Small Steps for Women in Asian Life
In Bangkok. a member of Parliament for the Thai opposition Democrat Party, Pusadee, Tamthai, rolled her eyes as she recounted how female members were required to wear skirts in Parliament until the late 1990s. She stated that it was difficult for women to run around from their constituency to Parliament in a skirt. Tamthai can now wear a pantsuit. In fact, last year Thailand elected its first female prime minister, Yingluck Shinawatra. Critics say she has a calm demeanor and a winning smile.
Being the younger sister of Thaksin Shinawatra, a controversial former prime minister and wealthy businessman, Yingluck still fits into the Asian tradition of the wives, sisters or daughters of powerful men becoming political leaders after being forced from office, assassinated or dying from natural causes. Some women in politics see Ms. Yingluck as merely as a proxy for her brother. Many other members of Parliament wanted a women leader in the country; however they think that by having Ms. Yingluck that they were actually getting Thaksin’s thoughts and she was only implementing them. Many feminists do not think that this way of achieving power is going to advance women’s rights.
Although there have been opportunities for women as Asian economies have boomed, there are still problems within the workforce. Many of which include threats to their physical well-being like sexual slavery, acid attacks, gang rapes, child marriage, dowry-related crimes and so-called honor killings. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations has recently held their first ministerial-level meeting on women’s issues which is a step in the right direction. Although things are changing, many believe they are changing way to slow.
Funds have been set up with money for Thai women aged 15 and over to use for low-or no-interest loans. The government believes that this will help women develop their potential and occupations as well as promote leadership and ease their problems. However, many believe this is a ploy to buy female votes.
Equality and women’s rights are still a global issue. While change is occurring around the world, it is moving at a slow pace and not everybody is fully jumping on the band wagon. However, as more and more women gain rights, the structure of the family will change. If there doesn’t become more of a balance in responsibilities in these households, women will soon become overworked and children will be left unattended more and more. So while women deserve equal rights, there has to be a change in the entire family and responsibilities switch as a whole, not just the ability for women to vote, have a job and other equal opportunities. Which creates another form of a global issue because studies are showing that in households where both parents work, the children are left unattended more, and therefore find ways of getting into more trouble which can increase violence globally as well. So even though we are moving in the right direction to change this global issue, I think that it is important to protect the family from creating more issues and to evaluate how to prevent this from happening.
No comments:
Post a Comment