The Bhutanese Woman has come a long way
Some thirty years ago, government jobs were purely male domain, no women would be found aspiring for such a career.
Today after thirty years of modernization the kitchen is not the only place you’ll find a woman any more and more women are joining the workforce, exhibiting their potential in every field.
This “emancipation” of women has been attributed by many to the absence of gender bias in Bhutan.
“Bhutan is one of those fortunate countries where women and men are granted equal rights and given equal opportunities under the Bhutanese law,” said a high court judge. “Unlike in most countries in most places in Northern Bhutan, it is the women who are entitled to the family property.”
Another factor could be the increasing enrollment rate for girls in schools and educational institutions.
In the fifties and sixties there was a smaller number of girls who received formal education as the only form of education available through the monastic system, which catered predominantly to boys and men.
Also schooling entailed many hardships and inconveniences owing to which parents preferred to keep their daughters’ home considering them to be more “helpless and vulnerable than the male child”, making the girl’s enrollment into schools almost negligible.
There were also scholarships to schools in Kalimpong and Darjeeling but very few girls were selected to attend because of the arduous journey.
According to Dasho Gagey Lham, Bhutan’s first lady judge, the girls had to be “pulled away” from their parents to be sent to schools in India.
“During my time, there were thirteen girls from Haa who were selected to be sent to schools in India after completing our class three in Bhutan,” she told Kuensel. “And the journey was tough.”
There were no motorable roads so the prospective students had to walk to Samtse which took seven days, and then catch a train to go to Kalimpong. Even at home the walk from the house to the local school took a lot of time, she said.
“It was only later, with improved road conditions, that more girls were enrolled into schools,” she added.
As late as the early fifties the first modern schools (primary) were opened, said a National report for the fourth world conference on women.
According to the Central Statistic Office, in 1977 the total number of girls who received formal education was 5,420 out of a total of 19,973 students but by 1984 girls accounted for at least 33 percent of a total enrollment of 47,883 students.
As time passed parents realized the value of education and the situation had improved sufficiently and parents started educating their female children, an educationist said.
More schools came up with hostel facilities and improved road communication enhanced mobility, reducing the dread of long distances.
There were 152 primary schools, 21 junior highs, 10 high schools, five Sanskrit pathshalas and seven vocational institutions in 1989 which has today increased to 107 community schools, 150 primary schools, 25 junior high schools, 13 high schools, seven private schools and 10 vocational institutions.
As the number of schools increased around the country the number of girl students did too.
In 1997 the total enrollment of girls into schools and institutions has increased to 40,599 out of a total of 92,267, with the drop out rate of boys being higher at 2693 than among the girls at 1693.
With education came wider job opportunities.
“The career opportunity is encouraging because there is no discrimination in promotion, opportunities, pay and other benefits, says education’s planning officer”, Chhimey Pem. “With the same qualification men and women are given the equal grades.”
In the civil service women constitute 15 percent of the 13,400 servants while there are increasing number of women making their mark in male dominated areas like business and finance.
And the career consciousness is not just localized to urban women only with more career oriented opportunities at the village level the rural women too are learning to be financially secure to ensure they are not discriminated against, a senior government official said.
Various programs like weaving, knitting and tailoring centers have set up by the Royal Government (RGOB) and the National Women’s Association of Bhutan (NWAB).
“The non formal education scheme, for the development of women, has enhanced her ability to understand better the art of reading and writing and not be considered as illiterate sitting at home doing nothing,” said a spokesman from the Education Division. “Today many young women will not want to sit at home tending to household chores. They prefer to find their niche in business or government services.”
The women of the nineties have realized that they have an identity besides that of a wife and mother. The progress is steady and fast with or without the approval of their spouses.
“It all depends on women’s will,” Dasho Gagey Lham said, “If with the understanding of their spouses, after mother-hood, women resumed their careers, then I’m sure they will do well.”
However, while most were happy about the equality status of women today, a few did express dissatisfaction.
“Bhutanese women enjoy relative freedom and equality in many aspects of life, but, where decision making posts are concerned it is still the men who rule the roost.” - said a government official.” After all how many high ranking women officials do we have?”
“Many men do not appreciate a woman with ambition, a career, and above all a woman boss.” Said Lily Wangchuk,of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
According to Deki Pema, of the Policy and Planning Section, Ministry of Planning, women are looking for something else besides marrying and bearing children today.
“A woman should be treated like any other professional expect when biological constraints have to be taken into consideration.” She said. “Pregnant girls should be allowed to re-enter schools and institutions.”
“Women should be recognized for their ability and be appreciated for it and not simply because of the mere fact that she is a woman,” she said. “And I would hate it if I was shown certain consideration just because I am a woman… after all a profession is a profession, and a professional is a professional.”
By: Mamta Gurung, 2001. Source Courtesy: KUENSEL