Women being considered as an item of tourist attraction -Giraffe necked women of Myanmar

It is a bit strange to read an article on New York Times/Travel section - about Kyan or Padung tribe in Myanmar as tourist attractions for finding long-necked women also called as “giraffe women” .( Read complete article published on new york times dated 11/17/09: http://www.nytimes.com/2001/05/20/travel/nai-soi-s-long-necked-women.html?pagewanted=all. )

Thai long neck women

History of the winding coil tradition?

The Kayan tribal community of northern Myanmar has this tradition winding coil around the neck of a girl till the adulthood, and this age-old tradition has  now become a tourist attraction. Several conflicting theories are around for defining the reason of winding coils but no historic evidence has been proven yet. Some of theories are:

• The coil prevents the women from tiger bites on neck.
• Some people say the  girls who are born on full moon day can wear these coils.
• Other school of thoughts  consider winding coil as symbol of wealth and status, and coil is an ornament of these women.
• The coil is also considered as a symbol of slavery in the male chauvinist society. And women who betray their men are not allowed to wear the coil. This coil makes them marry within their tribe.

Whatever the reason may be, but  this tradition has turned the Kayan women as an item of tourist attraction.

Does Myanmar see “giraffe women ” as tourism wealth?

The Kayan tribe are considered to be refugees entered to the Myanmar from neighboring countries. Several times the United Nations High Commission for Refugees and other foreign governments have put pressure on Myanmar government to let these tribes resettle but no visible success has been seen. Moreover the country government do not want to lose their tourism heritage. Following is quite : ”Long-necked Padaung are the star attraction to draw tourists to visit our province,” said Poolsak Sunthornpanit, chairman of Mae Hong Son’s provincial chamber of commerce, recently. Without them, he said, ”all tourism-related businesses, such as hotels, restaurants and transportation services would be badly hit.”

Rethinking is required to consider human as an item to be showcased as tourism material or some people have rightly criticized this tradition by calling the village as “Human Zoo” .The basic dignity of these people is question marked by making this village a tourist destination…

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