Childhoods in Burma/Myanmar and Tibet

Abstract

Both Tibet and Burma/Myanmar have, for many years, remained closed to the scrutiny and gaze of the outside world. Connected geographically and deeply influenced by their Buddhist histories, they share many similarities, yet both are developing along vastly different trajectories. Unprecedented political and economic changes in Burma and increasing domination by Mainland China in Tibet are leading to uncertain futures, in particular, for the young. The lives of children are seldom discussed, and recent academic reflection on children and childhood in either country is extremely scarce. This Special Edition of Global Studies of Childhood begins by sharing research and conceptual papers that originate in the two locations. The articles in this edition are both research based and being personal reflections on childhoods in Burma/Myanmar and Tibet. They consider a diverse range of topics: from the early childhood years to life in refugee camps. Authors too come from a variety of backgrounds, including academe, teaching and working for local and international non-governmental organisations (NGOs). One thing they all have in common is that in some way, they have been touched by the mystique of these two lands. This Special Edition is divided into two sections: the first on Burma/Myanmar and the second on Tibet. However, the reader is encouraged to find the links and synergies between the two parts. One recurrent theme is the importance of education. Education not only brings economic benefit to families but also acts as a fundamental force for improving the lives of people. However, education, as is shown in Zhoumaoji’s paper on the educational experiences across the generations of one family, in Tibet, can also have some profoundly unsettling effects on families, cultural traditions and values. Of more concern perhaps is the fact that education, as Myrtha Waite points out in her study in Myanmar, is beyond the reach of many marginalised groups, particularly disabled children. A realisation of the importance of the early years has been evident in the literature for some years. In this volume, early childhood education is the focus of the papers of Lynn Ang and Lily