March 8 is International Women’s Day and we should all ask ourselves whether we are making any progress.

Words like “education”, “progress”, and “liberal” are often used in our Bhutanese patriarchal society. They are used as signs of progress towards gender equality in our male-dominated society while the women are kept in a psychological prison.

As a society we have changed to some extent, but not as much as we claim. We brag about how progressive we are while falling short in our actions.

For generations society has made women taraju (weighing scale). They were told to do things perfectly at all times, including how they talk, walk, and even laugh. Women were put in a box. Those who refused were labeled as uncultured and mannerless. Women were denied formal education. Their voices and their control over their own bodies were taken away from them.

Compared to the past, today’s society has definitely changed. But gender equality is welcomed only when it’s for us and not others. Our thoughts have changed but only for those closest to us.

We want our daughters to be well-educated, independent, fearless, and able to advocate for themselves as long as they don’t cross our boundaries. We’re not receptive when women challenge our beliefs. We are quick to judge a woman if she drinks, goes out often, and wears short clothes, unless that woman is our own sister or daughter.

We still struggle to see women as equals to men. If a girl gets raped we ask her what she was wearing, as if her outfit is an invitation for men to violate her. Men say they don’t like to be told what to do but they don’t give the same regard when it comes to women. Does this notion suddenly disappear when it comes to rape?

This is worth thinking about before we blame a girl’s clothes. Women are afraid to share their stories about sexual assault and domestic violence because it is considered a taboo. When they do, we question them or make them feel that they’re being judged. It is mentally draining.

My male friends say they will do anything to protect their sisters and mothers. They tell their sisters to be careful “because guys will be guys and men are trash”. They say that guys talk about girls in the group and circulate nude pictures of bigreka keti haru (spoiled girls).

I ask them why men are like that and what makes a girl a bad girl. Often I am told I am too innocent. This patronizing answer lets me know that I live in a man’s world. It makes me question whether asking was stupid. It is telling me that it’s okay for men to treat women as they please. It tells us women to normalize their sexist behaviors and keep our mouths shut.

It is these conversations that make me wonder if we are really progressive in our actions.

In many ways, we adopt the ideas of womanhood from other women in our lives, from our grandmothers, mothers, sisters, and friends.

If we look closely at the past, we will often find mother-in-laws disciplining their daughter-in-laws. So, oppression against women isn’t always carried out by men but also by women. Pausing and asking how this came to be is a sign of the solution to the deep rooted gender inequality in our community.

When we talk about sexism in our culture, some of my friends say we should demolish the culture altogether, but I argue there are parts that are worth preserving.

Telling women that they should talk quietly, walk lightly, and work silently is utterly wrong. Instead we should encourage both males and females to do everything mindfully.

You don’t have to look far to see that our community leaders are mostly men while women are still regarded as caretakers of the home. Today, we see some of our leaders trying to involve women in various discussions regarding the issues in our community. Although the ratio of involvement of men to women is uneven, I think we are on the right path.

Bhutanese women are breaking the glass ceilings. Nowadays, they are not only pursuing higher education but they are also going into male-dominated fields such as STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and entrepreneurship.

There is still a lot to be done and it won’t be easy. However, I believe we can make our society fairer by continuing to have this conversation and checking ourselves.

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The author has a bachelor’s degree in International Politics from the Wesleyan University in Connecticut. BNS welcomes diversity of opinions. 

The recent election confirmed that America is a country divided to its core. The pressure facing the new administration is to bring all sides together without caving in to any.

But in trying to unite the country, the new government needs to have the courage to tackle the issues that plague our nation, whatever the opposition to those measures.

The people have spoken and have delivered the Senate for the new administration, thanks in no small part to the work from grassroots activists including the Noble Peace Prize nominated Stacey Abrams.

To delay policies that could improve the lives of many Americans would be to ignore the efforts that these activists have made and would be a blatant disregard for those who voted this administration into office.

This is not to say that I am not for unity. I would love to see a true “United States of America”, but I gave up on that idea a long time ago. Unity requires common ground and how do you seek common ground with people whose ideologies are based on hate and bigotry? How do you reach out to those who would rather put out hits on their colleagues than admit defeat in a democratic process?

I hope this administration will do what is needed to deliver the America they have promised on the campaign trail with or without the support of those on the other side of the aisle.

As a student of international relations I have seen America’s diplomatic strength decrease over the years. It was extremely prevalent in the last administration’s isolationist foreign policies which yelled “America first”.

This administration has already taken some big steps and re-joined the Paris Climate Accord and the World Health Organization (WHO), but it must now turn its attention to repairing the broken relationship with allies across the globe.

This means holding some accountable for their crimes and not being complicit by providing the ammunition and logistical support that the previous administration was so keen to offer. Children and civilians should not die from American bombs. I expect this administration to follow through on that and hope that the carnage that has been perpetuated with American support will end.

We must aim to again be a melting pot and the “land of immigrants” that refugees like myself were promised that this country would be.

The American poet Emma Lazarus wrote “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free”, words that lost their meaning during the Trump administration. Such sentiments must be restored, with humane immigration plans creating a pathway for citizenship to those who come to seek refuge in this country.

With coronavirus ravaging throughout the world, a return to normality is needed. However, it must not be forgotten that normalcy and the same old ideas got us to the horror show of the last four years.

