Comments on: "Tibetan Women – Where do they stand?"

By: sjr

sjr — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 13:29:39 +0000

“Also the word ‘nigger’ is still in use in western society since we hear it in music and the media and still it is used in a non-discriminatory way, so I would say his statement is false.”

“Nigger” is still a derogatory term used in America against black Americans. The term is often embraced by the black community as a way to reclaim the word from the previous negative connotations (similar to “bitch”, “slut”, and “queer”), but it is not culturally acceptable for anyone other than a black American to use the word, typically.

Someone asked about Tibetan women and multiple husbands, which I believe is termed “fraternal polyandry” by Nancy Levine.

Even if ‘Kaimein‘ or ‘Kye-men’ means “women’s stomachs”, the negative associations seem to point towards an inferiority of birth, whether it be the sex (female) or the form of birth (physical as opposed to spiritual / enlightenment). I’m not sure if Tibetan Buddhism contains a spiritual rebirth / awakening, so more information would be helpful!

Women are oppressed in every society, but that does not mean every individual takes part.

Does anyone know about prostitution in Lhasa? I’m trying to research this topic.

By: dennis coleman

dennis coleman — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 13:45:18 +0000

I wonder how much of this has been sponsored by trhe Chinese Government trying to ‘re-educate ‘ the West about ‘Tibetology’ —sure —issues relating to gender exist within Tibetan society but none more so than most other Asian societies —- the greater issue is the Chinese domination and attmpted destruction of Tibetan culture

By: Grace

Grace — Sat, 24 May 2008 08:00:44 +0000

I agree that Tibetan women are under appreciated,
But it’s not all the fault of the men,
if that’s what they’ve been taught,
that’s what they’ll pass down,
the chain needs to be broken.

By: Dennis Coleman

Dennis Coleman — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 13:36:59 +0000

Tenpa, I admire you for your activism on both counts –ie ‘pro Tibetan freedom’ and equality of the sexes within the Tibetan cultural framework —be warned, though –the likes of ‘asianplumb’ above will use the latter argument against you and claim that China ‘liberated’ Tibet from tyranny —pity the Chinese Gov isn’t ‘liberating’ minorities of all kinds in their own midst –indeed –repression is stepping up

Cheers, Tenpa –I admire you

By: asianplumb

asianplumb — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 19:42:37 +0000

Shanghain women control the majority of the finances and running of the family and business’s in Shanghai. Perhaps there will be some balancing of equality for Tibetan women under Chinese rule after all the propaganda demonizing China’s control of Tibet. The current Tibetans in exile including the Dalai Lama’s 2 brothers chose not to get off their arse and work like everyone else toward a more modern less stoneage Tibet! Lamas/Monks feel that the world should feed them because they’re lazy and have historically exploited their population for centuries. So don’t bite the hand that feeds you and shun the one that taxes you and keeps you in the dark. If you’re Tibetan and read this online in Tibet you don’t have to thank a Lama as there was no electricity for you under them to run your p/c on!

By: zaragyemo

zaragyemo — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 21:59:46 +0000

Wrote a long one and then felt stupid…so I deleted everything.

So, to answer “where does Tibetan woman stand?”

Speaking for myself, I stand with the truth. I don’t know if this has anything to do with being Tibetan or a woman.

It`s weird, I never looked,thought,questioned,answered and made decisions from a point of view of a Tibetan Woman. It never occurred to me, I thought as a human being for most part and then a woman for women issues.

PSE

By: dab

dab — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 19:35:00 +0000

“Real Tibetan” is a moniker adopted by someone pretending to be Tibetan these days and saying nonsense, evidently out of a conscious motive of spreading misinformation about what they call “Real Tibetans.”

http://beijingwideopen.org/2007/08/07/me-on-ctv/

These days we have to trust our creepiest instincts, or perhaps you just imagining I’m giving into paranoia.

But face it, no real Tibetan would call themselves “Real Tibetan.” That’s just not true Tibetan style!

Your,
Dab

By: Jigme32

Jigme32 — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 21:07:00 +0000

Also define what you mean by “Real Tibet” and “Real Tibetans”?

By: Jigme32

Jigme32 — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 21:03:00 +0000

"In real Tibet, a girl would go out to live in a white tent that is separated from her family. If a Tibetan young man likes her, he would go sleep in the tent and they would become a family".

-Not all Tibetans in Tibet live or lived in tents. Also as for the:

"If a Tibetan young man likes her, he would go sleep in the tent and they would become a family".

-What is your source for this? This seems unlikely because most Tibetan marriages were chosen by the parents who would choose the wife or husband in the interests of the family, no different from most societies in similar periods.

In fact this sounds similar to a Spartan tradition where instead of white tent it is a dark room, except afterwards it wasn't a considered a union of husband and wife just a method to allow a woman to bear children.

"In real Tibet, It's quite common that several Tibetan women share the same husband or brothers share the same wife. A lot of Tibetan women are single mothers. Their children don't know who these father is."

-Do you mean they are single mothers as in they don't know who the father is or that the father or father figure is not present? This sounds strange to me as well, where did you find this from?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 20:17:00 +0000

The whitewashed tibetans are not the real tibetans, same can be said for the tibetan girls.
In real Tibet, a girl would go out to live in a white tent that is seperated from her family. If a tibetan young man likes her, he would go sleep in the tent and they would become a family.
In real Tibet, It's quite common that several tibetan women share the same husband or brothers share the same wife. A lot of tibetan women are single mothers. Their children dont know who these father is.