FAMILY LIFE IN BHUTAN
Extended families often share a single household in Bhutan. In the 1990s a typical family of 14 was made up of a mother and father in their late forties and early fifties (looking older than their age), their one son and three daughter, the oldest daughter's husband and their five children, the mother’s brother and the father's cousin (a visiting monk). [Source: Peter Menzel, "Material World," Sierra Club Books, 1994]
The mother and father spend much of their day with the cattle. The mother milks the cows into a wooden bucket in the morning and the father uses the cows to plow the fields. The bulls are "notoriously bad tempered" and as a result the father treads carefully and often had to shout and throw stones at them to get them to move. The family spent 16 percent of its income on food and 33 percent on clothing. In the 1990s, the family owned 1 radio, but no TV, telephone, VCR, bicycle or automobile.
Family life, both traditionally and in the contemporary period, was likely to provide for a fair amount of self-sufficiency. Families, for example, often made their own clothing, bedding, floor and seat covers, tablecloths, and decorative items for daily and religious use. Wool was the primary material, but domestic silk and imported cotton were also used in weaving colorful cloth, often featuring elaborate geometric, floral, and animal designs. Although weaving was normally done by women of all ages using family-owned looms, monks sometimes did embroidery and appliqué work. In the twentieth century, weaving was possibly as predominant a feature of daily life as it was at the time of Bhutan's unification in the seventeenth century. [Source: Andrea Matles Savada, Library of Congress, 1991 *]
Landholdings varied depending on the wealth and size of individual families, but most families had as much land as they could farm using traditional techniques. A key element of family life was the availability of labor. Thus, the choice of the home of newlyweds was determined by which parental unit had the greatest need of supplemental labor. If both families had a sufficient supply of labor, then a bride and groom might elect to set up their own home. *
Nongovernmental associations include the National Women's Association of Bhutan and the Bhutan Youth Development Association.
Children in Bhutan
The birth of a child is always welcomed. In Bhutan extended family and guests are discouraged from visiting during the first three days after the birth. On the third day, a short purification ritual is performed after which visitors are welcomed to visit the new born and mother. Bhutanese value children as progenitors of the future and therefore do not discriminate on the sex of the child. Traditionally various gifts are offered ranging from dairy products to cloth and money. [Source: Tourism Council of Bhutan, tourism.gov.bt]
The child is not immediately named; this responsibility is usually entrusted to the head lama (Buddhist priest) of the local temple. The mother and child will also receive blessings from the local deity (natal deity) and it was traditional that the name associated with the deity is given. In some cases, the child is given the name of the day on which the child is born. Based on the Bhutanese calendar, a horoscope is written based on the time and date of the birth, this will detail the various rituals to be performed at different times in the life of the child and to an extent predict his or her future.
