By Tenzin Nyinjey
The movement for women’s rights, widely known as feminism, is a relatively recent development. It was only a century or so ago that leading feminist writers and intellectuals first emerged in Europe, fighting for women’s independence, rights and dignity. Thanks to the incomparable hard work and sacrifice made by writers such as Mary Wollstonecraft (she committed suicide) and Emma Goldman, the world started appreciating the importance of granting equal political, economic and social rights to women.
It’s striking to learn that women in Europe and the US were awarded their franchise rights, that is the right to vote in electing their own choice of government, much later than their male counterparts. Similarly, women had to go through much pain and suffering before they were given equal wages for doing the same kind of jobs performed by their male counterparts. It is important to emphasize it here that some men also played critical roles in history to advocate for women’s rights and equality. Notable among them, which deserves to be mentioned here, was the radical French novelist Flaubert. His masterpiece, Madam Bovary, had a lasting impact in generating our understanding about, and empathy with, the kind of repression women had to endure because of a world which was increasingly male-dominated and male chauvinistic. Flaubert was persecuted and almost lost his head for composing this work.
Compared to the status of women in Europe, that of women in Asian societies fared much worse. We are familiar with the evil customs of binding women’s feet in China and the system of Sati practiced in ancient India. Even today, one of the most nagging issues tormenting women in China and India is to find out a suitable husband. Many girls in rural India are not able to endure the psychological trauma inflicted on them for not being able to marry at the ‘right’ time, so much so that many commit suicides, sometimes taking along with them even their whole family. Similarly, the pressure of dowry is taking away as many lives of Indian women as those killed by traffic accidents.
Where does the status of Tibetan women stand in relation to that of women from the West, India and China? There’s no disputing the fact that Tibetan women are not as free and independent as those in the West. But, in comparison to their counterparts in India and China, Tibetan women’s status is a lot better; in short they have more freedom and rights than those enjoyed by women in these countries. One important reason could be Tibetan Buddhism, which, theoretically at least, preached love, care and empathy, not just to fellow humans, but also to all other sentient beings as well. Such a culture has indeed been relatively helpful in mitigating the harsh treatment that is normally given to the less powerful sections of the society. However, this doesn’t means that all is clear blue sky when it comes to women’s status in our society. Women indeed are discriminated against, although on a much more subtle level.
The most outrageous form of discrimination and inequality practiced against our women can be seen in the arena of sexual freedom. Although Tibetan women have made tremendous stride in this regard, they are still not as free as their male counterparts. This is most visible when it comes to upholding ‘moral virtues’. We all are familiar that when it comes to relationships, whether between husbands or wives or between boyfriends and girl friends, by and large, it is woman who is expected and pressurized to uphold ‘moral virtues and disciplines.’ We are all familiar with the fact that our men are still obsessed with virginity! Moreover, it is an open secret that when it comes to issues of adultery, extra-marital affairs and divorce, women are often discriminated against. A woman found ‘guilty’ of indulging in these affairs are looked down upon as not having ‘virtues,’ and are often ostracized in our society, without making any efforts to understand the simmering underlying issues which compelled her to such ‘transgressions’; whereas men committing such affairs are taken for granted, and even normally given a sort of iconic status that needs to be emulated by others.
They say suppression of sexuality is one of the greatest crimes perpetrated against women in our conflict-ridden world. Pleasure of making love and enjoying it is God’s greatest gift. It is in this context that Tibetan women are much discriminated against. In other words Tibetan women are still deprived of complete sexual freedom and sexual happiness. In suppression of this right, that is the right to enjoy free and joyful sex, our ‘culture’ is playing a crude role. All cultures and customs are primarily based on religion, and religion, by and large, is a human creation that is used by the powerful sections of the society, as against the ideals of religion itself, to dominate the less powerful ones; in short religion is often misused by men to prevent the full blossoming of women’s freedom and right.
One example that can be given is the concept of ‘shame’ and ‘modesty,’ so much exemplified and upheld as sacrosanct in our religious culture, as if they descended straight above from the sky! Women are invariably expected to be ‘shy’ and ‘modest’ when it comes to sexuality, while men can be open, blunt and even aggressive in this regard. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that man manipulate this ‘shame theory’ to suppress woman’s own sexuality and thus its own unique identity. Here, I don’t imply women should act wild like bitches, throwing all their sense and intelligence in the wind; what I am trying to insinuate is the subtle manipulation of ‘modesty’ and ‘shyness’ by men to control women’s sexuality and freedom.
So what can Tibetan women do to overcome the discrimination that is meted out against them? In other words, what should Tibetan women do to regain their true identity, which has the tremendous potential to change the world for better? The only solution is nothing but education, an education that is not just confined within the boundaries of the Tibetan world. Apart from having a critical reappraisal of their traditional culture, aspects of which men manipulate to control them, such as shame and modesty, Tibetan women must venture out into new worlds and new ideas by absorbing the works of feminist writers from other societies. By learning from the writings of authors I mentioned in the beginning of my essay, Mary Wollstonecraft and Emma Goldman, Tibetan women will be garlanded with new and refreshing ideas that will help them advance their true freedom and independence. Remember, all the great discoveries in this world, including the concept of human rights and freedom, are created by ideas. Ditto with the emancipation of women!
[OPINION-DISCLAIMER]
