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| (6) More horizons for Myanmar women... male chauvinism again!
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| As economic pressures
drove women to seek jobs outside the home, they inevitably became exposed to
influences other than the usual brainwashings at home. Since she had to work
with men at offices it was no finger considered immodest to talk to men without
the usual lowering of eyes and such coy gestures.
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| Fashions and modes
changed perceptibly. Dresses became more revealing. Instead of the thick opaque
cottons for blouses, thin transparent material carne to be used. Sleeves became
shorter and narrower. Blouses that used to be worn an inch or so under the
waist line were shortened so that the hourglass figure was revealed to the best
advantage.
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| With the on-coming tide
of nationalism and the agitation for the boycott of foreign goods, transparent
blouses became an object of criticism and censure. Since home-spun materials
though opaque came in attractive colours and patterns, they did not, in any
way, detract the feminine charm. Highlight on the curves and waist lines was
effective but modest.
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| Conservativism in dress
was given a death-blow when the public media began propagating health culture,
exhorting women to take part in sport. Until then, any girl who played
badminton in her own backyard was considered "ultra-modem" or "westernized".
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| Appearance of sports
women wearing shortswhen women's longyis(sarongs) were worn just above the
ankles-created a controversy. Some columnists (men, of course) ridiculed them
mercilessly, but many stood on the women's side.
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| Jar-nai-gyaw Ma Ma Lay, a
well-known woman in contemporary letters and journalism defended the sports
women in her columns. She made a humble request to the attackers: "Sirs, please
do not look at things with the eyes of 'kilaisa' only."
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| The word "kilaisa" is
aterm borrowed from pali. Whatever the original meaning might be, it is used in
Myanmar language to describe sensual leering in the worst possible taste. That
expression did the work beautifully on that occasion and it muzzled many
mouths.
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| There was yet another
force that helped women to liberate themselves, namely national moveme against
the colonial rule. Since there was no necessity;. for women to agitate for
their rights, most of their organizations became more or less subsidiary forces
for political parties.
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| For one thing,
politicians were spared of the task of making special promises to women, "since
they already enjoy equal status with men". In those days the struggle for
independence was a common cause and a unifying factor.
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| Political parties of the
day made full use of women. They had more news-value. The presence of women at
meetings and conferences excited the interest of the populace, and a good
public attendance was assured that way. But the number of women who rose to
policy making and executive posts was almost nil.
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| Before going into the
whys and wherefores of the matter, there was yet no less important role the
women of those days played in the country's struggle for independence. It was
nothing new or exciting but just to keep the home fires burning, while the men
were braving the dangers and privations of revolutionary patriots.
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| When the men threw
themselves in to the country's fight for independence, they also threw away
their chances of being good providers; it was their women... mothers, wives or
sisters, who ran the family business; trade or farm or home industry. This they
did with good grace and willingness, this was their share in the building of an
independent state. It must be noted, however, that such supporters of the cause
were usually women with little, if any, English or vernacular education; they
just knew a little vernacular and some working knowledge of arithmetic. Those
with formal education, naturally, were white collar workers usually in
government service, so, any participation in political movements was out of the
question.
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| Girls from university and
schools often participated in student movements, but their interest in politics
lasted only as long as their college or school days. They usually faded out of
the picture sooner or later. Thus, the bulk of the participants in the national
movements were women who stayed within the bounds of traditional
activitieskeoping house, running the family business like retail shops, home
industry or farms. And they did it so efficiently that the men could leave it
entirely in their hands This situation became more and more apparent in war
time. The role of Myanmar women in war time will be the subject of my next
article.
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