Making Politics Female-Friendly By Hnin Wint Nyunt Hman*

Myanmar Times

Oct 3, 2017

Recent media conversations about gender equality in Myanmar have seen some old arguments being regurgitated. The arguments state that women in Myanmar enjoyed political and legal rights before their colonial counterparts in Britain did and that there are few barriers to success because a woman currently holds a position of considerable political power in the country. While several articles have been published to counter these arguments, more concrete solutions are necessary.

Gender equality is not exactly a controversial issue in this country, yet for various reasons it has been relegated to a low place on the list of national priorities. It is certainly right to prioritize critical matters of national security and the attainment of nationwide peace over combating gender inequality. Still, there are enough resources – activists and organizations, both local and international – to bring about change, faster and more effectively, in tandem with other national priorities.

However, achieving progress in gender equality will require two things: a change in current attitudes on the matter and the removal of institutional and social barriers.

Moving forward, it is imperative to first accept the reality of gender equality and women’s rights and, perhaps, readjust narratives and perceptions. A reliable indicator of gender equality is the presence of women in politics and governance.

After all, having more women in government guarantees a higher chance of gender inequality issues being addressed by the government.

In the history of modern Myanmar, only four women have served as Union-level ministers. While the general elections in 2015 saw an increase in the number of elected women legislators – currently at 13 percent – there are still relatively few compared to the global average of 23pc, which is quite a low figure itself. The first step to changing the status of women in Myanmar is to acknowledge that there is still much work to be done. It will also help to acknowledge that gender equality in politics and governance is crucial to building democracy. There is ample evidence, both quantitative and qualitative, that the more rights women enjoy in a society and the more women there are that participate in legislation and policymaking, the more it leads to building a peaceful, democratic country.

There is a dangerous general acceptance of the status quo in this country. While it is true that Myanmar women fare better than many of their counterparts in the developing world, this fact has often been used to prevent furthering the conversation on gender equality. Although Myanmar’s economy is better off than those of several other developing countries, this fact stops neither the government nor society at large from working to further develop the economy. Perhaps this same attitude should apply to gender equality.

One way to fight this inequity would be to remove institutional and social barriers for women to participate in politics. That is not to say, of course, that every woman politician would be a champion for women’s rights. However, enough statistical evidence exists to safely conclude that, on average, women are more likely than men to have gender equality as a priority.

Getting more women into politics will not be easy in a country where the political and social odds are stacked against female candidates, but there are ways to expedite the endeavor. One way is to form an organization with a mission to get more women elected to parliament, similar to EMILY’s List in the US, a political action committee that helps progressive women candidates with fundraising and campaigning. Notable endorsements have included former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and high-profile senators Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York.

Chapter 13 of the Pyithu Hluttaw and Amyotha Hluttaw election bylaws limit funding for political campaigns at K10,000,000 but does not restrict sources of funding as long as it comes from individuals, groups, corporations, or political parties that are locally owned and operated. While that limit may seem low compared to those of other countries, it is still a daunting task for a candidate to raise such a sum of money unless they receive the support of a major political party.

Such an organization or movement could not only contribute to an increase in women’s political participation but also to more diversity among parties, platforms, and policies by opening the way for independent and minor party candidates – assuming, of course, that such a body does not endorse a very narrow set of ideals. Additionally, the limit on campaign spending should be set only for the candidate but not for others endorsed by the candidate to campaign for her. This would allow the organization to also serve as a policy platform for like-minded candidates and politicians.

If the by-elections of April 2017, in which the ruling National League for Democracy won only nine out of 19 seats contested, are any indication, the general election in 2020 is certain to be far more intense and very little like the 2015 election. With the country’s increasing security and human rights concerns, electing more progressive women to parliament can do no harm. In fact, evidence from developed democracies suggests that it would help build a more peaceful democracy.

*Hnin Wint Nyunt Hman is a researcher affiliated with the Myanmar-Institute of Strategic International Studies. The views expressed in this article are her own.  (https://www.mmtimes.com/news/making-politics-female-friendly.html)