Karma Phuntsho wrote in the “Worldmark Encyclopedia of Religious Practices”:“There are no formal rites of passage in Bhutanese Buddhism or in Buddhism in general. A person first becomes a Buddhist by taking refuge in the Three Jewels: the Buddha, the dharma (his teachings), and the sangha (the spiritual community). This is done in early childhood before a lama, who cuts the tip of the person's hair and gives him or her a new name. Bhutanese Buddhists use names received from a lama in this manner and do not share family names. The practice of taking refuge and naming is often repeated several times in a person's lifetime as a ritual of blessing. Many tantric practices in Bhutanese Buddhism require specific preliminary procedures such as wang (empowerment), lung (scriptural authorization), and thri (quintessential instructions). Most of the major religious ceremonies in the country are connected to these preliminary rites. [Source: Karma Phuntsho, “Worldmark Encyclopedia of Religious Practices”, Thomson Gale, 2006]
Children Statistics
Under-five mortality rate: 28.5 deaths per 1000 births [Source: UNICEF DATA data.unicef.org]
Child protection
Children under age 5 whose births are registered: 100 percent
Women aged 20-24 years who were first married or in union by age 18: 26 percent
Children aged 5-17 years engaged in child labour: 4 percent
Women who feel wife beating is justified in some cases: 68 percent
[Source: UNICEF DATA data.unicef.org]
Early Childhood Education
Attendance in early childhood education: 10 percent
Early stimulation and responsive care (any adult household member): 54 percent
Early stimulation and responsive care (father): 51 percent
Learning materials at home — children's books: 6 percent
Learning materials at home — playthings: 52 percent
Children left in inadequate supervision: 14 percent
[Source: UNICEF DATA data.unicef.org]
Education
Adjusted net attendance rate, one year before official primary entry age: 51 percent
Adjusted net attendance rate, primary education: 95 percent
Adjusted net attendance rate, lower secondary education: 53 percent
Adjusted net attendance rate, upper secondary education: 24 percent
Completion rate, primary education: 69 percent
[Source: UNICEF DATA data.unicef.org]
Child Health
Proportion of under-five children with suspected pneumonia taken to health provider: 74 percent:
Proportion of children under five years old with diarrhoea receiving oral rehydration salts: 61 percent
Percentage of infants who received three doses of DTP vaccine: 97 percent
Percentage of children who received the second dose of measles containing vaccine: 92 percent
[Source: UNICEF DATA data.unicef.org]
Child Survival
Under-five mortality rate (U5MR): 28 deaths per 1,000 live births:
Number of under-five deaths: 369
Infant mortality rate (IMR): 24 deaths per 1,000 live births:
Neonatal mortality rate (NMR): 17 deaths per 1,000 live births:
Under-five mortality rate (U5MR): 26 deaths per 1,000 live births (male):
Under-five mortality rate (U5MR): 31 deaths per 1,000 live births (female):
[Source: UNICEF DATA data.unicef.org]
Maternal and Newborn Health
Proportion of women aged 15-49 who received postnatal care within 2 days after giving birth: 41 percent
Antenatal care coverage for at least four visits: 85 percent
Proportion of births attended by skilled health personnel: 96 percent
Caesarean section: 12 percent
Proportion of women 20-24 years old who gave birth before age 18: 15 percent
Maternal mortality ratio: 183 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births
Births who had their first postnatal checkup within the first two days after birth: 30 percent
[Source: UNICEF DATA data.unicef.org]
Nutrition
Early initiation of breastfeeding (within one hour of birth): 77 percent
Exclusive breastfeeding: (<6 months): 51 percent
Continued breastfeeding rate (20-23 months) at one year: 61 percent
Prevalence of moderate and severe stunting: 22 percent
Proportion of households consuming iodized salt: 98 percent
[Source: UNICEF DATA data.unicef.org]
Day Care Comes to Bhutan
Reporting from Thimphu, Emily Wax wrote in the Washington Post: “The children pounced on Nordon Gurung's lap, tugging on her long hair, spilling apple juice on her traditional skirt and singing songs in her ear, as if she were their grandmother. [Source: Emily Wax, Washington Post, April 4, 2008]
“But Gurung is not a granny, or even a relative. She is a day-care provider, a once-unknown profession in this traditional and secluded Himalayan nation where grandparents have long been in charge of watching over children. “To most elder Bhutanese, leaving your child here while you work is utterly mind-altering," said Gurung, as she lined up the children for their morning exercises under blossoming peach trees. "But for our young, working parents, this is a wonderful lifeline."
“Because the government is wary of permitting too much change too quickly, it has placed restrictions on day-care centers, licensing only those that watch children over the age of 3. The decision has effectively pushed grandparents to stay at home for the first years of a child's life or working parents to hire a nanny. Now, parents at Gurung's center are lobbying the government to allow day care for younger children. They say the rules could require them to be at the center during work breaks and lunches. “Day-care centers will keep evolving," said Gado Tshering, secretary of health. "But we don't always want to completely copy the West. Imagine if we opened those, how do you say . . . old-age homes? Imagine if Bhutanese people actually started to kick out their grandparents? We just couldn't allow such a thing."”
