The Maasai Tribe Through My Eyes

The Maasai Tribe in Northern Tanzania and Southern Kenya is one of the few civilizations existing in today’s modern world that live as humans did thousands of years ago. They do everything by hand and have no electronics. The role that women have in the society is very different than the one our society has had in recent history. Rather than being treated as equivalents to men as we are now or in older times when woman were only needed to take care of the house and the children, the Maasai women are responsible for the most work in the home. They need to build the houses, milk the cows, monitor the animal, close and open the gates, prepare food, collect water and firewood, prepare the fire, collect herbs and roots, wash clothes, and make decorative beads for the family.

The way that these women live seems dreadful, but at the same time I think it’s intriguing. To me it’s interesting that in a less developed society women can have such a crucial role on society, and without them their civilization would not be able to prosper.  To me it is really incredible that even though these women work tirelessly, they are one of the only societies in all of recorded history that have an impact more crucial than that of the men is astonishing.

If I were to be able to meet the women of the Maasai Tribe I would love to be able to ask them questions. One of the first questions I would ask is do they enjoy the way that they are living? Do young girls view the tasks as a play, right of passage, or work? What keeps them motivated to do all of the hard work while the men and children watch? Do they know about the outside world or is their knowledge confined to things happening in their tribe?

Although the life of a Maasai woman is very different than my own, I can still relate aspects of my life to theirs. I can understand the work ethic that the Maasai embrace. I know what it is like to get up before the sun is up and not be done working until well after the sun has set. I think after I go to Tanzania and work at the orphanage I will be able to relate to their lifestyle. When I am working, it is hard to keep going. But once I am done, I love that feeling of achievement with knowing all that I accomplished during the day, and I imagine that the Maasai can relate to this feeling.