Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The pinnacle of success for many is to work in the civil service, though this is beginning
to change as salaries rise among artisans and businesspeople.
A National Identity?
Despite being a relatively young country with a diverse population, and although ethnic
identity is often a primary source of identity for many Mauritians, a strong sense of na-
tional identity in Mauritius transcends racial and cultural ties.
Of the various forces binding Mauritians together, the most important is language - not
the official language of English, but Creole, which is the first language of 70% to 80% of
the population and understood by virtually all Mauritians. Another common bond is that
everyone is an immigrant or descended from immigrants with no community being able to
lay claim to being the island's indigenous inhabitants. Food and music are also unifiers, as
is the importance placed on family life. Mauritius is a small, close-knit community. Living
in such close proximity breaks down barriers and increases understanding between the
different groups. Respect for others and tolerance are deeply ingrained in all sectors of so-
ciety, despite the occasional flare up of racial tension.
WOMEN IN MAURITIUS
» Maternal mortality rate per 100,000 live births: 60 (UK:12)
» Life expectancy at birth for men/women (years): 71.25/78.35
» Adult literacy for men/women (%): 90.9/86.2
» Youth unemployment for males/females (%): 19.4/29
» Average age of school completion for boys/girls (years): 13/14
» Female MPs as proportion of total: 18.4%
» Women over 25 years old with a secondary education: 45%
Family Life & the Role of Women
In general, each ethnic group maintains a way of life similar to that found in their coun-
tries of origin, even if they are second- or third-generation Mauritian.
Often, several generations live together under one roof and the main social unit is the
extended family - as witnessed by the size of family parties on a Sunday picnic. There is
minimal social-security provision in Mauritius; people rely on their family in times of
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