Author: Nang Phyu Phyu Lin
AIT Library Call Number: AIT Thesis no.GD-05-08
Year: 2005
Academic Program: Gender and Development Studies (GDS)
Type: Thesis (M.Sc.) – Asian Institute of Technology, 2005
Examination Committee: Bernadette P. Resurreccion (Chairperson); Barbara Earth, yint Myint Thein (Examination Committee Members)
Abstract: In the modern world of today Mass Media has great influence on our lives and the changes occurring in the society are reflected through the Media. Media is the easiest way to distribute messages to the society and the best way to reflect and reinforce the culture and traditional values of a country. Movie industry is one aspect of the media which is playing an important role in this regard. Gender inequalities which cross cuts all aspects of every society also exist in the Myanmar movie industry. This study focuses and looks into the issues raised as a result of the gender inequalities existing in the movie industry in terms of social status, recognition, earning and career mobility. And also looks in detail in to how the actresses are suffering more in terms of these inequalities as compared to the actors. The State enacts the motion picture laws: censorship, for the movie industry according to the state policy and culture. Since the laws are based on the state defined culture, the gender stereotyping exists largely in the production of the movies with the actresses ending up as ethno markers of the state culture. This study will also look how the perception of society affects the gender roles of actresses. The actresses are still expected to follow the traditional norms of a woman being always a good mother and good house wife. The actresses not only face the double burden of household work along with their professional work, but also have the pressure of fulfilling the expected norms, which some time results in many of the actresses in give up their career. The actresses are bounded with social taboo, tradition and cultural perception. There are many risks to be a Myanmar actress who have to overcome culture barriers and gender inequalities in order to sustain their career. How do the actresses over come these cultural barriers, what strategies do they use to over come them and how can they be assisted is a question which needs to be further looked into and can be examined in future research endeavors.
Scholarship Donor(s): Asian Institute of Technology Fellowship; Cetana Educational Foundation, USA
Note: A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science, School of Environment, Resources and Development
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