Read "Tounghoo Women" by Ellen B. Mason online for free on Textopian. Full text with search, annotations, highlights, and AI-powered reading aids.
No land probably east of the Levant presents so great encouragement to efforts in behalf of female elevation as this, because here woman is not secluded as in other Asiatic lands, but is left free to follow her own will. But alas for freedom when the mind and heart are left uncultured. Instead of that grateful reverence which woman owes to man for lifting from her the crushing burden of seclusion, and which the refined and educated delight to give, Burmese women are haughty, bold, and supremely selfish.
All know woman in Burmah, her unbounded influence, yet deplorable degradation, her strength of character, yet almost utter ignorance of letters, her persuasive grace and courtesy, yet most corrupted morals and ungoverned passions. No goddess of mercy to kiss away the tear from the eye of the unfortunate is woman in Burmah, but the chief supporter of all lying, all deception, all revelling, all idolatry.