|
| (9) Where do we go from here?
|
| For the present, Myanmar
women today seem to have the best of everything; they enjoy "equal status" with
men and there are opportunities to express themselves. But all this does not
mean that they can afford to be smug.
|
| It does not do any good
to make a scape-goat of male chauvinism for whatever failure or difficulty
women have to face in pursuit of their careers, or, to use the threadbare
cliche`-in their search for identity.
|
| If the potential work
power of female population is to be exploited for the betterment of society
both men and women will have to readjust their views and attitudes. There are
admittedly lots of things that could be done constitutionally by passing laws
and regulations, but many more would have to be individual tasks.
|
|
| For example, take the
plight of women working outside the homes as seen from news item about a recent
study - United Nation November 21. (By Agnes Leon). It says"While the study
indicates an increasing trend in women's employments outside their home, the
role of home maker is still assigned primarily to the women; and she is
expected to perform that role the study shows that an employed married woman
works more hours than an employed man. And whether employed or unemployed,
women shoulder almost all the burden ofthe housework and care of the children."
|
| The report calls for
"fundamental changes in the relationships and behaviours of the family
members..."
|
| The question of who
should be minding the baby or who should do the dishes after meal in a home
where both husband and wife go out to work, cannot be decided by laws. The
"fundamental change in the relationships and behaviours of family members" can
only be achieved by facing the hard facts of modern living.
|
|
|
| Women's natural talents
like running the home and bringing up the young should not be underestimated.
Bernard Shaw once said, such tasks have so long been unpaid and taken for
granted that "many foolish people do not think it is work at all."
|
| Women, it must not be
forgotten, are also individuals. They have their own likes and dislikes. There
are women who are born house-wives, and to them house-wives is their whole
existence. If they choose to be house-wives and be happy in their choice, why
quarrel with them? they are also doing their share of social duty.
|
| Allocation of work in
human society should be according to talent and aptitude; it is as insensible
to decide that women should be only house-wives and mothers, as to insist that
every woman married or single should have a career outside the home.
|
| Freedom of choice should
mean not only to choose to be career women, but also to be ordinary
house-wives. Today's trend seems to be that women are brainwashed to think that
a woman without a job is nothing; to be a mere housewife means failure. It is
as bad as, if not worse than, the housewife-oriented ideology of yesterday.
|
| Changes in human
relationships and behaviours could be brought about by individual effort. And
individual effort could rise out of clear and right thinking, which, in turn
must be guided through the mass media, and public education.
|
| It is not enough that
women just fall into the rat race for careers without stopping to think whether
they have the special aptitude or talent for any chosen field. Nor would it
contritbute anything towards the betterment of society by seeking a career,
just because it is expected or because it is a status symbol.
|
| Last but not least,
Myanmar women should not forget their cultural roots and moral values regarding
home and family. Such traditions will have to be upheld for society will surely
be poorer for the loss of them.
|
| In conclusion, I wish to
admit that what I have so far covered in this series of articles is sketchy.
There are still many gaps to be filled. It is my hope that more competent
writers will help in filling those gaps.
|
