Women's choices shamed

Women are berated for their clothing choices in today's Phnom Penh Post.

But now, many young women are causing cultural controversy by abandoning traditional attire in favour of skimpy ensembles.
Sok Sothun, chief of culture development at the Ministry of Culture and Fine Art, said that the sartorial choices of Cambodia's young women are undermining the Kingdom's traditional culture and morality.

Amazing the controversy caused by women wearing short shorts but the is no outcry when men wear nothing but a krama around their waists. Double standards indeed

"Our Khmer culture never had this before. People wore sexy or short clothes at home or to sleep but never in public places," he said. "Some girls go to the pagoda wearing short clothes. So what will happen when they kneel down to pray to the monk? It will not be suitable."

By extension, these women "deserve" to get raped because they are wearing skimpy clothes and men, monks or not cannot be expected to take responsibility for their own actions.

Also why are men not rebuked for the same action? Why refer to grown up human females are girls? Women is the correct term.

"We like wearing sexy clothes but we don't want to destroy Cambodian culture," said Srey Mon, a beautician at a Phnom Penh salon.

Women wearing what they choice to wear does not corrupt culture. I'm sure the Minister does not mean to imply that Cambodian culture is so fragile. As for morality, it is not for governments to legislate in a democracy. Admittedly the Minister says as much

"While we can't ban people from wearing modern clothes because our country is developing, we should do a spot on TV where young people will be able to see people wearing traditional clothes," admitted Sok Sothun.

The government needs to find ways of actively addressing the problem - but not through restrictive legislation, he said.

while implying that he wishes he could ban people for wearing modern clothes and he would do so if not for the pesky development issue.

Kim Vannara 17, student at Baktouk High School, said that she didn't believe wearing sexy clothes would impact on Cambodian tradition.

"We are only wearing modern clothes to fit in with the society around us, and Cambodia needs to go forward as a country instead of looking back to the past," she said.

Yes. A modern society is a gender equal society. Of course, no such animal exists but it is a goal to work towards.

There's nothing like making young women feel ashamed to brighten up the day, eh /sarcasm