Cambodian Women and Barriers to Social Participation
"Women hold more than half of the sky" -- (Chinese Saying)
But why women are the ones who suffer the greatest
discriminations and pains?
Women account for more than fifty percent of the overall
Cambodian population; furthermore, all work related to society,
culture, politics, economics, humanity, etc., won't attain great
achievement, unless women are allowed to take part. Since
antiquity, Cambodia was a women-headed state (story of
male/female hill, as a unique example), which means women held
important roles in leadership in almost all fields. In contrast,
why the number of women today, participated in society-related
especially in the decision-making work, has ominously
diminished, compared to men's, in today's Cambodia ?
Cultural Factor
In retrospect traditionally, Cambodian women were edified to
bear in mind the quality of "Khmerness"; virtue, gentleness,
unconditional gratitude to parents, seriousness, loyalty...etc.
Due to all of these cultural constraints, Cambodian women had to
follow them without knowing any original meanings. I am not
criticizing these Cambodia 's spirits that has, thousands of
years, nicknamed Cambodia "The Golden territory," but I want our
teachers/professors/students to explain and think deeper about
these values; when "calmness is gold," and when "to venture
expression for better tomorrow." Too many women are being
negatively tolerant to their husbands' violence, unsafe sex,
physical exploitations, etc. These women don't venture to
liberate themselves from these exploitations, because they think
they would destroy the well-beings, and fames of the families
and themselves.
Questioned by Phnom Penh Post, "What are the pressing issues
affecting women in Cambodia now" in June 7 - 20, 2002 , Her
Excellency Mu Sochua, Minister for Women's and Veteran's Affairs
answered, "Society has to change its mentality. A woman's role
is not just about raising children, being a good mother, the
mother of the universe. The man's role is also about being the
father of the universe. For the woman it is about making safe
choices for herself and not letting anyone else make those
choices. Does she have a chance to say: 'No, that is not the man
I want to marry' or 'I want to stay in school'? If those choices
are open to men they should also be open to women. It is the
only way for long-term development in Cambodia . Look at garment
factory workers, the majority of whom are women. They don't have
choices and in the next five years if they stay in the same
position without anyone to help them increase their capacity,
education and skills they will be kicked out and replaced and
left on their own." Such a social mentality may probably the
most appropriate answer to "why women almost always lag behind
men in social participation?"
Girls are thought as more grateful, caring to parents than boys,
so it is boy's absolute opportunity to pursue education, if the
schools are too far away from home or if the family can support
only one child's education.
Stereotype of Cambodian Literature
In teaching Cambodian literature, most stories narrate about
main male characters as the brave, intelligent, creative, loyal
men, and female main characters are usually excellent
housewives. This is one of the elements that have extremely
discouraged the Cambodian women, and step by step have inserted
into Cambodian women's mentality. Story is one of the most
effective means to psychological education for Cambodian people,
so turning Cambodian stories into better gender balance would
dramatically contribute to gender equity.
Besides this, in the past Cambodia, most or all of education
centers were located in the pagodas, and most of the students
were male, so female students were strongly discouraged by the
majority of the male students.
What Can Be Done?
As stated previously, gender inequality has been in children's
mind since they are at the very young age. So girls must be
given equal treatment and opportunities from the very beginning,
as stated by World Declaration on the Survival, Protection and
Development of Children.
Gender discrimination was instigated in the family, so there
should be programs to explain the parents or heads of the
families the values of education to girls, what would affect the
girls' future, and the nation as the whole.
Turning the drafted law related to women's protection into
reality. As Mu Sochua stated, "saying 'yes I understand I have
rights' is not enough." She continued: "But how are women going
to use them when they have fewer choices than boys and less
chance to stay through school all the way to tertiary level?"
Families and government should try their utmost to alleviate
discrimination in the field of education such as:
schools, specially programs and training programs open only to
boys and men; higher paid, higher status teaching positions open
only to male educators; testing methods biased in favor of boys
(e.g,. questions that reflect the interest and vocabulary of
most boys). And remove discrimination against women in all two
levels:
At work and in the community At work where they are exploited
more than men and given unskilled jobs or lower wages than men.
Imagine if you were a woman, living in Cambodia : What would be
your most pressing difficulties, and what would be your highest
desires? How would you handle those hardships?
About the author:
Born November 10, 2005. Translator, final year student of law.
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