Women in Modern Burma (Routledge Studies in the Modern History of Asia)

This book challenges the popular notion that Burmese women are powerful and are granted equal rights as men by society. Throughout history Burmese women have been represented as powerful and as having equal status to men by western travellers and scholars alike. National history about women also follows this conjecture. This book explains why actually very few powerful Burmese women exist, and how these few women help construct the notion of the high status of Burmese women, thereby inevitably silencing the majority of ‘unequal’ and disempowered women. One of the underlying questions throughout this book is why a few powerful women feel compelled to defend the notion that women hold privileged positions in Burmese society. Combining historical archives with statistical data published by UN agencies, this book highlights the reality of women’s status in modern Burma. Case studies include why the first Burmese women’s army was disbanded a few months after its establishment; how women writers assessed the conditions of Burmese women and represented their contemporaries in their works; the current state of prostitution; how modern-day sex-workers are trying to find their voice; and how women fared vis-à-vis men in education. Presents A Comprehensive Overview Of The Role Of Women In Burmese Society From Independence In 1948 To The Present. It Covers Women In Politics, Women Writers, Working Women, Marginalised Women Such As Prostitutes, And Women's Role In The 1940s As Freedom Fighters And Since 1988 As Campaigners For Political Reform. It Shows How, Although Burmese Women Project To The Outside World An Image Of Being Strong, As Exemplified By Aung San Suu Kyi, The Leader Of The Opposition, Women Do Not In Fact Enjoy Gender Equality-- Print Media And Women Journalists, Editors, And Writers -- Women's Education -- The Creation Of The Burma Women's Army -- Disbanding The Army And Communist Women -- Women And Modernity -- Marginalized Women In The Making Of The Burman Nation. Tharaphi Than. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "Presents a comprehensive overview of the role of women in Burmese society from independence in 1948 to the present. It covers women in politics, women writers, working women, marginalised women such as prostitutes, and women's role in the 1940s as freedom fighters and since 1988 as campaigners for political reform. It shows how, although Burmese women project to the outside world an image of being strong, as exemplified by Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the opposition, women do not in fact enjoy gender equality"-- Provided by publisher Cover 1 Title Page 10 Copyright Page 11 Dedication 12 Table of Contents 14 List of figures 15 List of tables and charts 16 Acknowledgements 18 1 Introduction 20 2 Print media and women journalists, editors and writers 39 3 Women's education 68 4 The creation of the Burma Women's Army 89 5 Disbanding the army and communist women 112 6 Women and modernity 130 7 Marginalized women in the making of the 'Burman' nation 159 Epilogue 191 Index 193