We simply cannot go back to the way things were because it would mean returning to the rampant gun violence, police brutality, and failing infrastructures that need revamping. These problems preceded the last administration and will outlast this one if no action is taken.

This means reducing the wealth gap, ensuring that working families are able to work and not be one trip to the ER away from bankruptcy, and most importantly getting rid of student loans. 

Most economists would agree that student loan forgiveness would be one way to tackle the inequality we see in this country. Farmers and the rural population must not be forgotten either and should be provided with the basic broadband access that they need to attend schools and conduct businesses.

Though it is easy to say kaglai bel pakyo harshana bismat… I feel that this administration will be significant for our community. We have seen great resolve in our activists and community organizers who have worked tirelessly to create awareness amongst voters. This work needs to continue during the term of the new administration as we exercise our rights to participate in the democratic process.

I hope that more students from our community will have access to college education and benefit from the proposed plans to make two-year colleges free.

The success of the new administration will be measured by how the quality of life increases for everyday Americans. It would be naïve to think that they will achieve all of these expectations, but one can hope. In its progress, I will gladly support this administration. In its failure, I will be its critic. There is a lot left to be done. Let’s hope they deliver.

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The author is a student at Stanford University studying International Relations and Computer Science. BNS welcomes diversity of opinions. 

The appointment of Kamala Harris as the first female, first Black, and first South Asian Vice President of the United States of America was a proud moment for me, not just as a woman but as a woman of color. 

The U.S. considers itself to be the most developed country in the world and people come here because it is a land of opportunity. A place where if you have the grit, you can succeed. My family and I resettled here for these reasons. 

“Anything is possible here. I can be anyone I want to be if I work hard enough,” was echoed in my middle school scholarship essay, personal college statement, and countless class assignments. 

It was the answer I gave a man seated next to me on a plane back from Dallas recently when he asked why I had decided to come to the U.S. But my response wasn’t as full of conviction as in the past. I neither had the time nor the energy to explain why I no longer believed this to be true.

The U.S. is a great country, but only for a few. It allowed a refugee like me to attend college free of charge and to become a citizen for the first time in my life. But it is also the country that has regarded healthcare as a business, exploited the poor, and mistreated black people and brown people. 

This is also the same country that in 2020, saw women earn on average $0.81 for every $1.00 earned by men. And the gap widens even more with women of color (WOC). Not surprising considering that women were not allowed to vote until 1920. 

The U.S. is also one of the most diverse countries in the world but is surpassed by numerous countries in terms of women suffrage and women heads of state in both the developed and developing world. Examples include the UK’s Margaret Thatcher elected in 1979, Germany’s Angela Markel elected in 2005, and New Zealand’s Jacinda Ardern in 2017. India had its first female prime minister in 1966, and Nepal elected its first female president five years ago. 

Even with women’s suffrage, the role of women was mainly domestic as mothers and caretakers of the home. A revolutionary time came inadvertently with the beginning of WWII as most men were deployed to fight for the allies, leaving women to fill the jobs that were once dominated by men. Feminist movements became marked by Rosie the Riveter, a state-sponsored campaign that empowered women to take on roles outside of the home. Once the war ended, the jobs were given back to the men but the effects of those times highlighted that women were just as capable. 

Before Harris, there were 11 women who ran as a vice presidential candidate, including some WOC. But they ran without much promise until Geraldine Ferraro became the first female to be nominated on a major party ticket in 1984. The fight for gender equality notably progressed in 2016, when Hilary Clinton became the first woman presidential candidate to win the popular vote though she was defeated by Donald Trump who garnered more electoral votes.

We endured an extremely challenging four years under the leadership of former president Donald Trump which has caused us to regress significantly. The election of President Biden and Vice President Harris is not going to solve America’s problems. Let’s be honest, most probably cast their ballots not because Biden and Harris are ideal candidates but in spite of Trump and his administration.  

Celebrating the appointment of the first female, first Black, and first South Asian vice president does not eradicate systemic racism or bring about gender equality in our society but it does mean that it is a step in the right direction.

Most of us have been told that as women, we are equal to men and we can strive to be in whatever role we choose. It is one thing to hear those words but it is another to see it manifest in front of our eyes. In a society where sexism is still prevalent, where women in politics and other forms of leadership are often unfairly criticized, it vindicates us. It validates our continuing struggle for gender equality and the efforts of those who came before us. And most importantly, it sets precedence of women in leadership for young boys, girls, and nonbinary persons. 

“I may be the first woman in this office, I will not be the last.” These few but powerful words will forever be etched in American history.

The election of Vice President Kamala Harris has been a great source of pride for the South Asian community. It is a watershed moment for a society which has historically favored males over females, case in point, the alarming female infanticides in India and Nepal. It would be naive to think that generations of cultural norms and long-held beliefs will be transformed overnight but this is certainly an inspirational moment for those who grew up not seeing leaders who looked like them, those who want to pursue careers outside of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), or those who grew up thinking they were less capable than men. 

The inauguration was a powerful moment for me and my family. As we sat in our living room watching it on TV, I exclaimed to my Aaji (grandmother), “WE VOTED FOR HER. WE VOTED FOR THEM!” The weight of that moment sunk in. 

My family, including my elderly grandparents, and I had voted for the first presidential election of our lives. What a wonderful thing it is to be able to vote, and to vote in one of the most important elections in U.S. history and have a female elected into an office that for the last 244 years was only held by white men.

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The author is one of the section editors for BNS.