Women had a high status in pre-modern Southeast Asia; this is constantly stated, especially in relation to discussions on the status of women today in the region. Why, then, is it that the position of women there today is far from equitable? Few studies have examined how or when - let alone why - this change came about. This is the first study ever to address the place of women in Cambodian history. A narrative and visual tour de force, it revises accepted perspectives in the history and geopolitical organization of Cambodia since c. 230 C.E. In so doing, the book examines the relationship between women and power and analyses the extent of female political and economic participation as revealed in historical sources, including the ways in which women were represented in art and literature. By taking an analytical approach through the sequence of chronological periods, it is possible to determine when and why the status of women changed and what factors contributed to these changes. Significantly, although Cambodian women have been represented at different times as 'powerless' in western analyses, they have continued to exercise authority outside those areas of concern to western constructs of power. This study will be of interest to scholars working in history, anthropology, gender studies, politics, religion, Cambodian/Khmer studies, and Southeast Asian studies, as well as members of the general public.
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"'As a "first step towards a holistic history of Cambodia in which the experiences of both men and women are included and acknowledged" the work has clear significance' Quote from external reviewer"
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Lost No More,
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This review is from: Lost Goddesses: Denial of Female Power in Cambodian History (Paperback)
This is an impressively thorough examination of the role of women in the cultural and political life of Cambodia throughout recorded history. Given the huge number of references, some of them extremely esoteric, I imagine that the author labored for years on this book.
As a reference work it is a goldmine: anyone researching the position of women in Cambodia at any point in the past 1200 years will find something useful. It is however not easy to read, as Jacobsen often sacrifices analysis for a dogged list of quotes from her sources, many of them either repetitive or naggingly trivial. And while they all serve to forward her argument that women occupied an equal place with men in Cambodian culture and politics until the 19th century, I occasionally felt that she was a bit too insistent. If women were so obviously living on an equal basis with men, why would it be necessary to dig so deep to find that evidence? The earlier chapters of the book are less polished than the final chapters, in which Jacobsen has warmed to her topic and is now able to offer a broader perspective on women in Cambodian society. Her chapter on life under the Khmer Rouge is interesting and convincing, as is the final chapter which summarizes her argument well in light of the evidence presented. I will say that having read this book I will never look at Cambodian history in the same way again. Jacobsen's treatment of rape, polygyny, and female power in the spiritual realm is especially eye-opening and credible, given her many years of study in Cambodia. Numerous photos and illustrations in the book are well-selected and relevant to the text.
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Detailed, thorough and fascinating,
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This review is from: Lost Goddesses: Denial of Female Power in Cambodian History (Paperback)
This is a well written and thoroughly researched text. It includes many fascinating details about Cambodian society that may well be lost now after the years of social upheaval. The details about the koan kroach ( the smoked foetus, torn from the living mother allegedly used to protect the wearer against attack) are frightening but helped me to understand certain accounts of Khmer Rouge revolution survivors who mention similar acts; possibly these type of acts are embedded in an old Cambodian culture that exists under the layers of the Hindu-Buddhist religion that they have adopted. It is a scholarly account and well worth reading and adding to your collection of Cambodian research literature.
5.0 out of 5 stars
immense scholarship,
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This review is from: Lost Goddesses: Denial of Female Power in Cambodian History (Paperback)
Jacobsen is a scholar to watch! This phenomenal book will be a welcome addition to any collection of writing about Southeast Asia. The fact that elite women held important historical roles is no surprise, but Jacobsen's book offers the first in-depth scholarship about women's roles in Cambodia. She also details the kinds of power that women could confer, not only in elite roles or patronage but also as family members and in sacrificial roles. Jacobsen makes a compelling case that specific political and cultural actors suppressed women's roles in the 19th century, with effects still felt today. Lost Goddesses is a must-read for anyone seeking information about the roots of contemporary Khmer culture and gender dynamics in Cambodia today.
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