Liberation of Burmese Women - will it ever happen? And if so - what will "liberation" mean for the Burmese women?
"Never let the hand you hold, hold you down."
~Author Unknown
I refer to Ko Nyi Lynn Seck 's Blog Poston a performance by Phyu Phyu Kyaw Thein (a Burmese Singer/Performer). When I saw her performing rolling around on the stage in clothes that she was wearing, I felt turned off, I was upset. I felt like I was betrayed, I felt lied to, that it was a sham. I mean, I felt quite strongly about it, to tell you the truth. I didn't want to see that. And I was surprised at myself for feeling that way.
Why would I feel that way? Was I a hypocrite? Am I trying to stop my country from becoming modernised? Am i trying to deny Burmese women the independence and ability to do as they please like I do? Why did this bother me? I wear clothes like she does (well actually I would never wear those pants, they are hideous but you get my drift) and if I was a rocker, you better believe I would be rocking out any darn way I pleased and if rolling on the floor while singing pissed of anyone, too bad.
And as I thought about why I disliked those pictures of Phyu's performance so much, I discovered that it was not her I hated, it ws not her clothes (well, except for the pants (or is it a skirt), someone tell her they are FUGLY) and it was not her way of being sexy on the stage.
No.
Rather, the thing is I was mad at was the Burmese Military Government (or the crazies as I call them). They repress everyone in Burma, they do experiments in governing 40 million people- all of them failing miserably and in the name of modernity, they open up certain markets and economy to some and not others. So, the influence from the outside world infiltrates Burma, bringing with it, the way westerners dress, their attitudes towards sex, and their attitudes towards drugs and their way of consumerism, and more. The gap between the rich and the poor is huge and good ethics are rarely found int he rich because to be there, honestly, you have to be corrupted in Burma.
With all this talk of drafting a new constitution, freeing the country, etc, the Burmese government still has not allowed the Burmese people to think freely. Burmese women are even more repressed. The women are not really allowed to be independent, even though it's the women who usually run the households. Burmese women are not allowed to be in the military (this means that Burmese women can't study certain subjects that are only offered in the military colleges). If a woman was thought to have been with a man for 7 days, she is considered to be his wife automatically (spoiled goods). Women are not even supposed to get divorced, women are supposed to tolerate men stalking them in the streets for their phone numbers because they are told it's just tradition. And it's considered bad for a women to marry again after her husbad has passed away. If a woman is hit, it's usually - what has she done to provoked him - kinda deal. And honestly, rape is used as a weapon most of the time by the government to instill fear in the people - and it's usually the women who get raped.
So there are the rich people in Burma - with money to burn, to go to live shows - to listen to new music - rap - hip hop - pop- rock (usually covers of top 40 hits from around the world)- girls performing wearing the new skimpy clothes that the new economies have brought in. They are all told it's ok to be wearing them, but you will be considered a whore - but who cares - because if you are a female Burmese performer, you probably have slept with half the town and people can buy you for a price.
So I'm mad that the Burmese government allows these false notions of independence for women - that they say it's ok for them to wear and act a certain way on stage, after all, Burma is on it's way to becoming a modern and democratic country!! (in a million light years, more like it, under this regime) They allow them a shallow level of so called liberation and independence - while at the same time denying them what they really need: freedom to think, ask, write discuss, vote, to gain knowledge, to have a say in anything, to choose not to be corrupt, to maintain one's pride and dignity.
Burmese girls and women, honestly, do you think that just because you can wear a halter top or a see through (ugly!) pants/skirt that you are free and you are independent? That you have gained a step into the world of liberation?
I'm afraid not. If you can't walk off that stage in that halter top and transparent (ugly!) pants (skirt?) without worrying that you will have to sleep with a General so and so or his son to stop them from banning you; if you can't say - Hey look at me, yes, I do dress what ever way I like but I have a brain just like you and I am capable of anything, probably better than you can.
I'm sorry it's such a bad rant. But I was just thinking that this exploitation of Burmese people has to stop and the liberation of Burmese people have to begin - at the same time as the Liberation of Burmese women. Remember the American Civil War got help from the American Women's liberation movement. Liberation should go hand in hand for both sexes. And Burmese women need help from the Burmese men in order to do this, and I don't know how the Burmese men feel about this, at all.
And I can't do anything really but just write about how I feel. Phyu Phyu Kyaw Thein, I'm glad that you are rocking out. I hope that one day, you all can rock out to your own original songs all the time, without fear. No Fear.
Do I ask for too much?
Photos from: http://www.planet.com.mm/musicportal/desc.cfm?id=10777
Whoa, that was an angry post.
I hate Phyu Phyu Kyaw Thein, she's so fake. It's all the same in the Burmese entertainment business, the more ridiculous you look, the more ridiculous the things you do, the more people think you're "khit mhe" and cool, another example is Yazar Nay Win.
Yeah I definitely agree that it's a false notion of independence that's being created by people like her and other entertainers. In the Burmese psyche, there's this huge divide between "good girls" and "bad girls".
How do Burmese men feel about this? As far as I know, it depends on how the particular woman presents herself. I feel that in general, it isn't hard to get a Burmese guy to respect a Burmese woman for her intellect, ability and dignity. I mean the person the whole country respects and worships is a woman who's an examplary human being in every sense of the word.
I request that Burmese women, for their own sake, take the initiative and make something of themselves and forge their own lives. Our culture values education and so that should be the most important thing that they should strive for to begin with. Our culture values modesty, humility and politeness, that is another thing they should strive for.In our culture, there is no mutual respect, it's top down, someone above you won't respect you as much as someone below you. So, to make your voice heard and get around it, the trick is no never say "no" in a confrontational way, get the oppressors (and I mean this in the widest possible sense) to reason with themselves, see their own inner contradictions, and their shame will be your victory. Persuasion is a much more effective weapon than confrontation.
