The Knowledge for Democracy Myanmar (K4DM) initiative is releasing two new studies that explore critical gender issues in Myanmar.
“Not Your Body, Not Your Business: Decoding Efforts to Address Non-Consensual Pornography in Myanmar’s Digital Space” (Maung Lwan-Wai, Bhone Maung, Yin Maung, and Zee Pe) examines the challenges faced by victims of non-consensual pornography in Myanmar. The study addresses the hesitation to approach the police due to the complex complaint registration process, and finds that institutional capacity to handle these cases remains limited. While social media platforms set conduct standards, the study highlights substantial challenges in protecting human rights and enforcing policies effectively.
Militarized Masculinity: Gender Narratives among Armed Resistance Groups in Myanmar (Kyal Sin Thukha and Zin Mar Phyo) investigates the evolving gender narratives within Myanmar’s armed resistance, particularly the People’s Defense Forces (PDF). The study discusses the impact of militarized masculinity on PDF members and underscores the need for institutional accountability in promoting positive gender narratives and deconstructing harmful social norms.
These two studies are part of the K4DM small grants initiative, which supports emerging scholars in Myanmar. Each paper addresses key issues in how the military coup has affected gender dynamics and contributed to the worsening human rights situation for women across the country. Upcoming publications will continue to explore a broad range of critical themes.