Gender Allocation of Labour among the Akha National Living in Kyaing Tong Township, Shan State (East), Myanmar

This dissertation examines "Gender allocation of labour among the Akha living in Kyaing Tong Township, Shan State (East). Myanmar". This study intends to find out how work is distributed among men and women, to elicit how the existing gender allocation of labour affects on livelihood of Akha and to generate information for gender mainstreaming in formulating development planning in the study areas. The study period was from 2009 to 2012. May. The research was conducted four villages; Hwe Yoke 1.2, Naung Hlam in Mong Hkun village tracts and Namt Raw Oaw in Mong Zin village tracts in Kyaing Tong township. Qualitative data collection techniques had been used to collect primary data. Data was collected by using qualitative methods such as !DI individual in-depth interview), KII (Key informant interview), observation and informal conversation. Firstly, the findings illustrated gender identity, family organization and socialization. It examines how gender identity concerned with masculine and femininity in Akha. Socialization is a relational process between children and parents and its objective is to build gender identity. In particular, parents' attitudes mediate traditional gender roles and the effect of their attitude towards gender roles. This section also explores the data relating to ancestral offering, traditional beliefs, and cultural transmission in rituals from gender point of view. In this case, some gender differences were realized in sharing work. In maintaining the culture of genealogical knowledge, only sons have the chance to learn genealogical knowledge from father because as Akha practise patrilineal kinship system, this knowledge passes down to sons. Parents are the first teachers for the young to learn the cultures and traditional beliefs. Akha's traditional beliefs reflect on sharing work based on gender. Secondly, the findings presented the data related to gender allocation of labour in household chores and livelihood work pattern in the study areas. An attempt has been made to ascertain whether gender disparities exist in the way of work distributed between gender groups. The findings of the study reveals that women spent a significantly higher time on agricultural production activities and household chores as compared to men, as women are defined as the domain at home and women are involved in agricultural activities such as seeding, weeding, transplanting, harvesting, threshing. As regards household work, the study reveals that it is confined only to women and there is hardly any male participation in such household work. The study also reveals that the women respondents spent considerable time for taking care of children, sick and elderly. Thus, women have lesser time available to them for leisure time activities as compared to men. With respects to education, great disparities between male and female in schooling were found in the study areas. Akha women need to be educated because they have to look after their children and family members. It is necessary to reduce gender differences in education. In conclusion, lack of adequate education limits women's effective participation in development. Akha women must move into the mainstream and they must learn higher level of education. Akha women's empowerment is important for community development in the study areas