Feminist dorms are set to transform Cambodia

[Kung-fu Hillbilly]

By Corinne Redfern

This group of 75 women between 17 and 23 years old from rural Cambodia cleared a careful selection process to earn the opportunity to reside in one of two Phnom Penh dormitories, called “DT” and “TT.” .....The purpose of the dorms is to help the young women develop the skills they need to return to their communities and transform rural Cambodia into a gender-equal society, says the Harpswell Foundation’s Moul Samneang.....

The DT and TT dorms are part of a broader trend of dormitories that are sprouting up to provide intermediary accommodation for young Cambodian women who are quietly demanding — and taking — opportunities long denied to them. The numbers of applicants to DT and TT are on the rise.

Law student Ly Nhokchin, 21, from Prey Veng — a rural province roughly 60 miles east of Phnom Penh — came to DT dormitory three years ago. Getting there was tough. She competed with more than 200 other applicants from high schools across the country for one of 17 places in the all-female dorm.

In a country where 1 in 5 girls is married before 18, former dorm residents are waiting until they’re 28 or 30 to get married. “It’s phenomenal progress,” says Moul Samneang.

Full article https://www.ozy.com/fast-forward/femini ... odia/85574

[violet]

Mixed feelings.

[taabarang]

Violet, please elaborate on this mixture of feelings; it all seems positive to me. What am I missing?

[violet]

That would take some effort on my part, and quite a lot of time. If I find the motivation, I will.

[taabarang]

Ah, the old cliffhanger ending.

[that genius]

Why are the dorms perceived as feminist? There's a bit of a negative connotation I feel. They stay together for the sake of safety and support. Maybe just women's dorms?

[violet]

Why are the dorms perceived as feminist? There's a bit of a negative connotation I feel. They stay together for the sake of safety and support. Maybe just women's dorms?

The purpose of the dorms is to help the young women develop the skills they need to return to their communities and transform rural Cambodia into a gender-equal society, says the Harpswell Foundation’s Moul Samneang.....

Feminist because it is written by or set up by feminists who speak in feminist terms

[phuketrichard]

great idea, many countries have female only bus sections train cars, taxi's

BUT i dont get the point of the article, aren't most dorms ( never stayed in one)
males or female or mixed??

The purpose of the dorms is to help the young women develop the skills they need to return to their communities and transform rural Cambodia into a gender-equal society,

HUH??? how does staying in a female only dorm help u develop any skills?

[that genius]

They stay in dorms because they have no option, they are from the province. They stay in female-only dorms because we're in Cambodia. While they reside in the dorm Phnom Penh, they get training in certain skills.Providing dorms helps rural people access training. Most quality training happens in SR, Sinville or Phnom Penh, so not much choice.

[violet]

great idea, many countries have female only bus sections train cars, taxi's

BUT i dont get the point of the article, aren't most dorms ( never stayed in one)
males or female or mixed??

The purpose of the dorms is to help the young women develop the skills they need to return to their communities and transform rural Cambodia into a gender-equal society,

HUH??? how does staying in a female only dorm help u develop any skills?

I imagine, based on only what is available in the writing, that there are other activities that are organised by the people who vetted them for a place in the dorms.... You know, much like a church organisation would, except it's an organisation that wants to (and is) jump start progress toward equality between males and females, and they partially judge success on how late in life females are marrying. Good that there are fewer marrying before 18... Kids these days are too naive. Many of us older folk have parents who married young, and lived long and happy lives together. People were a bit tougher back then.

I should add that the dynamics of young marriages here are a little different to back in the 50s and 60s, but not so different.