Anthropological literature on ethnicity and identity
Individual Documents
Description:
Abstract: "Women?s
political
participation
and
representation
vary
dramatically
within
and
between
countries.
This
paper
selectively
reviews
the
literature
on
gender
gap
and
women?s
participation
in
politics,
focusing
on
women?s
formal
political
participation
particularly
from
2010
general
election
in
Burma/Myanmar.
The
paper
discusses,
however,
various
barriers
and
challenges
including
traditional,
religion,
lack
of
education,
experience
in
public
discussion,
participation
and
more
importantly
the
military
drafted
2008
constitution
for
women?s
political
participation
and
representation
in
Burma/Myanmar.
It
also
explains
significance
of
women?s
political
participation
as
well
as
the
role
of
international
mechanisms
and
gender
quotas
particularly
the
Convention
on
the
Elimination
of
All
Forms
of
Discrimination
against
Women
(CEDAW)
and
the
Electoral
Quotas
System
for
empowering
women?s
participation
in
politics.
Then,
it
explores
the
gap
between
the
2008
Constitution
and
the
CEDAW
standards.
Throughout
the
review,
the
paper
demonstrates
a
very
low
level
of
women?s
political
participation
from
secondary
data
as
well
as
in-‐depth
interviewed
with
women
parliamentarians
explained
the
challenges
and
difficulties
for
women
participation
in
politics
of
decision-‐making.
It
also
reveals
the
most
common
mechanism
for
increasing
women?s
political
participation-‐quotas
and
in
order
to
have
an
effective
the
gender
electoral
quotas
system
it
is
explicitly
important
both
men
and
women
attend
training
and
skills
development.
Importantly,
the
paper
also
asks
what
degree
and
under
what
conditions
elected
women
actually
do
represent
women
and
contribute
to
gender
equality,
democracy
and
whether
women
are
distinctive—does
having
more
women
in
office
make
a
difference
to
public
policy?".....Paper delivered at the International Conference on Burma/Myanmar Studies: Burma/Myanmar in Transition: Connectivity, Changes and Challenges: University Academic Service Centre (UNISERV), Chiang Mai University, Thailand, 24-26 July 2015.
Sang Hnin Lian
Source/publisher:
International Conference on Burma/Myanmar Studies: Burma/Myanmar in Transition: Connectivity, Changes and Challenges: University Academic Service Centre (UNISERV), Chiang Mai University, Thailand, 24-26 July 2015
Date of publication:
2015-07-26
Date of entry/update:
2015-08-08
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Articles, reports and sites relating to women of Burma, Burmese political culture - general, Akha (cultural, political, economic), Shan (cultural, historical, political) articles, Akha, Shan, General anthropological literature: politics, society and culture, Education rights: reports of violations in Burma, Women and Child Rights Project, home page, articles and reports, Anthropological literature on ethnicity and identity, Anthropological literature on sex, marriage and kinship, International Conference on Burma/Myanmar Studies (ICBMS) 23-26 July, 2015
Language:
English
Format :
pdf
Size:
180.74 KB
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Description:
"Karen identity is problematic, as peoples known as ?Karen? do not share a common
language, culture, religion or material characteristics. Most of the research on Karens has
been conducted in Thailand, but the dominant ?pan-Karen? identity is a product of social
and historical forces in Myanmar, where this study is focused. In the main part of this
paper, I reveal the subjective criteria that have come to signify pan-Karen identity. My
primary source material consists of internal literary discourses. In particular, I have drawn
on the historical texts of two British colonial-era authors: T. Thanbyah and Saw Aung Hla.
Three signicant concepts appear in their works and subsequent internal discourses on
Karen identity: that Karens are oppressed, uneducated and virtuous. In the latter part of
the paper, I review contemporary Myanmar government policy on ethnic identity, highlighting
the assigned role of ?Union Spirit? among all groups in the country towards overcoming
supercial differences. State policies are designed—among other things—to emphasise a
myth of common descent of all ?national races?; construct a unifying national culture, and
concentrate administrative power at the centre.
Both Karen identity and the Union of Myanmar are products of the same historical and
social conditions. Both appeal to a supposed unity, but in other characteristics differ. State
discourses suggest accommodation, but are directed towards social control. Karen identity
is born of primordial statements but is manifest in structural opposition to the state.
Ultimately, while the state seeks to assimilate all, Karen nationalists aim towards the
assimilation of their own and separation from others."
Nick Cheesman
Source/publisher:
Asian Ethnicity, Volume 3, Number 2, September 2002
Date of publication:
2002-00-00
Date of entry/update:
2014-08-18
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
Format :
pdf
Size:
660.96 KB
Local URL:
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Description:
Abstract: "Based on secondary resources and long term anthropological field research, this paper explores some of the ?external? factors involved in the pro-democracy and ethnic struggles for self-determination currently being experienced in Burma. The analysis draws in cultural, economic and political aspects to demonstrate that a number of macro- and micro-level external or external-origin influences are at play, at a number of different ?inside?, ?outside? and marginal sites. The paper argues in particular that ?cultural? factors such as computer-mediated communication and contacts with outsiders when living in exile, serve as means by which real, virtual and imaginary connections are drawn between these different sites and the actors who inhabit them. In the context of Burma, this paper thus presents a glimpse into this complexity of origin and substance of external influences, of interactions between the external and the internal, and of the multidirectional pathways along which they operate. After an introductory overview, it does so by first reviewing some pertinent macro-political and macro-economic external factors, including international views and strategic interests. The paper then focuses on micro-level social and cultural issues, examining aspects of new media as utilised by the Burmese exile community and international activists. External influences on exiled communities living in the margins on the Thai-Burma border (characterised by the paper as neither ?inside? nor ?outside? proper), including Christianity and foreign non-governmental organisations, are then explored. The paper concludes that inside views, reactions and experiences of outside influences are presently just as important in determining outcomes as are the outside influences themselves."
Sandra Dudley
Source/publisher:
Queen Elizabeth House
Date of publication:
2003-02-00
Date of entry/update:
2010-07-08
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
General anthropological literature: politics, society and culture, Political analysis of Burma and the region, Several Groups, Burmese political culture - general, Internet activism and resources, Anthropological literature on ethnicity and identity
Language:
English
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