Platform / Learning From Other Cultures
SOMALY MEAS
English teacher, Lakewood. Born in Cambodia, Anaheim resident
It’s quite out of the ordinary for a 22-year-old Cambodian woman like myself to live away from home and earn her living. Traditionally women in Cambodia have been condemned to stay at home as housewives, not encouraged to have political opinions or a higher education. They are “slaves of the house,” always in a role inferior to that of the men. But here I saw women encouraged to pursue a higher education, earn their own living, be involved in politics, and, in short, to pursue their dreams.
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