. [Source: “Worldmark Encyclopedia of Religious Practices”, Thomson Gale, 2006]
“Circumcision of boys between the ages of 7 to 10 is another rite of passage common in Maldives. The local doctor, known as the hakeem, performs this rite. In Malé this is normally done in a hospital. The circumcision ceremony takes place in the boy's home, which is decorated and visible to the community. The public is attracted to the celebrations by traditional drum music and dances; they are also treated to delicious food. This goes on while the boy lies in the middle of the room on a bed surrounded by relatives, who massage his feet and generally attempt to keep him comfortable. The boy also receives gifts. The festivities, typically a week, last until the boy is healed.”
Children Statistics
Under-five mortality rate: 7.6 per 1,000 live births. The rate decreased from 85.8 per 1,000 live births in 1990 to 38.9 per 1,000 live births in 2000 to 13.9 per 1,000 live births in 2010. [Source: UNICEF DATA data.unicef.org]
Child protection
Children under age 5 whose births are registered: 99 percent
Women aged 20-24 years who were first married or in union by age 18: 2 percent
Women aged 15-49 who have undergone female genital mutilation: 1 percent
[Source: UNICEF DATA data.unicef.org]
Education Statistics
Early Childhood
Attendance in early childhood education: 78 percent
Early stimulation and responsive care (any adult household member); 96 percent
Early stimulation and responsive care (father): 25 percent
Learning materials at home — children's books: 59 percent
Learning materials at home — playthings: 48 percent
Children left in inadequate supervision: 12 percent
[Source: UNICEF DATA data.unicef.org]
Education
Adjusted net attendance rate, one year before official primary entry age: 98 percent
Adjusted net attendance rate, primary education: 95 percent
Adjusted net attendance rate, lower secondary education: 84 percent
Adjusted net attendance rate, upper secondary education: 35 percent
[Source: UNICEF DATA data.unicef.org]
Child Health
Proportion of under-five children with suspected pneumonia taken to health provider: 74 percent
Proportion of children under five years old with diarrhoea receiving oral rehydration salts: 75 percent
Percentage of infants who received three doses of DTP vaccine: 99 percent
Percentage of children who received the second dose of measles containing vaccine: 99 percent
[Source: UNICEF DATA data.unicef.org]
Child Survival
Under-five mortality rate (U5MR): 8 deaths per 1,000 live births
Number of under-five deaths: 54
Infant mortality rate (IMR): 7 deaths per 1,000 live births:
Neonatal mortality rate (NMR): 5 deaths per 1,000 live births
Under-five mortality rate (U5MR): 7 deaths per 1,000 live births (male):
Under-five mortality rate (U5MR): 8 deaths per 1,000 live births (female):
[Source: UNICEF DATA data.unicef.org]
Maternal and Newborn Health
Proportion of women aged 15-49 who received postnatal care within 2 days after giving birth: 80 percent
Antenatal care coverage for at least four visits: 92 percent
Proportion of births attended by skilled health personnel: 100 percent
Caesarean section: 40 percent
Proportion of women 20-24 years old who gave birth before age 18: 1 percent
Maternal mortality ratio (number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births): 53
Births who had their first postnatal checkup within the first two days after birth: 82 percent
[Source: UNICEF DATA data.unicef.org]
Nutrition
Early initiation of breastfeeding (within one hour of birth): 67 percent
Exclusive breastfeeding (<6 months): 63 percent
Continued breastfeeding rate (20-23 months) at one year: 63 percent
Prevalence of moderate and severe stunting: 14 percent
Proportion of households consuming iodized salt: 97 percent
[Source: UNICEF DATA data.unicef.org]
According to the “Worldmark Encyclopedia of National Economies”: In the 1990s, it was “estimated by the Maldives Ministry of Planning and National Development that almost 50 percent of children suffer, to different degrees, from stunting and wasting in their physical development. This is due to malnutrition in the more remote and less easily accessible islands. This is mainly caused by limited agricultural potential and the high cost of imports. Consequently, the majority of Maldivians consume a relatively restricted range of foodstuffs, with rice, fish, and coconut being the staples. A 1993 survey found that less than 30 percent of children ate fruits and vegetables. On the other hand, the annual average intake of protein rose from 69 grams (1980-82) to 94.6 grams (1995-97), and over the same period caloric intake improved from 2,194.3 to 2,505.1. [Source: “Worldmark Encyclopedia of National Economies”, The Gale Group Inc., 2002]
Image Sources: Wikimedia Commons
Text Sources: New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Lonely Planet Guides, Library of Congress, Republic of Maldives Department of Information, the government site (maldivesinfo.gov.mv), Ministry of Tourism Maldives (tourism.gov.mv), Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC, visitmaldives.com), The Guardian, National Geographic, Smithsonian magazine, The New Yorker, Time, Reuters, Associated Press, AFP, Wikipedia and various books, websites and other publications.
Last updated February 2022