Masai Women Movie Review

Reva Bottles
11/2/03
Movie Review #1

Film Series: Disappearing Worlds
Title: Masai Women
Anthropologist: Melissa Llewelyn-Davies
Producer: Chris Curling, 1975

This movie described the Masai culture and traditions, it specifically focuses on women. The Masai live in East Africa in the West Highlands of the Rift Valley. They do not hunt or grow crops like many cultural groups, instead they are animal herders. They consider cattle to be the most valuable and important animal. They have sincere love for their cows and even name them. Women in the Masai society are in charge of milking and caring for the cattle. Also in contrast to many other groups, Masai women are viewed as a form of wealth and are highly valued instead of being looked at as inferior and worthless. A man’s wealth is often measured by the number of female companions he has.
Even though females are greatly valued, they still have no chance of surviving or have a purpose if they d...