Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor once said, “Until we get equality in education, we won’t have an equal society.” Our generation is, arguably, the most sophisticated and knowledgeable generation in the history of the world. For that reason, it is pitiful to see such a profoundly advanced society still fighting inequalities including occupational, educational, gender, and housing equalities.
Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, is a country that holds on to an outdated standard that expects a woman to be compliant to her husband’s authority. Gender inequality holds personal significance for me as a woman of Burmese descent with family members currently living in Burma. Knowing that my aunts and cousins experience oppression and are much more restricted than men makes fighting gender inequality all the more important for me. I want my fellow Burmese women to experience the freedom of receiving an education and being able to attain equal status with men in society.
In Burma, women are judged harshly if they work outside of the home. Burmese society, and the Burmese government, see women primarily as nurturers; only men are expected to act as the breadwinners for their families. Moreover, the Burmese government has implemented a social system in which obtaining education is difficult for women, and nearly impossible for those from low income families.
In order to get accepted into specialized schools, such as medical or technical schools, female students are expected to score higher than their male counterparts. In addition, the number of vacant positions in schools is very limited. Hence, when choosing between a man and a woman who scored the same for that final seat, schools often choose the male student.
The gender wage gap is another important issue in Burma. In the workplace, women are paid less than men for doing the same exact job. This unfair salary policy places women in a subservient role that discounts their worth and potential. The gender wage gap acts often forces women into the vicious cycle of marrying early to escape poverty and then having many children. General lack of education often leaves Burmese women with no choice but to act on what their society deems fit: reproducing and taking care of the home.
Women’s dilemma of societal inequality might take ages to be resolved. Time is needed, along with the education of the populace, to construct a concerted focus on the treatment of women in Myanmar. Not only the people but also the government needs to change and eliminate some policies that have been established to undermine women’s equality.
For such change to happen, educated women must unite and advocate for gender equality in Myanmar. The Burmese government must allow women to assume positions of power. Women need to use their voices to be heard, to reach the masses, to influence those in power, and to fight for those who do not have a voice of their own.
‘From Where I Sit’ is a column dedicated to international students’ voices. If you are interested in contributing a piece, contact Features editors at [email protected]