Women in Bhutan
Percentage of the population that is female: 46.9 percent (2019, compared to 50.5 percent in the United States, 53 percent in Estonia and 37.1 percent in Bahrain) [Source: World Bank data.worldbank.org ]
Gender Statistics:
Labor Force Participation by persons aged 15 to 24 by sex: 28 percent for men and 31 percent for women (2015)
Labor Force Participation by persons over 15 by sex: 71.2 percent for men and 55.9 percent for women (2015)
Enrollment in secondary school: 80.2 percent for males and 87.9 percent for females (2016). This is a significant improvement. Boys outnumbered girls three to two in primary and secondary-level schools in the early 2000s.
Under Five mortality rates (deaths per 100,000 births): 39.4 for males and 33.1 for women (2013)
Proportion of seats held by women in parliament: 14.9 percent
Adolescent birth rate: 28.4 births per 1,000 women
[Source: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Statistics Division, genderstats.un.org ]
Maternal Health
Proportion of women aged 15-49 who received postnatal care within 2 days after giving birth: 41 percent
Antenatal care coverage for at least four visits: 85 percent
Proportion of births attended by skilled health personnel: 96 percent
Maternal mortality ratio: 183 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births
[Source: UNICEF DATA data.unicef.org]
Bhutanese women play an important role in the family and often regarded as the household decision makers. Traditional sex roles are often reversed in the Himalayas. In Bhutan, for example, unmarried men often give up marriage to help their sisters take are of the children. In many cases all the inheritance goes to the daughter and the son is required to move into his wife’s house.
According to “Countries and Their Cultures”: Men and women usually work side by side in the field. Women fill most of the nursing and teaching positions. Bhutan's culture does not isolate or disenfranchise women. Dowry is not practiced, and land is divided equally between sons and daughters. Girls receive nearly equal educational opportunities, and, while accorded a lower status than boys, they are cherished because they are the ones who care for parents in old age. [Source:“Countries and Their Cultures”, Gale Group Inc., 2001]
Gender Roles and Status of Women in Bhutan
According to the “Worldmark Encyclopedia of Cultures and Daily Life”: “Women in Bhutan enjoy considerable freedom and equal opportunity both in government and society in general. This is attributed mainly to the strong influence of Buddhism in every aspect of Bhutanese religion, culture, and tradition. In Mahayana Buddhism, male and female are considered equal. Women are treated as equal to men under Bhutan law. The law of inheritance, for example, reserves equal rights for all children, irrespective of sex and age. Both men and women enjoy equal freedom to choose their partners. In contrast to other South Asian countries, parents in Bhutan do not have strong gender preferences for their children and treat girls and boys equally.” [Source: “Worldmark Encyclopedia of Cultures and Daily Life”, Cengage Learning, 2009]
Although officially the government has encouraged greater participation of women in political and administrative life, male members of the traditional aristocracy dominate the social system. Economic development has increased opportunities for women to participate in fields such as medicine, both as physicians and nurses; teaching; and administration. By 1989 nearly 10 percent of government employees were women, and the top civil service examination graduate in 1989 was a woman. During their government careers, women civil servants were allowed three months maternity leave with full pay for three deliveries and leave without pay for any additional deliveries. Reflecting the dominance of males in society, girls were outnumbered three to two in primary and secondary-level schools. [Source: Andrea Matles Savada, Library of Congress, 1991 *]
Women in the 1980s played a significant role in the agricultural work force, where they outnumbered men, who were leaving for the service sector and other urban industrial and commercial activities. In the mid-1980s, 95 percent of all Bhutanese women from the ages of fifteen to sixty-four years were involved in agricultural work, compared with only 78 percent of men in the same age range. Foreign observers have noted that women shared equally with men in farm labor. Overall, women were providing more labor than men in all sectors of the economy. Less than 4 percent of the total female work force was unemployed, compared with nearly 10 percent of men who had no occupation. *
The government founded the National Women's Association of Bhutan in 1981 primarily to improve the socioeconomic status of women, particularly those in rural areas. The association, at its inaugural session, declared that it would not push for equal rights for women because the women of Bhutan had already come to "enjoy equal status with men politically, economically, and socially." To give prominence to the association, the Druk Gyalpo's sister, Ashi Sonam Chhoden Wangchuck, was appointed its president. Starting in 1985, the association became a line item in the government budget and was funded at Nu2.4 million in fiscal year 1992. The association has organized annual beauty contests featuring traditional arts and culture, fostered training in health and hygiene, distributed yarn and vegetable seeds, and introduced smokeless stoves in villages.*
Duties Performed by Women in Bhutan
Women are often in charge of fetching water, cooking, watching over the children and tending the family animals. In the past many were too busy taking care of these tasks to attend school. But that is no longer really the case. Girls still do a lot of chores but they also go to school.
