Thursday, August 21, 2008

Mizo women dominate workplaces, education


Aizawl, Aug 21 : A woman and an old fence should be replaced is a chauvinistic Mizo saying. But it has been proved wrong with empowerment of women in traditionally strict patriarchal tribal society in Mizoram.

A visit to the main market in the capital city, Aizawl, reveals that most meat and vegetable sellers are women.
A majority of shops which sell ready-made garments, shoes, groceries, books and imported electronics are also manned by women.

“The fruits of our efforts towards the success of women’s empowerment in the past 11 years have been demonstrated in many sectors,” Rozami, President of the Mizo Hmeichhe Insuihkhawm Pawl (MHIP) or Mizo Women s Federation, said.

She, however, said the MHIP taught its members to respect the authority of men as Mizo society followed the patriarchal system.

“We are not keen to invade the authority and jurisdiction of our men even if we have become empowered,” she said.

Social workers, who do not agree with Rozami, claimed that rampant drug addiction among the youth had adversely affected the male workforce.

This opinion is supported by the fact that amongst the 1133 people killed by drugs in the state since 1984 till date, 1018 are men and the state excise department record says that a large majority of drug addicts are boys.

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