larked Change in Fiji's

[?]dem Dress and Outlook

larked Change in Fiji's Young Women

By Frank Ryan

1 the last 20 years, Fiji has ex perienced most of those changes inevitable in a “young” country, w buildings are being erected, the julation continually increases, and s City of Suva is rapidly extend : over the adjoining hills, hobably not so noticeable, except the streets of Suva, is the marked mge that is taking place among i young Fijian women, n the old way of life, Fijian men, unless of rank, occupied a nial position. They had no tiative, and were not encouraged extend their activities beyond tring children, looking after their nfolk, and working in the village ntations. To a modified extent, s still prevails in village life, hit, among the younger educated men, a marked change is apparent, to comparatively recent years women wore very plain and un ealing dresses, and invariably a u was worn underneath. The 1 of this plain piece of cloth tally hung incongruously below skirt, with anything but pleas effect. ’o-day, young Fijian women ’king in offices wear stylish, well de dresses of the best material. ; sulu, draped under the skirt, ; been discarded. Under voile, on and georgette upper garments ider bra and petticoat ribbons w, in attractive contrast against pely brown shoulders, heir carefully-tended frizzy hair, ly maturity, and their free, ceful carriage as they stride in companionship alongside the ng men with whom they work, [ to their charm. hey ride bicycles, a few drive 5, and many don short bloomers nheard of a few years ago—to ipete in athletic events. An .stant in the Fiji Visitors’ •eau is a softly-spoken girl, ruana Sorowale, who represented in the broad jump at the tish Empire Games in Canada.

Medical Students

t the Central Medical School, an girls sit attentively through ures or bend intently over oratory benches, ultimately to duate as Assistant Medical Prac- Dners, or as dentists, he attitude of Fijian men toward ir womenfolk may require that a while these girls may have be used in child-welfare or ilar work, rather than in nurs ; but, as the men seem to like ministrations of Fijian nurses i difficulty may not arise. In the mtime the Principal of the

School speaks with enthusiasm of these promising girl students.

At Adi Cakobau School the scholastic attainments of the girls, their vitality, adaptability, eagerness to learn, and their neat, wholesome appearance, have commanded the admiration of many distinguished visitors, most notably Her Majesty the oueen. ... , It is interesting to observe how cultural environment, and the in- Sjf nC dnwn thp nimd? 6 a 1 ?’

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, Dai *^ me ss anc * refinement are

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manners of the race-so much so that some women teachers have ex pressed a fear that too many girls may be raised above the standards

of their future husbands. Too marked a disparity in culture' and natural refinement might result in unsatisfactory marriages.

Lost In Marriage

Something similar was said by a former matron at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital, who lamented that no sooner had she got her trainees in order than someone married them. If they married medical assistants, as is often the case, they should be helpful to their husbands in their work, which they could share. If the husband was an educated boy, there was equality in culture and outlook.

It has often been said that no race can be improved by improving

[ men alone. For that reason, mg women in Fiji are being en gaged to learn and develop tiative and confidence. _n the iools, training colleges, hospitals 1 in Government and commercial ces, young women are showing rked signs of advancement and, the same time, developing pride their sex. ’hey are already emerging from cocoon to explore new fields of *k in the development of their e.