Actress banned for sexy clothing

Editorial by Manekseka Sangkum: 

In most South East Asian countries, Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar included where sub-tropical heat or humidity is high most times of year men opt to go without clothes as much as they can, especially, the top half of the body and while they are around the home; something that for some men in their physical prime and sexual appeal can drive members of the opposite sex insane! 

Centuries past women too wore very little, covering only their breasts and from the waist down with minimal garments. Ahh... The Golden Age of "sexual freedom" and "gender equality"? 

But, let us imagine if we were to take this notion of "gender equality" to its naked, absolute logical conclusion. Should we all then be OK with women going literally topless around the home and elsewhere? 

In this animal kingdom in which 'man' belongs, sex is still the most powerful primordial biological instinct and impulse, and while this impacts both sexes, it is also the case that women are not - physically - on the same, level playing field as their male counterparts, and therefore seldom resort to brute force as means by which to gratify their sexual urges. Incidence of rape committed by men around the world is undoubtedly highest in the family unit, i.e. within marriage, and, disturbingly in Cambodia post 1979, this is known to occasionally involve the father raping his own daughter too. 

Obviously, just like domestic violence, the law tends to turn the other way on this abuse, regarding it as private matter. 

There's more to this theme than what is alluded to here, but one sometimes wonders how much success - if any - any of these enlightened advocates of "gender equality" would be able to achieve in even moderately conservative Muslim countries like Indonesia, Turkey or Malaysia? We can only hope that they won't try preaching their gender gospel in places like Iran, Saudi Arabia or Allah forbid, Taliban-held Afghanistan! 

Let's be clear on this  - women empowerment and 'gender equality' are principles worth fighting for. But lets not confuse equality, freedom, gender and sexuality (which have their respective place and legitimacy) with excessive sexual abasement or "permissiveness" that will have had the most harm for women themselves rather than any measure of good. 

PS: Where is School of Vice? Why do I have to pen such comments?!

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Actress Denny Kwan, seen being ‘educated’ about her provocative dress at the Ministry of Culture last year, was suspended from any activities in the entertainment industry for one year after refusing to dress more conservatively. Photo supplied

27 Apr, 2017 Sou Vuthy, Kong Meta and Yesenia Amaro

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The Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts’ disciplinary council on Tuesday decided to suspend a music video actress from working in the entertainment industry for one year after her refusal to curb her sexy clothing style – an action that observers yesterday said was “appalling” and “ridiculous”.

The punishment comes nearly a year after Denny Kwan was summoned by the ministry to be “educated” about her attire after photos of her wearing a revealing dress appeared on local media.

Chamroeun Vantha, an adviser for the ministry and chief of the disciplinary council, yesterday said Kwan was punished because she failed to respect a written promise she made with the ministry last May.

He claimed the sanction was in accordance with the ministry’s Artists’ Ethical Code of Conduct, which went into effect on February 23. Article 4 of the code encourages artists to dress with their personal dignity and national identity in mind.

“The council members decided to punish Denny Kwan by not having any activities in the entertainment industry for one year, such as filming, karaoke and singing performances on TV,” Vantha said on Tuesday. “Secondly, we appeal to artist associations, TV [station] and entertainment production owners to cooperate with the ministry to punish [her] by not giving her any work, like commercial spots and filming.”

Pon Putborei, spokesman for the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, said that as a public figure, Kwan doesn’t have the right to wear whatever she wants.

“She needs to be careful with our culture,” he said.

Kwan yesterday said she hadn’t received an official notification from the ministry. Nonetheless, she was unconcerned about their punishment, as she has her own business and will be able to earn a living.

“I know it’s my right to [dress how I want], but our culture, Cambodian people, cannot accept it,” she said. “I will try not to be sexy as I usually am when I post on Facebook.”

While Kwan herself was not alarmed, some advocates were outraged.

Thida Khus, head of women’s rights group Silaka, called the ministry’s action “appalling”.

“This situation only happens to women, and it’s gender discrimination,” she said. “It’s a violation of gender equality. Women are the ones prone to this.”

Furthermore, Khus maintained that the ministry preventing Kwan from getting work, and asking employers to cooperate by not hiring her, is yet another wave of discrimination.

“This is a failure from the government by not exercising its duty in protecting people from gender discrimination,” she said.

Theresa de Langis, a gender studies researcher, said Cambodia is like elsewhere where women can be constrained to the norms rooted in the past. But women and men should be given the same rights to express themselves.

“Something like this has a chilling effect, not only on her, but on women in general who are hoping to express themselves,” she said.

Ros Sopheap, head of Gender and Development for Cambodia, said the ministry’s concern that she may inspire others to dress like her is “ridiculous” since other women are already wearing modern, and sometimes revealing, clothes as well.

Sopheap said it was important for the country’s gender equality policy, which stipulates that men and women should be treated equally, to be correctly enforced.

“There is no law to tell her what to wear or what not to wear,” she said. “We have the right to choose, to select the clothes we want.”