Identity and folklore
The intermingling and successive contributions of migratory waves have shaped the identity of this predominantly mixed-race people, where in the same family you can have a white child, a light-eyed black child, another with Indian or Chinese features... In fact, despite great contrasts, a certain conservatism and a macho culture, the society is naturally tolerant and welcoming. It shares a common base of strong traditions, which are asserted in numerous folklore events. And the calendar of local and national festivals is packed with traditional dances and costumes, including the pollera and montuno. True patriotic symbols, they hold a special place in the hearts of Panamanians, as do the flag, the coat of arms and the national anthem, not forgetting the harpy eagle and the flower of the Holy Spirit (orchid). Numerous federative dates mark the life of the country, bringing "everyone" together, as is the case with Carnival. Highly anticipated, it is celebrated with the greatest fervor. Four days when everything comes to a standstill (vacations are almost compulsory for companies), except for the binge! Beyond this agenda, here we love simple pleasures to share with the family, like a trip to the beach for a picnic... We take life one day at a time, without worrying too much about the future. The relationship with time is very different from our European standards. And if someone says "ahora" (literally "now" in Spanish), you should know that it can mean "in a moment", a moment that can go on forever... A sense of calm that can be felt throughout the country, and even in the capital, except perhaps in traffic jams, which can generate a touch of road rage.
On the benches of the school
Spanish, the mother tongue of the majority of Panamanians and the official language of the Republic, is the language of instruction. At the same time, bilingual literacy programs are being set up in the communities in an attempt to preserve and transmit Amerindian languages. This is a difficult challenge to meet when we know that the teachers are rarely native and that the communities are generally isolated. Since the 1970s, elementary school have been established in the most remote regions, but this is unfortunately not the case for secondary schools, which are concentrated around urban areas. School dropouts are therefore common despite the fact that schooling is compulsory until the age of 14. Pupils are sometimes obliged to walk several kilometers to attend classes, provided that the family's financial situation allows it. From middle school on, there is a charge for tuition, materials and uniforms. The three years that make up the first cycle are validated by a new certificate. Obtaining the equivalent of our bachelor's degree requires two additional years of study. Founded in 1935, the National University of Panama has nearly 70,000 students. The faculties are located in the most important agglomeration of each province. The courses are divided into semesters and an American-style graduation ceremony is held at the end of each semester. It is common for students to study for only six months of the year and work the rest of the time to finance their education. Evening classes are popular for the same reason. Finally, a summer school runs every year from mid-January to mid-March. It is common for wealthier families to send their children to study at one of Panama's private universities, or to the United States.
The place of women in the making
Despite living in a still very macho society, women are demanding and proud, and efforts are being made to improve the status of women and promote their participation in society, as well as in political life. There are a number of hopeful signs. In addition to the election of Mireya Moscoso to the presidency of the Republic in 1999, which opened up new perspectives, the work of the legislators in 2022 finally recognizes the need to combat the many forms of discrimination suffered, both in the political and private spheres, including sexual harassment at work and in everyday life, violence within the couple...
Added to this is the problem of the Amerindian communities, which society must address. They are often the victims of a certain contempt, which affects women even more, who sometimes speak little or no Spanish. This situation is all the more difficult for people living in rural and low-income areas, where young girls in particular are deprived of access to education. They also see their horizons darkened by the announcement of a desired or unwanted pregnancy (every year, more than a quarter of births are to minors). There are also many single-parent families, and it's not uncommon for a 20-year-old woman to already have several children by different men. This situation is being addressed by the recent 2022 law, which imposes a sex education program in schools.
Initiatory rites
For Amerindian communities, the most important festivals are linked to the different phases of a woman's life cycle. Among the Guna, for example, several ceremonies mark the successive passages from one age group to another. The nasal perforation, a few months after birth, and the puberty rite are two festive events. Sprinkled with chicha fuerte (an alcoholic drink made from fermented corn), they bring the entire community together.
It is during the puberty festival that the Ngäbe-Bugle declare the young girl ready for marriage. In the past, men also had to follow an initiation course, during which they were taught the essential keys to facing life (the art of hunting and warfare, agility, etc.). The Emberá and Wounaan also attach great importance to female initiation rites.
Human rights
Panama has been a democracy since 1990. Freedom of expression, of the press and of human rights are more or less respected, at least more than in some Latin American countries. The Defensoría del Pueblo is an independent institution in charge of protecting people from abuses committed by the State, the equivalent with some differences of the Ombudsman of the Republic in France. The Defensoría del Pueblo presents annual or special reports when it deems necessary but has no coercive or jurisdictional powers.
Gay marriage
Here, it is still out of date. Until 2008, declaring oneself homosexual was an offence under an old decree from 1949, with penalties ranging from 3 months to one year in prison. Today, homosexuality is tolerated thanks to the struggle of the Asociación Hombres y Mujeres Nuevas de Panamá (AHMNP). Panamá was one of the last Latin American countries to decriminalize homosexuality. The strong influence of the Church, the macho structure inherited from the colony, and the "qu'en dira-t-on" attitude explain society's reluctance to consider the LGBTI community as having the same rights as heterosexuals. Many gay people lead double lives, and some even marry to hide their sexual preference from their families... With the development of tourism, society has opened up considerably, especially in the capital where there are a few gay venues (discos, saunas, bars).
On the contrary, gender difference is very well accepted among the Gunas. Their matriarchal society requires the husband to go and live with his wife's family, often posing an economic problem for the husband's family of origin. Many families therefore raise the young boy as a girl so that he remains in the family; this phenomenon is common and completely accepted. The omegit, "men-women" in Guna, dress like women and do the women's work, particularly the weaving of molas, where they excel.
Social protection
The benefits of Panama's relative prosperity and near-full employment (9.9 per cent unemployment in 2022) are far from being felt by all. A large part of this employment is taken up by the wealthiest groups and a large part of the jobs remain in the informal sector, without any social protection. In the area of health, the quality of care varies greatly. The large cities are well equipped with modern clinics and hospitals, but rural health centers often lack proper equipment and medicines. Preventive campaigns for a healthier lifestyle are frequent and necessary, as the increasing level of overweight and obesity is becoming a concern.
The minimum retirement age is 55 for women and 60 for men. Panamanians are rather well off compared to their neighbors with a multitude of financial benefits (which foreigners who come to retire here can also enjoy) on medical consultations, electricity or water bills, transportation, hotels, etc. Heavy fines are risked by professionals who do not respect these social measures. Another program is the "100 a los 70" pension, which grants US$100 to people aged 70 and over. In return, beneficiaries must undergo regular health checks.
Traditional medicine
Sukia among the Guaymí, jaibaná among the Chocoe, curandero among the Gunas...: the role of the healer is considerable. In these communities, traditional medicine rubs shoulders with conventional care, but is no longer always seen as the sole means of freeing the patient from his or her ailment. Once a diagnosis has been made, the healer may advise a doctor to take over. However, health centers and clinics in remote areas sometimes require patients to travel several kilometers on foot, horseback or by pirogue. Medicinal plants, carefully selected and gathered by healers, also require several kilometers of forest travel. They are used for internal or external treatments, in the form of baths, gargles, poultices or herbal teas. As for the shaman, he is also a wise man with the gift of communicating with the spirits. The apprenticeship is long and full of trials..
