Paper short abstract:

This paper will explore the problematic nature of the public-private divide in scholarly discourse. . I argue that the divide is very much gendered and privileges the male gender as well as Western notions of how human interactions and behavior are structured between the private and public spheres.

Paper long abstract:

This paper will explore the problematic nature of the public-private divide in scholarly discourse. Two decades ago, my doctoral research explored this divide which is largely taken as a given in most anthropological literature on PNG. I found this problematic based on my insider knowledge and lived experience as an indigenous Papua New Guinean, and more so as a woman whose experience did not quite 'fit" into this schematic scholarly divide of the public and private sphere. This paper intends to explore the problem of private-private divide, and how this informs my understanding of women's role in decision-making and women in leadership in PNG. I argue that the divide is very much gendered and privileges the male gender as well as Western notions of how human interactions and behavior are structured between the private and public spheres. The paper will furthermore critique how this discourse has influenced research and literature on women's political participation in PNG and generally in Melanesia, and bring to the fore the importance of recognising indigenous women's agency in leadership and decision-making, and society more broadly.