Today, Kihnu has only 400 inhabitants, a demographic decline compared to the 1,200 before WWII and the 700 in the Soviet period between 1944 and 1991.
In the Gulf of Riga, men lived in difficult icy conditions and passed on the rules of seal hunting from father to son. Also, many men served in the merchant navy, leaving for several months to the North Sea. As a result, Kihnu women have governed the affairs of the community since the middle of the 19th century, thereby becoming the guardians of the island. They have performed all the tasks, even those traditionally reserved to men: work in the fields, harvests, livestock, education of children and the transmission of traditions. In 2003, UNESCO classified the cultural practices of Kihnu as an intangible heritage of humanity. This encouraged and empowered the women of the island to preserve the crafts, the local dialect, and the songs and dances. All these customs have almost disappeared due to modernization and globalization.
Women recognize their important decision-making role, but their men are essential to them. “Men's wages provide our economic base, because in Kihnu, it is the sea that gives life. The island earns most of its income from fishing and tourism”. However, some residents of the island fear their culture will be affected by the influx of tourists and do not perceive the image of the "island of women" very positively.
If men are now more present on the island, their mothers, their wives or their daughters continue to take charge of the education, culture, community life, and especially the crafts, thereby preserving their traditions.
Lovely photos and glad to see younger women depicted with grandmas. I am so bummed we didn’t make it to this part when we were in Estonia. Next time hopefully.