“No to Dictatorship, No to Patriarchy”: Women’s Activism in Myanmar

The current military dictatorship that ousted State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi,
President Win Mying, and other members of the National League for Democracy (NLD)
has had devastating effects on civilians collectively across the country. With more than
700 killed, thousands unlawfully arrested, and countless protesters injured, the coup
not only threatens democracy and basic human rights, it also disproportionately impacts
women and gender minorities. A military with a lengthy history of gender-based
violence and patriarchal oppression coupled with no measures of accountability makes
these protests intrinsically linked to women’s rights. Although much of Western media
has failed to highlight women’s unique involvement in the protests, women have been
active on the frontlines every day since February 1st (the date of the coup), refusing to
allow history to repeat itself.

Militarism and Gender-Based Violence in Myanmar

The history of military rule in Myanmar is marked with authoritarianism,
hypermasculinity, sexual violence, and political repression. During the military junta’s
control in Myanmar from 1962 to 2011, women were denied participation in any form of
decision making, excluded from positions of power, and economically marginalized. The
failure to invest in economic and social infrastructure during the 50-year junta regime
made it challenging for women in the rural areas, those who were part of ethnic
minority groups or those living in poverty. In an article titled “Myanmar’s Coup is
Devastating for Women” in Foreign Policy, author Michelle Onello asserts that military
spending on education and healthcare allocated for “1 to 3 percent of gross domestic
product for that period, compared to 20 to 30 percent devoted to the military.” This
negatively impacted maternal and infant mortality rates.
To know more: https://peaceforasia.org/no-to-dictatorship-no-to-
patriarchy-womens-activism-in-myanmar/