Moving Down, Becoming a Woman

Abstract

The celebration for a girl’s first menstruation is her most vital moment of integration into the world of the women. It is not held for every girl immediately but girls who get their first periods within a short time of each other, over a few months, are celebrated together in a group. Before this moment, the girls are regarded as children; they practise but neither the conduct of respect (gassorow) nor acceptance of more responsibility are expected of them. With the onset of puberty, their lives change abruptly. They are awarded the status of fully-fledged adults. The gabiitiw-celebration (gabiitiw: to make it come down, to let it move down) introduces the girls not only to useful knowledge and secrets about the sexual side of life but, rather, symbolically emphasizes the strong ties of the women to the earth and the land on Lamotrek.