Whether or not women run the world, they may be the ones actually holding it all together. Here are photos of women in Myanmar.
NOTE: Many women, and even some men and children, wear thanaka--a pale yellow paste made from pulverized tree bark--on their faces. It may be daubed carelessly or painted artfully, and for those of us accustomed to other cultural beauty norms, it often gives people a ghostly, other-worldly look. An article in National Geographic (here) explains:
"Unlike modern industrial cosmetics, thanaka is not meant to be subtle, to hide flaws or accentuate features. It is a sun-bright symbol of health and beauty. It blazes on millions of cheeks and foreheads for all to see. Wizened old farmers in Myanmar slap on thanaka. Young clerks at urban boutiques draw stylized patterns across their skin with the paste. Children march to school with thanaka smeared, hastily, onto their faces by mothers."
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