MicSem Special Features

MicSem By Category: CULTURAL

Micronesian Counselors

Effects of Modernization on Three Areas of Island Life

Francis X. Hezel, SJ

Modernization poses difficult choices for people, especially regarding gender equality, fairness to those outside the family, and balance of concern between the household and the extended family.

September 1991 CULTURAL SOCIAL ISSUES

Spirit Possession in Chuuk: Socio-Cultural Interpretation

Francis X. Hezel, SJ

Summary of research done on the ways in which spirit possession is used as a means of dealing with family problems.

July 1993 CULTURAL

Culture in Crisis: Trends in the Pacific Today

Francis X. Hezel, SJ

Review of problem areas in the Pacific resulting from social change.

May 1993 CULTURAL SOCIAL ISSUES

Social Isolation, Cultural Competence, and Disability in the Carolines

Mac Marshall

How physical disability is understood and dealt with in the islands.

January 1994 CULTURAL HEALTH SOCIAL ISSUES

Land Issues in Chuuk

Francis X. Hezel, SJ

Report from a two-day conference on land problems in Chuuk.

October 1994 CULTURAL LAND ISSUES

Changes in Family Structure Leading to Alcoholism, Suicide, and Child Abuse

Donald H. Rubinstein

Anthropological view of how culture change in the family brings about social problems.

June 1994 CULTURAL FAMILY CHANGE SUICIDE

Why Don't Our Government Offices Work?

Francis X. Hezel, SJ

Explanation of how cultural values and attitudes obstruct the creation of a government bureaucracy.

May 1998 CULTURAL GOVERNMENT

A Hibiscus In the Wind: The Micronesian Chief and His People

Francis X. Hezel, SJ

Chiefs had obligations toward their people as well as the other way around.

December 1997 CULTURAL

Becoming a Professional Victim

Francis X. Hezel, SJ

Argues that the Marshall Islands’ lawsuit against Big Tobacco could be more damaging than the cigarettes they smoked.

July 2000 CULTURAL GOVERNMENT

Settling Disputes

Francis X. Hezel, SJ

Over-reliance on the courts to settle disputes, even though traditional means are available.

January 2002 CULTURAL GOVERNMENT

The Chuuk Problem: At the Foot of the Political Pyramid

Francis X. Hezel, SJ

Argument that Chuuk’s political impasse stems from its fragmented traditional authority system.

April 2004 CULTURAL GOVERNMENT

Island Politics

Francis X. Hezel, S.J.

Politics in the islands has been elevated to a new art form, while drifting from the ideal of public service.

May 2007 CULTURAL GOVERNMENT

Caricature of Infinity

Neil Poulin, SJ

Humorous account of a priest’s adventures on a trip through the Yap outer islands.

September 2005 CULTURAL

Cultural Loss: How Real is the Threat?

Francis X. Hezel, SJ

If culture is more than material items and outward behavior, perhaps the threat of cultural loss is exaggerated.

July 2005 CULTURAL

A Teacher's Tale

Francis X. Hezel, SJ

An expatriate teacher explains the cultural lessons learned during his long stay in the islands.

September 2009 CULTURAL

The Role of Culture in Economic Development

Francis X. Hezel, S.J.

The playing field is not level when it comes to economic development, for cultural values and attitudes give some societies a head start.

June 2009 CULTURAL ECONOMICS

Cultural Revolution Of The 60's

Francis X. Hezel, S.J.

The rapid increase of dollars and jobs in the 1960s led to structural changes whose impacts are still being felt.

September 2008 CULTURAL FAMILY CHANGE

Video Listings

Voices of Pohnpei (Part 2)

Francis X. Hezel S.J.

1995 CULTURAL HISTORY

Voices of Pohnpei (Part I)

Francis X. Hezel S.J.

1995 CULTURAL HISTORY

When Spirits Roamed

Francis X. Hezel S.J.

2012 CULTURAL RELIGION

Take Me to Your Island

Francis X. Hezel S.J.