“Women play a significant role in the agricultural work force, where they outnumber men, who were leaving for the service sector and other urban industrial and commercial activities. Up to 90 percent of all Bhutanese women are involved in agricultural work (70 percent of the land registered in Bhutan is owned by women), although this figure is decreasing as more opportunities become available for women in other sectors of the economy.
According to the OECD Social Institutions and Gender Index: “ A 2001 study found differences between rural and urban areas. Women were more likely to be responsible for unpaid or reproductive work in urban areas. In more than 80 percent of rural households, women cooked, washed clothes, worked in the kitchen garden, preserved food and collected manure. More than two-thirds of rural women took care of children, fetched water, looked after domestic animals and distilled alcohol. Men and women were equally engaged in collection of fodder and in buying food, clothes and other items. However, in more than 90 percent of households in urban areas, women cooked, purchased food, washed clothes and cleaned the house, while between 60 and 80 percent of women in urban areas took care of the sick and children, and preserved food. In both rural and urban areas, more than two-thirds of women engaged in primary reproductive tasks. [Source: OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) Development Center, genderindex.org, 2014]
Sex Ratio and Boy Preference in Bhutan
Sex ratio: at birth: 105 males for every 100 females
0-14 years: 105 males for every 100 females
15-24 years: 104 males for every 100 females
25-54 years: 112 males for every 100 females
55-64 years: 115 males for every 100 females
65 years and over: 108 males for every 100 females
total population: 108 males for every 100 females (2020 estimated)
In 2005 There were 103 males for every 100 females in the country.
[Source: CIA World Factbook, 2020; “Worldmark Encyclopedia of Nations”, Thomson Gale, 2007]
According to the OECD Development Center: The male/female sex ratio at birth is 1.05 and for the working age population (15-64 years old) is 1.12. There is evidence to suggest that Bhutan is a country of low concern in relation to missing women (the relatively high adult sex ratios are possible due to migration). [Source: OECD Development Center, genderindex.org, 2014]
“More Gender disaggregated data on the rates of infant mortality and early childhood nutrition from 2010 indicate that male infants are slightly more at risk, and primary school rates are approximately equal for boys and girls: figures which do not indicate a preference for sons in either health or education. However, World Health Organisation data indicates that girls aged 10-14 were more likely than boys to be engaged in economic activity, both in rural and urban areas. In terms of the modality of work, girls were more likely than boys to be engaged as a family worker. This suggests a preferential treatment of sons in the allocation of work in the family. In 2009, the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) Committee also expressed concern about the situation of girl child domestic workers, mainly from rural and remote areas, who work long hours and are vulnerable to violence.
