Ethnic integrity or women's equality? Kachin women's dilemma | |
| Author | U Gyi Je Ra |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.GD-05-07 |
| Subject(s) | Kachin (Asian people)--Burma Ethnicity--Burma Women's rights--Burma |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science, School of Environment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. GD-05-06 |
| Abstract | This thesis is a study of Kachin gender system and its institutional capacity to gender equality. Kachin is one of the ethnic minorities in Burma, where 60 percent of population is Bamar and 89 percent of population is Buddhist. Kachin is also one of the Christian minorities in the country, which is ranked among the six worst violators of religious freedom by the U.S State Department. Soon after the Union of Myanmar achieved independence from Britain in 1948, the civil war in political conflict and intra state conflicts began. The military has ruled the country since 1962. Kachin have been fighting for the autonomous status of their ethnic homeland as well as for the survival of their ethnic identity." In order to assert their Kachin ethnicity in such a political environment, women bear the responsibility to maintain their culture on their shoulders. Women cannot oppose Kachin leaders because they would be seen being disloyal to Kachin ethnicity. Women have to maintain the culture every circumstance. Because of ethnic loyalty, women suffer discrimination in sexual and reproductive rights, education, politics and administration. Kachin culture is strongly patriarchal and women are subjected to Kachin gender system and suffer discrimination. Thus, women become as an internal minority and they have experienced conflict between cultural rights and their rights as a woman. The traditional pattern of gender relation puts much emphasis upon womens role as mother and wife, but less emphasis upon woman as an individual with her own identity. Women as a group are subordinated in their position to men. Their purity and chastity is much emphasized. Thus, the Kachin womens role has been dimly left behind in the background in the history. This study highlights the backstage of Kachin and brings the inner voices of women to the stage. It also examines the three most important institutions that shape the lives of Kachin women - government, political organizations and the church - and their capacities to bring gender equality to Kachin land. Finally it also suggests strategies, actions and research to be carried out further to achieve the goal of gender equality. |
| Year | 2005 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. GD-05-07 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Development and Sustainability (DDS) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Gender and Development Studies (GD) |
| Chairperson(s) | Earth, Barbara; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Resurreccion, Bernadette P. ;Schmidt-Vogt, Dietrich; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Asian Institute of Technology Fellowship; |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2005 |