GENDER WORLD VIEW : REFLECTION IN KHMER PROVERBS

Abstract

The articles aims to understand the Khmer’s view towards men and women by studying 800 Khmer proverbs. It can be concluded from the findings that Khmer society expects men to be leaders. Therefore, they should be literates, courageous and industrious. On the other hand, more is expected from women. They must have the ability to fulfill their duties as daughter, wife and mother. Women must be the people who plan the future of each family member. Thus, they are trained to be versatile and are supposed to strictly follow the social criterion during childhood in order to perform their duties perfectly when they reach adulthood.