Gender Discrimination

After recovering from the civil war in Pol Pot regime, Cambodia has faced a great deal of problems. For example, there are some problems, such as economic growth, infrastructure, poverty, health care system, education system, and politic crisis.

Concerning with education system, there are many cases that Cambodian people cannot go to school and learn something. Moreover, there are not enough schools, especially in the countryside. Even though a small number of students can go to school, the girls are found fewer than the boys. We usually saw the case in some places, where there was no even a girl in the classroom. However, recently the numbers of girls going to school are increasing remarkably.

In the past, Cambodian people had an idea that the girl was weaker than the boy, so it was no necessary for her to be educated at all. The girl was just better to stay at home and help do house's work. After getting married, woman had a responsibility to take care of the children and to do house's work. Women had no right to decide thing or to deal with any issues, but a person who could decide what to do in the family was the husband. Sometimes there were cases that a husband used violence against his wife. The wife could do nothing, but just kept silent and bear it.

Nowadays, many girls are enrolled in school like the boys. There are a great number of girls enrolling in the university. The women have chances to take a job, to join a community, or to work in the government institution and also to challenge as a candidate in the national election. However, men are still more powerful than women in work or government institution. For example, there are very few women in the parliament, and of course, we rarely find any women who function as a leader.

In addition, many men usually think that they are stronger, have more knowledge and work better than women even though the government has adopted legislation that ensures women right are promoted and protected. The government has also committed to enabling "the full and equal enjoyment of all human right and fundamental freedoms by women and girls is a priority".

In the near future, women are expected to be equal as men like in the United States, Japan and the EU, where women are as strong as men and have their freedom or right to work and join any activities in the society.

Getting Married in Cambodian Culture

Marriage is very important for our life time. So the Cambodians think when they marry
someone, they have to live and do everything for that person to be able to lead a happy life. Before getting married, thinking properly of whom you marry is the most important thing for us. In Cambodia, of course, people generally appreciate your wedding ceremony, but they do not consider divorce as a reasonable way. I mean that it is better not to get divorce if you have any solutions to deal with your partner. In addition, it must be a difficult situation for you to find anyone to get married with you again after your divorce. The majorities of Cambodian people think that someone who, one time, gets divorce can do it again and again. So it is said that you had better not to marry someone who used to get divorce.

How do people think about the traditional wedding in Cambodia? So let find out what kind of wedding ceremony we do in our culture or religion. In the past time, it was said that it look around seven days to hold a wedding ceremony. After that, it has been shorten to three days. Because of something to do with our culture, it was common to do something to show our unforgettable culture on the wedding day. However, in the present time, we spend only one day to celebrate a wedding ceremony. What a unbelievable thing people have shortened seven days- wedding ceremony to one day- ceremony. So I will explain something more about the present-time wedding in Cambodia.

First of all, before getting married, we have a courtship pattern which is conducted throughout the whole country. However, it is said that courtship patterns have differences in some areas. It is common for Cambodian people to get married between the ages of sixteen and twenty-five. The girl usually gets married quicker than the man does. After a spouse has been selected, parents will meet each other to talk to reach an agreement and investigate each other to make sure that their son or daughter marries into a good family. When both sides agree to the marriage, presents, usually fruits, have been exchanged. It means that the bride side decided to accept the groom side courtship. Marriage between close blood relatives is also common in Cambodia, especially in rural area.

