BRIDE price commits wives to obey the demands of their husbands.
This is the popular view held by the people of Tawatana village, Arosi One of West Makira, Makira-Ulawa Province.
The view was expressed in interviews with people discussing domestic violence, family violence and violence against women.
People interviewed included men and women from Temotu Province, Malaita Province, Guadalcanal Province, Western Province, Isabel Province and Central Islands Province who are married to men and women from Tawatana village and have settled there.
People interviewed believe having large families – up to 10 children or more is one major Bride price commitment, adding it is the couples’ right to have children.
And they also believe domestic violence occurs when wives disobey their husbands as bride price demands -” wives must obey husbands”.
On violence against women, a former village chief Ben Aharo believes it is indeed a big social problem in Honiara.
He attributes this to the types of clothes women and girls wear on the street.
Mr Aharo said as Solomon Islands women have come to accept the ideas of equal rights prompted by international women’s liberation organizations, women and girls wear clothes that attract males in Honiara.
By GEORGE ATKIN
West Makira Journalist
