Tomia, a small island in southeastern Indonesia that’s part of the Wakatobi group in Sulawesi, is facing a number of modern social problems. The island’s identity, biodiversity, culture, history, and myths have become a backbone for many young people. But at the same time, globalization has hit hard, especially in remote villages, messing with the culture and traditional ways of keeping order.
The people of Tomia are dealing with challenges a lot like other indigenous groups around the world. Look at the Maasai in Kenya, for example; they have resisted outside pressures and managed to hold onto their traditions and land. Meanwhile, global capitalism keeps spreading. Like the Maasai, young people in Tomia are trying to find a way to live in the modern world while still holding onto their cultural roots.
Many questions also come up: How is her identity involved in a bigger historical and structural framework? What are some strategies that young men can exercise to nurture and sustain their real nature in a world of all this change?
According to reports, Tomia Island’s history is closely interlaced with its geography. The people depend on the sea for fishing and trading, which is quite logical because the island is in the very center of the Wakatobi Islands. As part of the well-known Coral Triangle, the bond between the people and the waters here is super strong. It has shaped their culture, economy, and daily living. Environmentalists are trying to strike a balance between the utilization and protection of marine resources.
You cannot really talk about Tomia’s history without mentioning the trading activities that went on during the 14th century, back when the Majapahit Kingdom was around. That time brought in groups like the Bugis, Butonese, and Bajau, creating a real cultural mix. Even with all that blending, language activists still push to protect traditional stories, people, and the connection with nature. Other forces are also pushing for cultural balance, which enriches the islands’ culture even more.
Today, Tomia’s culture and traditions are not untouched by outside influences. The spread of modern tech, Western culture, education, and competition has stirred up social tensions, with people fighting to be the best. While most Tomia people still work as fishermen and farmers and hold onto community values, a lot of the younger generation want independence. Many move to cities to study and find work. Some changes are good for growth, but they are also chipping away at the island’s culture and the sense of togetherness among its people.
Even with all the changes happening in Tomia, there are both upsides and downsides. Life has gotten better in some ways thanks to technology and modernization. At the same time, modernization has helped the youth of Tomia understand the world better and find new ways to make a living. However, ignoring the side effects is not an option either. In short, there is a price to pay: social values get weaker, social bonds loosen, and social chaos starts to creep in.
From a structuralist point of view, modernization always means a shake-up of the status quo, but it still happens within the limits of society itself. Claude Lévi-Strauss, the French cultural structuralist and anthropologist, saw social structure as a web of relationships that connects the past and present to maintain some balance. In Tomia’s case, modernization shows up as growing individualism, which weakens the traditional social networks like the extended family, community leaders, and customs that used to be at the heart of society.
When educated young people leave for the cities to study or work, it changes the community back home. One example is the fading of traditional family values and practices. Back in the day, Tomia society was all about strong family ties and traditions, like “posompora,” where clans and families helped each other out. It was a key part of community life, building responsibility and trust. Over time, that bonding system started to fall apart, and with it, the social order that once defined Tomia began to fall apart.
Globalization has also brought in outside ideas and practices that clash with Tomia’s culture. Western influences, especially through media, have pushed values like immorality, aggressiveness, and consumerism, which go against the island’s traditional principles. A lot of Tomia’s youth find themselves stuck: they want to embrace modern life but do not want to lose their cultural roots. Every time they adopt new technology or new ways of doing things, there is a deep fear that they are letting go of the customs and values that have shaped their society for centuries.
Thankfully, many Tomia communities have found ways to soften the blow of modernization by promoting cultural education among the younger generation. Programs focused on teaching history and restoring cultural practices help young people connect the past to the present and show them why preserving their culture still matters.
One way we can help the youth of Tomia is by using a historical approach to teach them about their roots. History is not just about looking back at events that happened; it is a living thing that keeps shaping both the past and the present. For example, oral history has always been a big part of Tomia culture. Elders share stories about important values like protecting the environment, working together, and the meaning of community. However, with modernization, these stories are at risk of fading away.
Given all that, it makes total sense to bring oral history back into everyday life, especially through schools. Kids could sit and listen to stories filled with morals and real-life lessons from their elders. That way, they will pick up modern skills but still stay connected to their cultural roots.
On top of that, cultural celebrations and customs can play a big role in bringing people together. Take the “Karia” festival, for example, an event all about Tomia’s sea-centered way of life, where everyone sings, cooks, shares food, dances, and celebrates their connection to the ocean and history. Sadly, it has lost some of its importance today as modern life takes over. However, reviving it would be a great way to help young people reconnect with their culture and bridge the gap between generations, keeping the Tomia identity alive.