I try to tell Win Lei that all the time, that its the individual that you have to bring out, show that you are something and the men will be left in shock and awe.
Yes, I would definitely agree that in the long run, in the coming generations, a confrontation on a national level is definitely needed, something akin to the civil rights and women's rights movements that took place in the west in the previous century. But it is individuals who make up a movement, they have to confront the world in their own way, everybody has to take on the initiative to construct a world for themselves imbued with the values that they hold sacred. Joining in on a wave of destruction that confronts the status quo head on means nothing if it is not the individuals themselves who have the power and the belief that it is their individual selves who will make the difference.
Hey thanks for that comment, that was great.
Yeah, lol, I was really upset. I had just figured all this out a few days ago and then I kept seeing in the news about all these racist things happening to Burmese refugees abroad and something snapped, man. I know that DASSK is highly respected, etc. But I didn't know if the rest of the women in the country would get the same treatment. I mean, it's very rare for a woman in Burma to speak out, etc. And what you meant by the individuals themselves who believe in the power to change - that's exactly what I mean - each and every Burmese woman, girl, boy and man have to start thinking about respect and the rights that the woman should have.
And confrontation - is a way of persuasion. And I don't mean for angry women to gather and throw rocks or anything. I mean for women to get together and think about what needs to be done about this false notion of independence and what needs to be done to get real independence and then confront the government and the rest who would still like to see them repressed.
And you are right - the reason I was upset also was that - these false notions of independence and freedom - they hint that Burmese women don't really have to be modest or any of that anymore - which is not what modernity is about you know..
And yes - the worse thing the government has done to the people in Burma is that they take away their ability to learn and think - by shutting down schools - so yes, education is important. And I do beleive that the Burmese woman need to educate themselves on what needs to be done.
yeah, I think we are kinda on the same wavelength... I was just angrier... lol I love debating with you. :)
And what did you say to Win Lei about her comment on Burma Digest? I tried to read her comment but I didn't understand, man.
and yes, I tried to tell her to be true to herself all the time. it's hardly working.
My 1st impression when I saw those photos was, I quickly scrolled down my browser and changed the tab to hide them. Then slowly check it back. My instinct reaction justified that I was embarrassed to see those photos. Like you said, don't know why u felt that, but you felt it and you react on it.
That been said, my thoughts on your post are a bit vague. Am I to understand that you don't blame her for wearing such and the government is to be blamed for restriction on women right? More precisely, you encourage and approve of Burmese female dressing up like that?
Don't take me wrong, I don't give a shit about the government and their rules. By saying the above, plz don't misunderstand me and think that I support the government cos' not in the 7hell NO, I don't!
The fact is I’m confused with your points. May be I’m too naïve to see them but I find it hard to relate your points of modernization, women rights and the god damned government.
Call me traditionalist but her style of dressing up no matter whatever intention she plans to achieve (false independence or whatever), will not work. IMHO, everything has a limit.
Being modernized is one thing and over doing is another. Rock star or not, being free or independence, I do not like Burmese acting like that. May be some ppl find that sessy but I despise that. Hmmm I don’t know, I still not use to some acts yet. :)
Very good write up ma. I love reading ur post.
"the reason I was upset also was that - these false notions of independence and freedom"
same as you.
Hey May,
Sorry about not being clear. It was 2 AM and I was angry, lol. You see, May, I think that if a woman should choose to wear ugly transparent pants because she has no taste and thinks she looks sexy in it, she should be allowed to - but I would like for her choices to have been made on clear understanding of her rights, of what her dressing means, etc. I do believe that Phyu Phyu Kyaw Thein (PPKT) and the rest of these "HOT" girls dress the way they do in Burma because they think they should emulate the west, be modern, they want to give up the Burmese humility aspects - since the government has opened up the country - it's become more and more "ok" for girls to stop wearing traditional clothes etc. WHy? Because the rich people bring in the goods to sell from other countries and the rich people want you to buy the clothes and who are the rich people in the country, May? it's kinda the same with drugs like cocaine, LSD and so on. who do you think brought the drugs in first in to the country? I think it's was U Ne WIn's sons or soemthing like that.
But you know what, in the west, even though it's not perfect out there (no where is) the women out there have more rights, still get respected, doesn't usually have to sleep with anyone to be in the entertainment biz (and if anyone said she had to, there are rules that protect her). You see - it's a woman's right - and they are given protection and more.
Whereas, in Burma - these girls are being told it's ok to dress that way, it's ok to stop being traditional, it's ok to be not modest, it's ok to start having sex early (this is even more dangerous, considering no one educates the women on STDs or babies and who bears te consequences? women do)- AND it's all for whose benefit? Not the women - it's all for the benefit of the men in Burma.
Do you know what I mean? The reason I said that I don't blame PPKT is because - I don't know - maybe I think she is too influenced - trying too hard to please - or be "HOT" or something... but then I don't know her and i've never even heard one of her songs to comment about her.
I realised that the root of my anger had to do with the fact that the govt just bring these false notions of independence and makes it look to everyone in the country and outside that they are actually doing ok when they are not, you know.
I mean, I spent 16 years of my life in different countries besides Burma and my sense of independence, my sense of what my rights are and my awareness of how I should be treated is very different. I am multicultural - I see things from different points of views (even when I don't want to) and I know that the western influence is one that a country cannot escape from, when it is opening up it's markets to the outside world. But when a government opens up a country to outside influences, then that government is also responsible for giving the people of the country the same rights, the same protection and the same freedom and ability to think, ability to educate oneself, to have human rights.