‘Women Working in Rural Areas … Need to Be Given Bigger Platforms to Promote Sustainable Development in Their Communities’: Shan Women’s Action Network

Burma Link | October 13, 2017

Founded in 1999, Shan Women’s Action Network (SWAN) has been advocating for gender equality and justice for women in Shan State for nearly two decades. Composed of a network of women working from Shan State and the Thailand-Burma border, the group is community-based and works closely with women and children. SWAN also works to promote social and political change in Burma and is a founding member of the Women’s League of Burma (WLB). With this week marking the International Day of the Girl Child (October 11) and the International Day of Rural Women (October 15), SWAN has provided Burma Link with an exclusive insight into the situation of Shan women and the challenges they face in their everyday lives.

Q: In your opinion, what is the most important thing that should be done to improve the lives of women and girls in Shan State?

There are a lot of things that can be done to promote the rights of young women and girls in Shan State. Access to education should be promoted and equal status in the household should also be recognized and not reduced to traditional gender norms that suggest women should do all the housework. Men and women can both participate in domestic duties to support each other. Open dialogue on addressing violence against women should also be encouraged to ensure that men and women understand that violence is never the answer. Furthermore, there needs to be more legal reform to ensure that women who speak out also have access to justice. Promoting feminist principles rooted in equality through the work of civil society, youth and institutions and through the support of the international community can help advance the causes young women believe in.

Q: What kind of differences are there between the challenges faced by women living in urban areas and women living in rural areas of Shan State?

Urban areas:

• Women are more independent but face competition in job markets
• Financial barriers; city prices much higher amidst competition to find a job. Living costs and working salary do not always cover basic expenses.
• Isolation/stress from being away from families can lead to depression, substance abuse
• Women do not feel safe if they are taking public transportation as if often exposes them to harassment. Walking home at night can also be an intimidating experience for women who do not know the city and what hours are safe

Rural

• Traditional beliefs suggesting women should obey their family and/or husband limiting their independence
• Pressure to get married, have children, fulfill domestic duties over pursuing education
• Less access to health facilities, adequate sanitation (prevalent health taboos on sexual reproductive health prevent women from seeking health services)
• Less access to education
• Pressure on women to not report gender based violence for fears of shaming community, family

Q: Do you feel like Shan girls/women and boys/men have equal education and work opportunities today?

They are both encouraged young but ultimately if there is only money to send one child to school, often the boy is sent and the girl helps the family at home or on the farm. The belief is the boy will be able to educate himself and provide for his family in the future. Work opportunities vary in skill. It is common for female laborers to get less money than men on construction sites whereas both genders are exposed to below par working conditions in factories. Women will face different risks in the workplace such as workplace harassment and period pain slowing them down. They will also have to balance the burden of work hours (often long days, more than 8 or 9 hours) and then be responsible for coming home to care for their families, prepare dinner (etc.). There is definitely a double standard at play.

Q: International support to IDPs camps along the Shan-Thailand border was stopped the end of September. Have you identified any specific challenges for women in particular?

Women continue to face security risks as many of their husbands have left IDP camps for work. This leaves them alone and to fend for themselves if the Burma Army attacks. Women are also left to maintain the household and with food rations reduced, the stress a woman has to feed her children has increased. Due to the time they have to take in caring for their families, they are less likely to pursue education opportunities or attend village meetings resulting in a lack of female leadership. Access to healthcare is increasingly limited and pregnant mothers face daunting decisions on whether to leave the IDP camp due to food shortages or risk being caught in the middle of conflict. Many are unsure if their husbands, sons, brothers will return. The situation has left the lives of thousand unstable and in question as the Government struggles to navigate the peace process. Attacks in Shan State must stop so people can return home.

Unrecognized refugees and displaced people who are forced to do the “3 Ds jobs”