Give All Women An Opportunity To Improve Their Lives

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EDITORIAL

Give all women an opportunity to improve their lives

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A new fund set up for the welfare and development of women must not be allowed to fall victim to the interests and corruption of politicians

International Women's Day serves as an annual event to celebrate the progress made in promoting the role of women and their right to participate in social, economic and political development.

Long before the terms "feminism" and "women's empowerment" became buzzwords, women played a vital role in contributing to changes to better global society. In spite of the obvious gender inequality in days gone by, our mothers, grandmothers and their predecessors managed to build the women's empowerment movement and inspire later generations to rise to the challenges of working for both family and equality. For instance, when women have a say in the management of household income, they are likely to spend a good proportion of that money for the education of their children, to help them realise their full potential.

Behind the front line of every battle, there are always wives and mothers to boost morale and support for those who risk their lives for a good cause for their communities. The ongoing "Arab Spring" in the Middle East would not have been successful without the contribution of women, in various individual roles. In spite of the gender inequality in their communities, these women took the chance to become agents for change. Some simply supported their men while others took leadership roles by themselves. Such commitment should be cherished and promoted to ensure women's full participation in efforts to improve society. This also shows that the most effective force to empower women must come from within.

There is no excuse for women to shy away from such challenges or choose to be victimised by circumstances. Women are blessed with the role of motherhood, and in that sense they should feel a special sense of dignity, power and wisdom that can be used to define their own destiny.

Unfortunately, what we have seen in Thai society recently is an attempt to use the gender issue as an excuse for inability or failure. Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's supporters often cite her femininity to enable her to avoid critical responsibility or seek public sympathy. For example, Yingluck let Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung take charge of political issues and let Justice Minister Pracha Promnok take the flak for the government's failure to manage the flood crisis last year. Yingluck chose to sit in the passenger's seat. So far, she has been unable to prove that she is her own woman.

Yet, the government uses women to score political points. The recently approved budget of Bt7.7 billion to set up a national women's development fund has not been devised properly. There is no clear plan to spend the money effectively to serve the purpose of empowering women - it was set up simply to fulfil an election campaign promise by the Pheu Thai Party to give Bt100 million to women in each province.

This scheme has drawn many questions from women's groups. They raised their concerns with Prime Minister's Office Minister Nalinee Taweesin this week, questioning whether the fund would violate the principle of equality because it will be available only to those who register with the government. The groups also called for a public hearing before any of the money is spent, in order to sound out ideas from women instead of waiting for spending instructions from politicians. Additionally, they say the fund's management should be under the supervision of an independent committee, to ensure the money is not tainted by politics and corruption.

In fact, the establishment of the fund should be celebrated by women who claim that a lack of financial resources is an obstacle in their fight for greater equality. But the big test will be how every woman can be involved in the management of this fund, which is scheduled to be officially opened on this International Women's Day.

Every Thai woman should have a share in the ownership of this money. Therefore, they cannot afford to let it be squandered by politicians. Smart women must not let anyone use their names to seek wrongful profit. Women must not take the management of the fund lightly. Effective management of the fund can reshape the future of women in Thailand. Failure to use the money transparently and fairly would only be perceived as an inability on the part of women to manage financial resources.

If the Bt7.7 billion is wasted, it will be a great shame that women in this age have failed to do justice to taxpayers' money that is designed to serve their needs.

-- The Nation 2012-03-08

[noitom]

This is a rambling, incoherent editorial that confuses any sense of purpose. Equal rights for women is one thing to evangelize. To commingle this issue in Thai society with a challenge to a specific fund and political skimming is another. Sexist posturing against the PM is still another. So all in all, this editorial is a confused, incoherent pice of preposterous journalism jumbling points, claims, and objectives so as to conflict the entire piece.

Numerous Thai women already sit on the boards and participate in the management of over 500 listed companies on the Thai Stock Exchange (SET). Frequently, newspapers in Thailand cite cases and examples of women entrepreneurs starting new businesses or taking up leadership roles in business and government. There are thousands of examples of opportunity available and taken by women in Thailand. Women certainly have ample opportunity in medicine, health care, tourism, hotel, legitimate hospitality and travel segments and more. So what is the point of The Nation's editorial?

The headline here in this editorial and its content are preposterous. In a country such as Thailand in particular, the newspaper has many other fish to fry in picking a bone about the sexist Thai society and making its case to "Give All Women An Opportunity To Improve Their Lives." If this, in fact, is the point. In a country where millions of women are seen and used as nothing more than financial instruments to flow black cash into society, and the " sex trade" represents such a huge segment of the Thai black economy, The Nation could do a more honest and thoughtful job of stating the argument than the one in this day's editorial.

Until The Nation is able to face the facts and get its influence and voice shouting in the right direction, we can just say hats off to the girls, the real backbone of the Thai economy. They seem to be seizing lots of opportunity on their own without the sponsorship of The Nation.