Holding the ceremony is going to be in next process after the courtship has been successfully completed. The wedding ceremony starts in the bride house in the morning and finishes at night. Early in the morning, there is a march of ceremony in which the bride and groom lead a walk and followed by a number of guests. Everyone needs to hold some fruits, sweets or candies in hand. The march probably begins about one-hundred meters far from the bride house. They all have to walk slowly in traditional dresses toward the bride house with a traditional music playing at the same time. After that, at home the Buddhist priests offer a short sermon and recite prayers of blessing. Parts of ceremony involve ritual hair cutting and tying cotton threads soaked in holy water around couple's wrists. The parents and parents-in-law offer their blessings to the couple. It is a sign showing us that they give the bride and the groom good thing and happiness. The legend of Preah Thaong and Neang Neak is held in wedding ceremony, in which the groom carries the bride's scarf and walks to her room. It symbolizes that the groom is from afar and is marrying into the bride's family. The guests are welcomed and offered rice porridge and some fruits in the morning ceremony, as well. After holing the ceremony all morning at the bride's house, in the afternoon the couple is required to go outside and to be taken some memorial pictures in beautiful wedding dresses. And then, there is a wedding party at a hotel or restaurant where all the quests can have their dinner and enjoy wedding music and song. At the dinner party, the couple can receive presents given by the guests. Both the bride and the groom are required to cut the wedding cake and give a piece of it to their guests. After dinner party, the couple has to go back home, and at night, it is a good time for them to have their wedding sexual intercourse for the first time. It is the last step and clarifies that the ceremony is completely ended.

Overall, it is not easy for anyone to have a good partner and marry his or her. So I may say that getting married is so complicated, but it is exciting and important for everyone through a life time. In my opinion, the most interesting thing of marriage is that it differs between one country and another country because of its culture and religion. For example, marriage in Christ's culture, Islamic culture and Buddhist culture are different. There are various processes of each religion. The couple wears different wedding dresses concerning with each culture. However, a common thing is that getting married is to live together as a family.

People Whom I Respect

I was born in Phnom Penh city in a poor family and grew up there. I am so proud and happy to live with my lovely family. This is because I have good parents and brothers who always encourage me to overcome everything. Even though I am not in a rich family, I think that I am loved by my family members.

My parents are so kind, and also respectful of others. My father works hard to help me and my brothers be able to go to school. He studied hard at school, and he used to work in the government. Because of his effort at work, he was twice sent to study more in other countries, including East Germany, Soviet Union and Vietnam. He is getting older and older and does not look so healthy. However, he is still working in the air force to support the family. He is a quiet man, so he does not talk too much with us. However, I know he loves us and always takes responsibility as a good father. When I look into his eyes, I recognize that he is proud and happy to have me as his son. He can send me messages through his feelings rather than talking too much. Talking about my mother, she is a silent woman, as well. I mean my mother and father have almost the same personality. My mother is weak, so she always moves slowly. For example, she walks and eats slowly. Additionally, the way she speaks is kind of slow, too. Of course, I know that she is tired everyday because she has to get up early in the morning, and then she leaves home for market, where she sells fruits every day to earn money in order to support our living. I remember she said, " I am so happy when I can send all of you to school even though I am tired, or have any difficulties." She added that the most important things for us was to go to school. I was extremely very excited and happy to hear her words. My parents always let me do what I want. As I remember, when I started to play Sepak Takraw in junior high school, my parents told me that I could do it if I continued studying. They gave me hope, so I tried my best. As a result, what I achieved was that I was chosen for the national team.

I think that I am a lucky son to have parents like them. I respect them and will never forget them as long as I still live on the earth. Now, I cannot see their faces, but at least, I can hear them talking on the phone. Their kindness makes me stronger and pushes me to try harder.

When I came to Japan, I thought that it was a good place for everyone to live because here they have everything. However, I was shocked when I saw some news on TV or newspapers showing that there were many cases of murder in families. There are cases where a wife killed her husband or children, or in reverse, a husband killed his wife or children, grandchildren killed their grandparents, etc. I am still wondering why this happens in a rich country like Japan. I think the love between parents and children in Japan is low compared to the majorities of countries around the world. So I really want to know exactly whom Japanese children love and respect.

Finally, I just want to say that I love my parents and my brothers. They always give me strength to do things. They encourage and respect me, and I respect them, too. I am committed giving something back to thank them. I think I have to respect myself, too, and then my family before I can respect others. How can you do something for anyone or be respectful of them if you do not know who you are, in which family you were born, and in which country you are from?