Gender Inequality and Witchraft in Papua New Guinea

2013:64). Likewise, although men in Papua New Guinea only value women for reproduction, they also see menstruation as problematic as they do not allow women near them or let women complete activities for them such as cooking, (Herdt 1994). They also view the menstruation process as pollution and a threat to a man's masculinity, (Herdt 1994). Women in Papua New Guinea also have unequal gender roles than men. For example, women in Mount Hagen, Papua New Guinea, had to do most of the hard agricultural work such as raising pigs and growing coffee crops (Bonvillian et al. 2013:62). However, men took most of the coffee proceeds and used the pigs in ceremonial exchanges that include money and shell valuables, (Bonvillian et al. 2013:62). Women were treated unequally as they had to contribute their small earnings toward men's ventures such as buying trucks. Also, women would also be exchanged for valuables and given to other clans for marriage, (Bonvillian et al. 2013:62). Moreover, with this example, there is a clear link to gender inequality in Papua New Guinea as women have to hand over their earnings to men, rather than spending it themselves. They are also exploited as objects to be given away in marriage exchanges (Bonvillian et al. 2013:62). .
             Violence against women is an extremely problematic issue in Papua New Guinea, as there is a high incidence of sexual assault and rape (Lepani 2008:150). In a study conducted, women reported experiencing a variety of types of physical abuse in relationships. Types of abuse included, being hit, bashed, punched and their husband or partner fighting them. Women were being abused because men were using violence in order to release their internal frustrations (Lewis et al.2008:191). Also men wanted to have dominance over their partner's actions and feelings (Lewis et al. 2008:192). Men also believed that after paying a bride price, a local tradition in which the bride's parents receive payments from the groom's family; they can fully possess women and treat them like a purchased commodity (Lewis et al .