[Om85]

Well this article title should be, "give Thai women the same rights that man have", like fro example giving the right to gain Thai citizenship to those man married with Thai women or giving the rights of PR and freedom to do any job to the foreign husbands of Thai women, that should be a great progress in the fight for equality between man and women in Thailand and more now that our PM is a woman.

Edited March 8, 2012 by Om85

[daninthai]

This is a rambling, incoherent editorial that confuses any sense of purpose. Equal rights for women is one thing to evangelize. To commingle this issue in Thai society with a challenge to a specific fund and political skimming is another. Sexist posturing against the PM is still another. So all in all, this editorial is a confused, incoherent pice of preposterous journalism jumbling points, claims, and objectives so as to conflict the entire piece.

Numerous Thai women already sit on the boards and participate in the management of over 500 listed companies on the Thai Stock Exchange (SET). Frequently, newspapers in Thailand cite cases and examples of women entrepreneurs starting new businesses or taking up leadership roles in business and government. There are thousands of examples of opportunity available and taken by women in Thailand. Women certainly have ample opportunity in medicine, health care, tourism, hotel, legitimate hospitality and travel segments and more. So what is the point of The Nation's editorial?

The headline here in this editorial and its content are preposterous. In a country such as Thailand in particular, the newspaper has many other fish to fry in picking a bone about the sexist Thai society and making its case to "Give All Women An Opportunity To Improve Their Lives." If this, in fact, is the point. In a country where millions of women are seen and used as nothing more than financial instruments to flow black cash into society, and the " sex trade" represents such a huge segment of the Thai black economy, The Nation could do a more honest and thoughtful job of stating the argument than the one in this day's editorial.

Until The Nation is able to face the facts and get its influence and voice shouting in the right direction, we can just say hats off to the girls, the real backbone of the Thai economy. They seem to be seizing lots of opportunity on their own without the sponsorship of The Nation.

It's all too often that these editorials ramble on, changing topic every other sentence. Thai style thinking?

[daninthai]

Well this article title should be, "give Thai women the same rights that man have", like fro example giving the right to gain Thai citizenship to those man married with Thai women or giving the rights of PR and freedom to do any job to the foreign husbands of Thai women, that should be a great progress in the fight for equality between man and women in Thailand and more now that our PM is a woman.

Agreed. Instead of wasting more money on this sexist fund, why not make all laws equal for men and women. There should be absolutely no difference between being a man and a woman in the eyes of the law.

[sparebox2]

Give all women an opportunity to improve their lives?

Does all includes Yingluck?

[Felt 35]

Get the impression that the fund is more important than equality!

[rijb]

"Thailand has the greatest percentage of women in senior management."

The best and worst places to be a woman.

[pisico]

Get the impression that the fund is more important than equality!

Equality?

That concept is alien to Thainess.

When you see that in National parks, Royal Palaces, Muay Thai events etc., a Thai and Farang will pay the same price for the admission ticket, then, there is a hope that equality will reign in Thailand for all, regardless of gender, political affiliation, nationality or race.

[mikebell]

Thai Women would have more opportunity if Thai men were made to pay for their abandoned children.

[Semper]

Thai Women would have more opportunity if Thai men were made to pay for their abandoned children.

Farang men seems to take care of that part.

[transam]

Thai Women would have more opportunity if Thai men were made to pay for their abandoned children.

Excellent post. Strange how they disappear until a kid has a school paper to be signed etc.eh.

[TheGhostWithin]

The feminist movement in Thailand is picking up pace. If this is a good thing or a bad thing is a personal opinion.

I know for a fact, that the feminist movement is so strong here in NZ, it is actually alienating against men sometimes, to the point that women actually have the upper hand against men. Thailand needs to be careful that they are introducing equality in the future, rather than just turning the tables. Thai men are disadvantaged too, it is about where you come from, not the parts that you have on your body.

15 years ago, I did not have shoes to wear to school, and rarely had lunch to take to school. My mother often went without food so that I could eat and grow. I was a white kid in a brown neighborhood, high crime, drugs and gangs. It was the school I went to, and the men and women who taught me, that made me understand. It is not about the color of your skin, it is not about you being a Male or a Female, but about your determination to succeed and do better than anyone else. With equal tools, everyone has the same opportunities to succeed.

[KKK]

And where is the equvalent budget of Bt7.7 billion for men?

[KKK]

Well this article title should be, "give Thai women the same rights that man have", like fro example giving the right to gain Thai citizenship to those man married with Thai women or giving the rights of PR and freedom to do any job to the foreign husbands of Thai women, that should be a great progress in the fight for equality between man and women in Thailand and more now that our PM is a woman.

Agreed. Instead of wasting more money on this sexist fund, why not make all laws equal for men and women. There should be absolutely no difference between being a man and a woman in the eyes of the law.

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