Culture & Identity of the Federated States of Micronesia
Introduction
The people of the Federated States of Micronesia are fairly diverse in terms of ethnicity, language, and history, but most of the people live a similar lifestyle; their way of life revolves around the land and the seas. This way of life, the culture, the single country, and the people's fight against global warming and rising water levels truly unite the people despite their many differences.
Nearly everyone in the Federated States of Micronesia lives in a rural area as few islands are even large enough to have a city. Due to the vast array of islands and cultures from one to the next, there seems to be no normal job or occupation as each person does their own thing. Many people still farm or fish on a daily basis to maintain a living, but others are getting more steady employment, including jobs in the services industries. Despite new employment opportunities, the standard of living and annual income is still very low.
For many women, days are spent doing multiple chores, from cooking and raising children to fishing. Getting food tends to be a combination of going to the store and getting it from the fields and seas (although traditionally most farming is done by men and most fishing is done by women). Since there are no grocery stores on most islands, many people spend time each day going to multiple shops to get bread, pasta, and other foods, but they also fish, farm, and socialize.