When I was teaching in Cambodia, there were many arguments about the rights of women and their place in family and society. We thought that the back-and-forth between these students was very interesting, but also very funny.
This is a video put together by my friend/sweetheart, Sarah, to start a discussion about these issues:
GIRLS V. BOYS from Sarah Outhwaite on Vimeo.
Do you think that only the man should work in a family? If you think so, is it because of gender roles, or because you think someone should stay home with the family? If that's the case, what about if the woman has a better job? Should the man stay home instead?
Sokha responds:
ReplyDeleteSir, in Cambodian it still has a little problem between the role of boy and girl or man and woman. As my point of view, if a man get a better job and woman work at home or run a small business is a good way for living together. In contrast, if the woman get a better job than man, it's impossible for the man. Most of the men in Cambodia do not want the wife who has higher knowledge or better job. I'm also, I want only a wife who has similar knowledge of lower than me. If my wife has a better condition in job than me, I cannot face to people in society, it is so ashamed for me. But I believe that in USA is different.
Talking about female and male roles, I stand by Sokha's ideas about Cambodian Culture. Notwithstanding with Cambodian culture, I don't think it was a good concept. Moreover, I just want to argue with Sokha, Why women cannot be better than men if they have enough ability to be better than men?
ReplyDeleteIn addition, Society was formulated by a group of human or a group of people; and you are one of people who formulate the group think women cannot be better than men like that. Therefore, IT'S TIME TO CHANGE! START FROM US!Kong Sopheak, male
I think this raises an interesting question: What happens to the most intelligent and talented women? Will the men be afraid of marrying them, since they will worry about seeming less powerful?
ReplyDeleteAnd if no one marries intelligent women, won't that influence the next generation to be less intelligent? That seems like a problem.