1998 BUSINESS CULTURAL

Reflections on Anger

Francis X. Hezel S.J.

1996 CULTURAL SOCIAL ISSUES

Mind Your Own Business

Francis X. Hezel S.J.

1999 BUSINESS CULTURAL

talks

Human Dignity through the Eyes of a Catholic Missionary

Francis X. Hezel, SJ

Presentation at LDS conference on Human Dignity in Hawaii

April 2024 CULTURAL RELIGION

Intangible Culture

Francis X. Hezel, SJ

Address at book launch at Historic Preservation Office, Pohnpei.

March 2015 CULTURAL

Cultural Survival

Francis X. Hezel, SJ

Presentation at University of the South Pacific, Fiji

September 1991 CULTURAL SOCIAL ISSUES

Micronesian Dispersal

Francis X. Hezel, SJ

Talk at the Micronesian Cultural Exchange Festival, Honolulu

October 2006 CULTURAL MIGRATION

Social Changes in the CNMI

Francis X. Hezel, SJ

Presentation on Saipan

1998 CULTURAL SOCIAL ISSUES

Relationship between Yap and Palau

Francis X. Hezel, SJ

Presentation at Yap Homecoming Day

June 2013 CULTURAL HISTORY

Micronesia Today--An Overview

Francis X. Hezel, SJ

Presentation to Catholic Church group

May 2004 CULTURAL FAMILY CHANGE

Mechanics of Change

Francis X. Hezel, SJ

Presentation given on Guam

2005 CULTURAL FAMILY CHANGE

Good Governance in Micronesia

Francis X. Hezel, SJ

Presentation given throughout the region

January 2005 CULTURAL GOVERNMENT

Family Ties and Youth

Francis X. Hezel, SJ

Talk to Youth Summit on Saipan

Oct. 2004 CULTURAL FAMILY CHANGE

Early Spanish Period in the Marianas--Eight Theses

Francis X. Hezel, SJ

Presentation at Marianas History Conference on Saipan

August 2013 CULTURAL HISTORY

Development in Palau

Francis X. Hezel, SJ

Presentation given in Palau

2008 CULTURAL ECONOMICS HISTORY

Deepening a Sense of History in Micronesia

Francis X. Hezel, SJ

Presentation at the Historic Preservation Office conference on Pohnpei

August 2013 CULTURAL HISTORY

David Dean O'Keefe

Francis X. Hezel, SJ

Presentation at Yap Homecoming Day

June 2014 CULTURAL HISTORY

Culture of Wellness in Palau

Francis X. Hezel, SJ

Koror

November 2007 CULTURAL HEALTH

Culture in Crisis--Trends in the Church and Society in the Pacific

Francis X. Hezel, SJ

Presentation to the CEPAC-CCJD Symposium, American Samoa

November 1991 CULTURAL ECONOMICS FAMILY CHANGE

Cultural Dilemmas in Development

Francis X. Hezel, SJ

Presentation at East-West Center, Hawaii

July 2013 CULTURAL JUSTICE & LAW SOCIAL ISSUES

Commerce, Christianity and Colonialism in Micronesia

Francis X. Hezel, SJ

Presentation given in Chicago

April 1990 CULTURAL GOVERNMENT HISTORY

A Close-up Look at What's Happening in Paradise

Francis X. Hezel, SJ

Presentation at University of Hawaii

2001 CULTURAL SOCIAL ISSUES

Micsem Discussion

Faith, Culture and Democracy in Truk

Francis X. Hezel S.J.

Discussion of the fit between democracy and traditional authority in Chuuk, and how the church can help mediate.

1988-04-30 CULTURAL GOVERNMENT RELIGION

Palauan Custom

Francis X. Hezel S.J.

Changes in many of the most important Palauan customs demand a response today by Palauans.

1986-11-22 CULTURAL

Freedom of Information: Who Has a Right to What?

