Women in Fiji

According Vilimaina Rakaseta "the presence of very young children and larger family sizes contribute to the low level of labour force participation of Fijian and Indian women in Fiji." By culture and tradition, a woman in Fiji lives in a paternalistic and patriarchal society wherein she has a secondary role at home performing household chores that include cooking meals and cleaning the house. As community and village members women are treated as subservient to men.

The National Council of Women of Fiji was founded in 1968. Anaseini Qionibaravi became the first female member of the Senate of Fiji, Taufa Vakatale the first female Deputy Prime Minister in 1997, and Teimumu Kepa the first female Leader of the Opposition. Nazhat Shameem was the first female judge in Fiji (upon her appointment as a Judge of the High Court of Fiji in 1999). She was also the first woman to serve as a prosecutor. In 2008, Shameem and Jocelynne Scutt became the first females to sit on the Court of Appeal of Fiji.

Eating customs

By tradition, most of the cooking is performed by Fijian women. Indo-Fijian cuisine may include food made from starch and involves the use of relishes made from vegetables. If available, meat and fish are also eaten. Flatbread may be made from locally grown rice or from imported flour. For religious reasons Hindu Indo-Fijians avoid consuming beef and Muslim Indo-Fijians avoid consuming pork.