Birth Control in Bhutan
Contraceptive use (any method, women ages 15-49): 66 percent (compared to 12 percent in Sudan and 84 percent in the United Kingdom) [Source: World Bank ]
Top method of contraception: injectibles. Injection contraceptives such as Depo-Provera, Sayana Press or Noristerat release the hormone progestogen into the bloodstream to prevent pregnancy. Depo-Provera lasts for 13 weeks. [Source: Birth Control Around the World onlinedoctor.superdrug.com ]
Types of birth control used (2015); female sterilization: 7.2 percent; male sterilization: 12.8 percent; pill: 7.6 percent; injectible: 29.3 percent; Implant: 0.1 percent; IUD: 3.8 percent; male condom: 5.6 percent; early withdrawal: 0 percent; rhythm method: 0.7 percent; other: 0.2 percent total: 67.8 percent [Source: Trends in Contraceptive Use Worldwide 2015 — the United Nations un.org/en/development/desa/population/publications ]
Types of birth control used (1994): female sterilization: 3.2 percent; male sterilization: 8.2 percent; pill: 2.3 percent; injectible: 4.1 percent; implant: 0 percent IUD: 1.0 percent; male condom: 0.3 percent; total: 19.9 percent. [Source: Trends in Contraceptive Use Worldwide 2015 — the United Nations un.org/en/development/desa/population/publications ]
The government launched a birth control campaign with the slogan "Small Family, Happy Family" to encourage broader use of contraception and lower the fertility rate, especially among adolescents. In the early 2000s, health officials traveled from village to village to encourage families to have no more than three children and gave buttons with a portrait of the king the "Small Family — Happy family" slogan. Sex education classes were sponsored by the government and financial rewards of a few dollars were given to men or women that got sterilized. Local clinics advertised vasectomies” “No incision, No stitch, Walk Home in Ten Minutes.”
Abortion is illegal under the Penal Code except for the purpose of saving the life of the mother or when the pregnancy is a result of rape or incest, or when the mother is of unsound mental condition. [Source: OECD Development Center, genderindex.org, 2014]
Domestic Violence and Rape in Bhutan
Women who feel wife beating is justified in some cases: 68 percent
[Source: UNICEF DATA data.unicef.org]
According to the OECD Social Institutions and Gender Index: “In 2013 the government enacted the Domestic Violence Prevention Act, which criminalizes the act – including physical, psychological and sexual violence, holds perpetrators accountable based on the gravity of the offence, and provides protection to the victims. Regulations and guidelines are expected to follow. In order to address the issue of violence against women generally, the Government has established three Women and Child Protection Units under the Royal Bhutan Police. In 2013 the Government also reported to the Convention on the 3Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) Committee that it had conducted training for health workers, police, law enforcement officials, and judicial officers domestic violence and sexual assault management. [Source: OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) Development Center, genderindex.org, 2014]
“While data varies on the prevalence of domestic violence, a 2007 survey found that one third (32.9 percent) respondents who had ever had a partner had experienced intimate partner violence in their lifetime; while a subsequent study, using the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS)’s 2010 multiple indicator survey data, found that 14.5 percent of currently or formally married women reported that they had experienced at least one kind of physical violence from their intimate partner. However, both studies agree on the factors influencing women’s vulnerability to domestic violence, finding that increases in age, poverty, and rural living positively correlated to higher rates of violence. For example, the 2007 study found that prevalence rate of intimate partner violence in rural areas (40.4 percent) was close to double that of the rate in urban areas at (25.2 percent.).
“Although the majority of violence was found to be emotional or physical, about 18 percent of respondents said that they had been forced into sex during their marital life, citing reasons ranging including that it was “his right”, “avoiding fights”, “being threatened”, to “being accused of another affair.” One of the biggest barriers to combatting domestic violence is social attitudes. In 2010 the NBS found that 68.4 percent of women in Bhutan feel that their husband/partner has a right to hit or beat them for at least one of a variety of reasons, including neglect of children (54.5 percent); demonstrations of autonomy, (e.g. go out without telling their husbands) (39.7 percent); or arguing (39.5 percent). Around 25 percent of women surveyed believed that their partner has a right to hit or beat them if they refuse to have sex with him or if they burn the food. Acceptance was higher among those living in rural areas, with less education, and also among formerly married women. Acceptance in the richest wealth quintile was much lower than in lower wealth quintiles.
