Sugar and Spice and IWD

International Women's Day in Laos is a big deal. It's a public holiday, restaurants offer special dinners and groups of female workers band together to celebrate. Sounds pretty good to a card-carrying feminist, right? It wasn't quite what I expected.

IWD in Oz:

International Women's Day generally goes unnoticed in my Australia. Despite Facebook posts from feminists, lefties and those other strong, independent women without a tag (the ones who also believe women should work towards gender equality in the world but who inexplicably don't want to call themselves feminists).  

There are a few events run by government agencies, mainly for government workers involving dinner and wine and inspiring speeches.

There are usually a few Non-Profit Organisation events also comprising passionate speeches, food, wine and music. And fundraising.  

International Women's Development Agency always throw a rockin' do.

It's the one day of the year I think about wearing my "This is what a feminist looks like" Tshirt to work.

For me, International Women's Day is about highlighting the continued plight of vulnerable women, celebrating those who have progressed the status of women and reminders that if we (Australian society, the global community, women, men, whoever) are to improve the world we need to start educating, loving, standing up and speaking out.

And then there's the version of IWD I've just enjoyed in Laos PDR.

IWD in Laos

I heard there might be a public holiday for International Women's Day in Laos but no one could tell me when it would be. On Wednesday the Prime Minister called it for Friday. It was in the paper on Thursday.

Earlier in the week I'd asked for a hand with something but was told things were a bit hectic what with preparations for IWD. Apparently there would be a meeting on Thursday. I was told to wear my uniform.

We attended a meeting all morning then played petanque all afternoon.

Meeting all morning...I

 

... petanque all afternoon.

The meeting was very formal, as most of our meetings are, and included reports on activities that benefited women and a series of certificates awarded for good behaviour. It was reinforced that IWD was about celebrating being female and what that means in Lao PDR. The sense of sisterhood was strong.

awards

 

and sisterhood

LFTU female officials are representatives of the trade union, the Lao Government and the Laos People's Revolutionary Party. We were reminded that it is women who are the keepers of morality and culture and of the importance of wearing sinhs, dressing modestly, behaving nicely and demonstrating traits respected within Lao culture. I was reminded of high school lectures and rules about uniform hem lengths, ladylike behaviour and language.

Most Lao people are experts at living well, relaxing, not worrying and smiling. After the ceremonial handing over of yellow pieces of cloth for us all to have matching work-blouses made...

... we headed off for noodle soup then my usual quick nap at my desk then we hit the petanque field.

We had formal photos...

Front row seats for VIPs

There were snacks.

Banana chips and fruit with chilli.

Meanwhile...

That morning there had been a large aerobics session in front of the National Assembly organised by the Lao Women's Union. It was about fun and friendship. There was also a speech commenting on how IWD had originally had a political objective.

Restaurants were offering special dinners for your special lady - or ladies as it suggests on this special menu...

On Friday the Vientiane Times had an article about the origins of IWD and  protests for women's rights in USA over 100 years ago.

Yesterday, March 7th, people said "Happy Women's Day". A few weeks ago we were all saying "Happy Valentine's Day". Deja vu. This weekend some workplaces had women-only day-trips or lunches. One organisation I heard about decided to give the female staff Friday off and the men could take Monday.

Overall, IWD in Laos - whichever day it was celebrated on - was about parties, lunches, games, dinners and special treatment for being women... 'special ladies'.

I DIDN'T ONCE hear about the status of women in Laos. I didn't hear about discrimination, injustice, limited potentials or education gaps between genders. I didn't hear about women who work tirelessly to improve conditions for Lao women, although there are many. Or maybe I just wasn't invited to those events?

At the risk of being accused, yet again, of being overly serious, I reckon a bit of politicisation might be nice. I think that the IWD parties/lunches/girls' weekends/games afternoons and lectures about how good Lao women should dress and behave, could be updated. How about public discourse about inequality in earnings, stereotypes, career choice limitations, teenage pregnancy rates, sex trafficking, enforced marriage, poor education levels and maternal mortality rates? (All Lao social problems likely to worsen over the next decade). And then discussions about WHAT WE CAN DO TO FIX THEM.

Sure, call me a party pooper (you won't be the first) but I'm keen for some serious dialogue and awareness- raising about how Lao women are considered less than men. I want the statistics publicised, the ideologies questioned, the dogmatic thought processes shaken up a little. Let's discuss the role of women in politics, unions, religion, workplaces and kitchens. I don't want to hear the usual rhetoric about Lao women being equal to men in law when they so obviously are not equal in life.

 And I'd like a "This is what a feminist looks like" Tshirt - in Lao.

And also....

 http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2014/03/we-mustnt-forget-revolutionary-roots-international-womens-day