"Who will bury me?": The plight of childless elderly among the gende

This paper looks at the meaning and consequences of childlessness for elderly Gende persons in Papua New Guinea. In terms of an individual Gende's social identity, childlessness is very nearly the equivalent of being a child. Like children, childless elderly are seen as non-productive persons who rely on others for sustenance and security. Unlike children, they are held responsible for their condition and may suffer scorn and neglect. Means for overcoming childlessness and enhancing one's status in the community include adoption and investing in the welfare and education of other people's children. In recent years, the monetization of Gende society and the failure of many migrants to make adequate provisions for parents left behind in the village have increased the number of de facto childless persons. One "solution" has been intensified competition among adult Gende for the support of the few young men and women who are financially secure or who show promise of becoming so.