“The Penal Code prohibits rape, which is punishable by 3 to 5 years’ imprisonment. The Penal Code defined 11 different categories of rape, all of which were felonies of the fourth degree or higher, except for marital rape, which is a petty misdemeanour. Marital rape is punishable by a minimum prison term of 1 year and a maximum term less than 3 years. Rape penalties in the Penal Code were amended with severe penalties in 2011; for example, “the offence of gang rape of a child of twelve years and below shall be punishable with life imprisonment”. The Labour and Employment Bill adopted in 2007 contained provisions on sexual harassment in the workplace.
Laws Protecting Women
The Bhutanese government founded the National Women's Association of Bhutan in 1981 primarily to improve the socioeconomic status of women, particularly those in rural areas. The association, at its inaugural session, declared that it would not push for equal rights for women because the women of Bhutan had already come to "enjoy equal status with men politically, economically, and socially." [Source: “Worldmark Encyclopedia of Cultures and Daily Life”, Cengage Learning, 2009]
According to the OECD Social Institutions and Gender Index: “Although data on the prevalence and nature of the problem are not available, the CEDAW Committee has expressed concern about the lack of access to justice for women experiencing sexual harassment, particularly in the workplace. In recent years, the Government has supported several pieces of research into the prevalence of violence against women in Bhutan. In 2007 The National Commission for Women commissioned study that found 29 percentof women in Bhutan (depending upon the region) had experienced some form of violence, the most common of which was domestic violence. [Source: OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) Development Center, genderindex.org, 2014]
“The same study found that factors such as age, education levels, and financial security significantly influenced women’s vulnerability to all forms of assault. In the case of non-partner violence, the study found that the most common perpetrators for physical violence were fathers and teachers, indicating unsafe environment both at home and school. Although there are no available statistics on the prosecution of rape and other sexual assaults, the US Department of State reports that many women do not report rape because of cultural taboos, or because they were unaware of their rights. The Government also states that police and judiciary officials may not know how to deal sensitively with victims of violence or may consider domestic violence as a private matter.”
Inheritance and Property Rights for Women in Bhutan
Bhutanese inheritance law provides for equal rights for all adults and children, regardless of sex or age. According to the OECD Social Institutions and Gender Index: The Land Act of 1979 allows men and women to register land ownership at the age of 18. A spouse has no rightful ownership to sell that land. [Source: OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) Development Center, genderindex.org, 2014]
“In practice, however, the Government reports that traditional systems operate which are informal, flexible and often circumstantial. Although patterns vary according to region (patrilineal inheritance norms dominate in the south, while matrilineal systems are dominant in the western and central Bhutan), there is a slight preference of daughters over sons.
“A recent World Bank report notes the preponderance of matrilineal inheritance practices in large parts of Bhutan, about 60 percent of rural women and about 45 percent of urban women have land and property titles registered in their name. Although this has bolstered the economic empowerment of women due to the cultural importance of land, it has also entrenched social roles, since the rationale behind Bhutan’s traditional inheritance practices appears to be linked to the care of aging parents. The matrilineal inheritance system, in combination with social expectations and the lack of urban sector skills, has also meant that the majority of women are engaged in the agriculture sector. It has been reported that, due to isolation, limited arable land and food shortages, women who work in agriculture are more vulnerable to poverty.
“Men and women have the same legal rights and access to non-land assets. In 2007, the government reported that 45 percent of property titles in urban areas (shares, building and business licenses) were registered to women. The Loan Act of 1981 provides women with independent access to financial services, including bank loans and other forms of credit.
“Data on access to credit indicates that between 2002 and 2006, more women than men were accessing loans although there was a slight increase in the proportion of females. In 2006, women made up 38 percent of individuals accessing loans. The Government reports that access to credit particularly remains a challenge for rural women.
