On Myanmar Women's Day, LIFT partner the Gender Equality Network (GEN) writes a special article for us with extracts from their two latest studies.

All over the world, ideas, expectations, and rules based on gender play a major role in governing men and women’s behaviour and opportunities. However, in Myanmar, gender inequality has not historically been acknowledged as an issue of concern. Friday 3rd July, Myanmar Women’s Day, provides an opportunity to celebrate women all across Myanmar, and to reflect on the challenges that many of them face.

Myanmar is paying increased attention to gender inequality as an impediment to the development and attainment of human rights. Through the National Strategic Plan for the Advancement of Women (NSPAW) 2013 – 2022, the government has signalled its commitment to promoting and protecting the rights of women in Myanmar through the creation of enabling systems, structures and practices across 12 priority areas, from livelihoods to health, education to the media, and more. There is also increasing momentum within civil society networks and organisations to promote programming and advocacy for women’s rights and gender equality.

A new study from the Gender Equality Network (GEN) - Raising the Curtain: Cultural Norms, Social Practices, and Gender Equality aims to advance our understanding about the underlying norms that impact the attainment of gender equality. With data gathered from 543 women and men in seven States and four Regions of Myanmar between September 2013 and May 2014, the research examines historical narratives and contemporary cultural and religious views of women in Myanmar. The study illustrates that cultural norms and related social practices impact men and women throughout their lifespan and in every aspect of their lives, from the most deeply personal – the sense of self, body, confidence, love and marriage - to the practical organisation and valuing of paid and unpaid work; education opportunities; health status and services; and much more.  

Here  are some of the key issues raised in Gender in the Economy, Work & Livelihoods in Myanmar-

Gendered Division of Labour & the Lesser Value of Women’s Work

Work and livelihood opportunities for men and women are strongly linked to gendered norms that guide perceptions of where women and men can be, what they can do, and when they can do it, in order to be seen as ‘good’ and ‘appropriate’.

One of the most central gender norms in relation to work is that of the male breadwinner and household leader. This strong norm was most often exemplified through the proverb: 'The sun doesn’t rise with the hen’s crowing; only when the cock crows the sun will rise'.  A man’s perceived strength, bravery and tenacity are held up against the perception that a woman lacks these qualities. Housework for women is often described as a duty, and a consequence of men’s opposite role in working outside. Practices such as listing married women as dependents on family registration cards - regardless of whether they hold professional positions - reinforce the stereotype of the male breadwinner and contribute to women’s continued subordination within the family. Despite discussions of the need for, and complementarity of, both men’s and women’s work, with housework bringing neither status nor income, there is no mistaking that men’s work is perceived to be more valuable.

Old Norms in Changing Contexts: Women in the Workforce

One of the strongest findings from this study was the perceived increase in women’s paid work. This was seen as a necessity for families to make ends meet in the face of what was overwhelmingly described as a deteriorating economic situation. Women typically explain work outside the household as required by unprecedented economic hardship or a husband’s insufficient salary. Such justifications serve to uphold the ideal of the breadwinning male by describing women as secondary or complementary income earners, regardless of the size of their contribution.

Though equal pay for equal work is guaranteed in the 2008 Constitution, unequal wages for men and women’s work were recorded in all study areas. Gender norms around economy and work also impact access to and control over material resources beyond wages. Barriers to obtaining loans and credit, especially for unmarried or widowed women, and the lack of women’s rights to inheritance in some communities, poses serious problems for women’s livelihood opportunities.

The reported increase in women working outside home has not been accompanied by increased male responsibility for household work. In the study, women did not typically regard their income-earning activities as a sign of gender equality, a reason for this may be the double burden of productive and reproductive work.

Navigating Occupational Opportunities

Both women and men are steered in their occupational choices by what is regarded by society as gender appropriate. For girls and young women, the most common work opportunities discussed among study participants were factory work, domestic work, and work at karaoke bars. In all of these settings, being young and female puts girls at increased risk of exploitation.

Among study participants from urban areas and women working in professional roles, discussions concerned women’s unfulfilled dreams and potentials:

How do I feel? Well, since I was young, I was eager to learn and I had aims, but when I got married, my aims were not fulfilled. My husband wanted me to put the children first, so I had to forfeit all the aims I’ve had.

From focus group discussions with women aged 40 and above, Mingalartaungnyunt Township

Even if women perform well at work, they face difficulties in achieving top positions as this challenges norms of male leadership. Until recently, women have been formally barred from certain occupations and positions, for example, pilots and most military posts. There are many areas in which women continue to struggle for opportunities even though there are no formal constraints on their promotion.

Steps to Transform Inequitable Norms in Economy, Work & Livelihoods

While the labour market remains precarious for both men and women in Myanmar, women are often found in work that is both unregulated and isolated, which makes them particularly vulnerable to abuse. Greater equality of opportunity and remuneration is needed to change this. It is essential that labour laws and policies include provisions of equal opportunities for employment and equal wages; sanctions should be provided for employers who do not live up to these standards. There is a need for improved workers’ rights and conditions in factory work, and for improved labour rights and standards for women in unregulated and secluded work environments such as karaoke bars, and in domestic work. Childcare facilities are needed to ensure women who carry out the majority of reproductive work are not structurally discriminated from participating in the labour market. And there is a vital need to abolish practices that reproduce the idea of women’s work as less valuable than men’s work, such as listing women as dependents on family registration cards.

This  article features excerpts from a special interest brief on gender issues within economy, work and livelihoods. Other special interest briefs in the series include sport, education, the media, and health. The Full Report and Briefing Paper series will be officially launched and made available to public in September 2015. The Gender Equality Network is a diverse and inclusive network of Civil Society Organisations, INGOS, and technical resource persons working to facilitate the development and implementation of enabling systems, structures and practices for gender equality, and the realisation of women's rights in Myanmar. To know more visit: https://www.facebook.com/genmyanmar

-----------------------------------

As GEN's findings reveal, much more can be done to counter gender discrimination, deconstruct stereotypes and promote female role models. In 2015, LIFT's gender strategy will be updated to make most of the new opportunities presented in LIFT’s refreshed strategy. Learn more about the different ways in which LIFT is empowering Myanmar's women here. 

In support of Myanmar’s women, we wish you Happy Myanmar Women’s Day!