Francis X. Hezel S.J.

Freedom of press can provide important information to the public, but it can also do social damage in a Pacific society.

1995-05-17 CULTURAL JUSTICE & LAW SOCIAL ISSUES

Domestic Violence in Micronesia

Francis X. Hezel S.J.

With the breakdown of social mechanisms that once protected women, new means of protecting them from harm will have to be found.

1994-11-30 CULTURAL GOVERNMENT SOCIAL ISSUES

Where Do Traditional Leaders Fit in Today's Society?

Francis X. Hezel S.J.

Traditional leaders have a distinct function, but can not easily be absorbed into the modern authority system.

1994-05-12 CULTURAL GOVERNMENT

Women's Role in Micronesia: Then and Now

Francis X. Hezel S.J.

Many of the traditional roles of women have eroded with modernization, raising the question of how adjustments can be made.

1994-03-08 CULTURAL GOVERNMENT SOCIAL ISSUES

Books

Micronesian Origins

Francis X. Hezel, SJ

This short booklet traces in simple language island links with the past. It tries to show the general route, geographical and cultural, from island Micronesia all the way back to Africa some 50,000 years earlier. The history is broken down into five segments, although the trail sometimes fades away for long periods.

Pohnpei 2021. 33 pp. CULTURAL HISTORY

Reduction of the Marianas: Resettlement into Villages under the Spanish

Francis X. Hezel, SJ

Once hostilities ended during the early mission period, the Spanish began resettling the population, greatly diminished by disease, into villages. The period of resettlement lasted half a century (1680-1730). This booklet explores the purpose and the process of resettlement. It also explores how the new village might be compared to the old in terms of layout and cultural practices.

Guam 2021. 48 pp. CULTURAL HISTORY

Making Sense of Micronesia

Francis X. Hezel S.J.

Why are islanders so lavishly generous with food and material possessions but so guarded with information? Why do these people, unfailingly polite for the most part, laugh openly when others embarrass themselves? What does a smile mean to an islander? Making Sense of Micronesia is intended for westerners who find themselves in contact with Micronesians—as teachers, social workers, health-care providers, or simply as friends—and are puzzled by their island ways. It is for anyone struggling to make sense of cultural exchanges they don’t quite understand.

2013 CULTURAL SOCIAL ISSUES

articles

Human Dignity in the Pacific

Francis X. Hezel, SJ

Human dignity as understood from a Micronesian perspective,

2024 CULTURAL HISTORY

Good Intentions, Good Enough

Joseph A. Flear

Observations on the sociocultural aspects of Health Care Delivery in Micronesia

1997 CULTURAL HEALTH

Mission in the Marianas, In I Estoria-ta: Guam, the Marianas and Chamorro Culture

Francis X. Hezel, SJ

Brief review of the first missionaries in the Marianas and their impact on society.

Museo Nacional de Antroplogia, Madrid (2021), 65-74. CULTURAL HISTORY

The Chamorro Village After Resettlement: The New and the Old

Francis X. Hezel, SJ

Spanish resettlement of the Marianas population into villages.

With David Atienza, in Espana y las Islas Marianas (2022), 85-113. CULTURAL HISTORY

Resources on Micronesia

Francis X. Hezel, SJ

Listing of major archives and libraries with print and visual materials on Micronesia.

Journal of Pacific History, Vol 50:2 (2015): 213-223. CULTURAL HISTORY

Christianity in Micronesia: The Interplay between Church and Culture

Francis X. Hezel

An overview of what Christianity has brought to the islands

In Charles E. Farhadian, Introducing World Christianity. London, Blackwell Press, 2012. 230-243. CULTURAL RELIGION

The Cultural Revolution of the 1960s in Micronesia

Francis X. Hezel, S.J.

The impact of the cash economy on the family and other social institutions in the islands.

Ankulegi: Gizarte Antropologia Aldizkaria-- Revista de Antroplogia, Issue 12, 51-64. CULTURAL