Khmer Women on the Move by Annuska Derks

1. Methodological approach & Writing Style

a. After having read some engaging and excellent books (In Search of Respect, Sheila’s Shop and Sidewalk) I had great hopes for Khmer Women on the Move by Annuska Derks. Unfortunately I have found myself counting pages in order to finish the book, as I did with Unequal Childhoods. The book suggest it will explore the work and life in urban Cambodia. My excitement was further fueled because of Alex’s work in Cambodia. I looked forward to hearing the voice of those who lived through the Khmer Rouge and those who were born after, who are growing into women since the war and terror reign ended-how have their lives been shaped and how are they shaping their lives.

b. I have learned a great bit about life of Cambodian women both in the urban world as well as village life. I’ve learned about the language-which I really appreciate, but I’ve missed the actual VOICE of women. Like the author of Unequal Childhoods, the author Khmer Women on the Move provides less of the voice of the participants, less of the story and more of a summary of issues.

c. I’m disappointed because the potential is so great. One of the very basic things I learned in one of the first classes of my doctoral program was that qualitative data should be RICH & THICK. In Khmer Women on the Move I find the data to be THIN & SPARSE. On page 46 there is a paragraph on gender meanings of power and subservience. The author asks:

How useful are texts like the Chbap Srey that were written centuries ago? Do these texts hold any relevance for present gender ideals or should they be seen as merely an idealized picture of norms and values of a minority elite in a previous time?

I wrote in the margin: what a great place for participant voice. In this example I demonstrate how the majority of this book offers a summary of topics but does not offer participant voice to put some “meat on the bones.” I believe it would have been so intriguing to have three perspectives on this. An elder who is in the stage of Cambodian life where she is taken care of by her children or grandchildren and is able to focus on spiritual matters-what does she think of the relevance of the Chbap Srey?

An unmarried sex worker living in Phnom Penh and finally a married young woman. These three perspectives or voices would have made the question come to life-would have helped me feel like I knew the women.

2. Findings based on data

a. The author does an excellent job of documenting facts and perspectives. To me the book feels like one LONG literature review section. Because of the lack of participant voices, the quotes and references seem to link fact or perspective together rather than supporting a participant voice or assertion.