Working Women in Bhutan
Labor Force Participation by persons aged 15 to 24 by sex: 28 percent for men and 31 percent for women (2015)
Labor Force Participation by persons over 15 by sex: 71.2 percent for men and 55.9 percent for women (2015)
[Source: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Statistics Division, genderstats.un.org ]
According to the OECD Social Institutions and Gender Index: “Bhutan has made progress in female labour force participation (the World Bank reports that the female to male labour force participation rate is about 86 percent). However increased participation rates have not necessarily translated into improvements in employment quality. The 2012 national Labour Force Survey shows that Bhutanese women work in lower quality jobs than men, as reflected in the fact that women who earn income from work outside the home earn only 75 percent of men’s earnings. 5. Restricted civil liberties Concerning access to public space, Women do not experience any restrictions in terms of freedom of movement. [Source: OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) Development Center, genderindex.org, 2014]
“There are no restrictions for women to apply for a passport; they can travel abroad without requiring permission from their husbands. However, women remain under-represented with respect to political participation. In 2013 women held only 6.4 percent of the seats in the lower house, and 2 percent in the upper house.
“Concerning workplace rights, the Labour and Employment Act guarantees equality of opportunity and equality in employment for women and men. The law also prohibits gender discrimination with respect to pay. Women working in the public and private sectors are entitled to three months paid maternity leave paid at 100 percent of wages
Women in Government in Bhutan
Proportion of seats held by women in parliament: 14.9 percent.
[Source: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Statistics Division, genderstats.un.org ]
“However, although officially the government encourages greater participation of women in political and administrative life, male members of the traditional aristocracy dominate the social system. Economic development has increased opportunities for women to participate in fields such as medicine, both as physicians and nurses; teaching; and administration. Reflecting the dominance of males in society, girls were outnumbered three to two in primary and secondary-level schools. [Source: “Worldmark Encyclopedia of Cultures and Daily Life”, Cengage Learning, 2009]
According to the OECD Social Institutions and Gender Index: “In 2010 the Government reported that the participation of women in local governance remains low, with only 0.5 percent of local public office positions held by females. Women are also under-represented in other areas of public life. In 2010, women constituted 29.5 percent of civil service employees and 0.06 percent of the police. [Source: OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) Development Center, genderindex.org, 2014]
“Similarly, in the judiciary, women made up only 3.4 percent of Drangpons (including the Chief Justice, Justices, and Dungkhag Drangpons); although they made up 44 percent of Registrars. The first woman was elected to the Supreme Court in 2012.
“It is proposed that women’s under representation in decision making positions may be linked to traditional beliefs that women’s lack of physical strength and sexual vulnerability make them less capable than men. This view has been further strengthened by religious beliefs that women are further away than men in achieving enlightenment in the cycle of rebirth.It has also been attributed to the late start of education in Bhutan, particularly for women.
“Bhutan’s first ever female minister, Dorji Choden, was elected in 2013 for the Ministry of Works and Human Settlement.68 Bhutan seems to have an effective women’s civil society, although Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) expressed concern that the Government does not provide adequate resources to the National Commission for Women and Children (NCWC) to allow it to operate effectively. More While in principle the Citizenship Law allows for both men and women to transfer their citizenship to their children should they marry non-Bhutanese spouses, the situation is not reflected in practice: children of Bhutanese men who are married to foreign women are eligible for Bhutanese citizenship, while it is often not the case for Bhutanese women married to a foreigner.
Image Sources: Wikimedia Commons
Text Sources: New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Lonely Planet Guides, Library of Congress, Tourism Council of Bhutan (tourism.gov.bt), National Portal of Bhutan, the Bhutan government’s main site (gov.bt), The Guardian, National Geographic, Smithsonian magazine, The New Yorker, Time, Reuters, Associated Press, AFP, Wikipedia and various books, websites and other publications.
Last updated February 2022