Family and Marriage for the Maasai is an interesting topic. Among the tribe there are what are called age-sets. This is a kind of social hierarchy for the Maasai. There are many age-sets that a male can be in. Women are in the age-set that their husbands are in."The image most people have of the Maasai warrior is one of a tall and lean man dressed in a bright red shuka
cloth, or red tartan blanket wrapped around his waist or slung across
his shoulders. In one hand he holds a long-bladed stabbing spear, and
more often than not will be seen leaning against it with one leg off the
ground hooked behind the other."(Finke 2008) This describes a Moran, a warrior. The Morani are the warriors of the tribe. Any man can be part of the Morani but first he must be circumcised. Once the elders decide that a boy is ready for initiation, he will be circumcised and prepared for junior warriorhood. These warriors are trusted with the task of protecting the cattle and engaging in warfare.
The elders will then decide after some time that the junior warriors have done their time and are graduated to the status of senior warrior. At this time they can have a wife or multiple wives and can have a family. After their time as a senior warrior, if they still survive, they are made an elder. Elders make most of the decisions of the clan or tribe. Elders are composed of men and women. Because there are many elders, decisions are made as a group, there is not one main decision maker. This way the decisions are not contested.
The women of the Maasai have a very different life. From when they are born, in most cases, they are already betrothed to a man. Even though they may be betrothed, they still enjoy sexual freedom until they are circumcised at about age 15. If they do not cry out or flinch during this procedure, they are considered clean, pure, and ready for marriage. To be married the man has to pay bridewealth for his bride. This is done to protect the wealth of the family that is losing a daughter.
After the women are married, they may still keep close ties with other men in the tribe. If they do become pregnant from this, their husband will accept the child as his own. Women, once they are married and have children, have to take care of the cattle as well as build the houses for the family. In one village, traditionally, there would be 8-20 houses, today there can be up to 50 houses, this is because of land restrictions. Maasai are being pushed out of their traditional territory. In addition to building the homes, women are expected to care for the home, children, and cattle. They also must fetch firewood and water which may be 30km or more away.
Finke, Jens. "Maasai - Religion and Beliefs." BlueGecko.org. 2000-2003.
11/15/2016. http://www.bluegecko.org/kenya/tribes/maasai/beliefs.htm.