A structuralist approach also shows how Tomia’s social system could rebuild a sense of belonging and identity even in the face of modern pressures. For Claude Lévi-Strauss and other structuralists, culture is made up of signs, rituals, and practices that hold people together. However, when those signs or practices lose their meaning, like they often do in the modern world, society can start to drift and lose its way.
Strong cultural markers like traditional clothes, dialects, and social customs have always built a sense of togetherness in Tomia. However, modern lifestyles and the influence of global fashion have slowly pushed those things aside. Now, most young people prefer wearing Western-style clothes, thinking they look more stylish and elegant compared to the traditional “sarung” and “kebaya,” which used to be worn with so much pride.
According to conceptual schema theory, focusing on these cultural markers is key to reinforcing identity, especially when we update them in a way that makes sense to young people. Traditional clothes, for example, can be redesigned to fit modern tastes without losing their deeper meaning. Promoting the Tomia language through modern digital platforms could also help keep it alive, fighting off the dominance of Indonesian and English.
When we talk about cultural structure, rituals play a big role; they help strengthen the social order and shared values. In Tomia, rituals tied to farming, fishing, and spiritual activities have always been a main part of how people organize their lives. These rituals were meant to reconnect people to the land, the ocean, and each other. However, with modernization bringing in new ways of living, a lot of these customs have been pushed aside, and people have started drifting apart.
One way to fix this is by blending traditional practices into modern life. For example, starting community farming projects that mix traditional techniques with newer sustainable methods could give young people a communal space to work and learn about their culture. In the same way, local environmental education programs could weave in spiritual traditions that teach respect for nature and show how deeply connected the community is to the environment.
Tomia’s young people can already work together and build unity; it is not something new. It just needs the right push: clear goals, shared values, and a strong sense of purpose, the same things that hold any society together today.
Since communities everywhere are stepping up to fight climate change, environmental conservation could be a powerful focus for Tomia. The island has amazing marine biodiversity that’s vital for its economy and future. However, problems like overfishing, coral reef damage, and pollution are real threats. Getting youth involved in conservation projects would teach them to care for their natural resources and strengthen their sense of responsibility to their community.
Tomia’s youth could also initiate activities like beach cleanups, coral reef restoration, and eco-friendly fishing. These efforts would not only tackle environmental issues but also inspire young people to reconnect with the cultural values of protecting nature and passing that spirit on to the next generation.
Besides environmental work, young people could also get involved in education, economic development, and cultural preservation. Promoting things like local entrepreneurship, cultural tourism, and traditional crafts could help revive Tomia’s economy and boost local pride. These kinds of efforts would give youth a stronger sense of identity and belonging, helping to counter the downsides of modernization, like extreme individualism and social breakdown.
Like a lot of other societies around the world, Tomia’s stuck in a tough spot. Modernization and globalization are changing the island fast, socially, culturally, and economically. Now, it is up to the younger generation to keep evolving without losing everything that makes them who they are. It is definitely not easy, and it puts a heavy strain on how Tomia’s youth see themselves. However, they have options: they can dive into historical education, push for cultural revival, and make it all happen through collective action.
Even without major conflict, structuralism helps us understand how societies are built. In Tomia, traditional elements like cultural markers, customs, and community organizations act as a shield against the full force of modernity. Teaching history matters because it gives young people a way to connect the past to what is happening now and to the challenges they are facing today. Knowledge fuels power, organization builds strength, and movement leads to real change. If they work together, Tomia’s youth can keep their island’s rich history alive while helping shape its future.
References
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- Hodgson, D. L. (2001). Once Intrepid Warriors: Gender, Ethnicity, and the Cultural Politics of Maasai Development. Indiana University Press.
- Lévi-Strauss, C. (1963). Structural Anthropology (C. Jacobson & B. G. Schoepf, Trans.). Basic Books.
- Moniaga, S. (2007). From Bumiputera to Masyarakat Adat: A Long and Confusing Journey. In J. Davidson & D. Henley (Eds.), The Revival of Tradition in Indonesian Politics: The Deployment of Adat from Colonialism to Indigenism (pp. 275–294). Routledge.
- Verheijen, J. (2013). The Sustainability of Marine Protected Areas: The Case of Wakatobi National Park. Wageningen Academic Publishers.
- World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). (n.d.). Coral Triangle: Heart of the World’s Coral Reef Biodiversity.
