The Knowledge for Democracy Myanmar supports women and gender scholars in their pursuit of advancing knowledge. Here is a snapshot of some of their work.
Cox’s Bazar is the world’s largest refugee camp, home to almost a million refugees. Here, seven scientists from the Asian University for Women (AUW) have been looking into issues the communities face, ranging from human-elephant conflict to child marriages.
Mosaddika Mounin’s review of the education landscape for refugees at the camp can be adapted for refugees worldwide. She collected data from teachers, parents, and students at primary and secondary levels to assess the education environment, calibre of educators, the education path, and options for higher education, mapping out existing challenges with suggestions for enhancing refugee education and support mechanisms.
Parmin Fatema’s research sheds light on how this affects the community. Many interviewees believe the massive fires were acts of arson while smaller fires stem from overcrowding within the camp. The impact goes beyond physical damage as people interviewed have been traumatised and have a pervasive fear of recurring disasters.
Credit: K4DM / Center for Climate Change and Environmental Health (3CEH), Asian University for Women (AUW)
Overcrowding also enables diseases to spread easily. Taslima Razzak studied the impact of indoor pollution and found levels of humidity, particles, and air quality surpassing the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines, and a worrying correlation with respiratory ailments such as coughing, breathing difficulties, asthma, and tuberculosis and infectious skin conditions.
Nazifa Rafa examined energy access and the importance of empowering refugees to shape sustainable energy solutions in humanitarian efforts. Her interviews revealed how issues with food security, health, education, access to clean water, and gender inequalities impede progress towards the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and underscored the need for inclusive policies and interventions.
The refugee camp was built near the natural habitat of endangered wild Asian elephants. Human needs for shelter have come at the price of deforestation, leading to human-elephant conflicts that resulted in serious injuries and deaths. In response, the Elephant Response Teams and Watchtowers were set up to warn people when elephants are nearby and to avoid them. While these are effective, Nafisa Islam’s research still shows a significant increase in conflicts since 2015.
WHO data shows that worldwide, a mother or mother-to-be dies every 2 minutes due to pregnancy or childbirth complications, with almost 95% occurring in low or lower-middle-income countries. Access to health professionals can mean life or death for the mother and baby. So what is it like in refugee camps? Omar Salma has been gathering information about where women choose to give birth, and why they made that decision. After speaking to about 400 women, she found that a substantial majority opted for home deliveries and a number of factors played into the decision, from socioeconomic status and education levels to accessibility of and trust in healthcare providers.
Looking further into the issue, Tofrida Rahaman talked to 400 adolescents and young adults about child marriage and teenage pregnancy. Despite seeing a decline in the past decade, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reported that globally one in five girls have been married under the age of 18. At the camp, despite a high awareness of the legal marriage age and family planning, a significant majority of teenagers had already experienced pregnancy before turning 18. She learnt the reasons aggravating this is insecurity, poverty, and illiteracy compounded by cultural and social norms, family honour, and limited legal protection.
The Regional Center for Social Science and Sustainable Development, Chiang Mai University, Thailand
Zar Chi Oo (Ma Oo) is a graduate student in Social Science, specialising in Development Studies, at the Regional Center for Social Science and Sustainable Development (RCSD), Chiang Mai University, Thailand. Her thesis focuses on the lifeworlds of an alluvial farming community living off on an island in the middle of the Irrawaddy River. She examines their ways of living and particular farming practices, which have long thrived in the alluvial agricultural environment of Myanmar’s central dry zone. Her research also delves into the agrarian changes and land issues these communities face in an ever-changing riverine landscape. Ultimately, her work sheds light on how these alluvial farming communities, once in harmony with the river’s rhythm, are navigating environmental and agrarian transformations. Her research is featured in the book “Triple Crisis in Myanmar: Coup, COVID & Climate Change” (RCSD, Chiang Mai University).
The Highland Institute, India
Saktum Wonti is an Earthkeeper. She and colleagues at Nagaland’s Highland Institute chronicle traditional ecological knowledge and the impact of climate change on tribal communities along the Indo-Myanmar border. Their work offers a first-hand look into issues confronting the tribal communities. With a master’s degree in Anthropology and ancestry from a tribe herself, Saktum brings a personal connection to her research. “The community that I’m from is one of the tribes residing along the border,” Saktum explains. “They face challenges resulting from an imposed international border which divides families and villages and disrupts Naga traditions linked to the land.”
For example, there are about 200 Khiamniungan villages, 50 of them are in India while 150 other villages are in Myanmar. In some cases, villagers have homes in India while their ancestral farms lie in Myanmar. The border, established during British rule in 1826, was imposed without consultation with tribal leaders. The restriction to free movement within the ancestral tribal territories straddling this border has led to struggles for land and cultural preservation. Many villages have been left behind, lacking roads and basic amenities like markets and healthcare, requiring residents to walk for days to buy food and seek medical care. Saktum and the Highland Institute are also helping find ways to address climate change effects. The team is working on conserving traditional foods by substituting current ingredients with those expected to be available in 2050, reviewing changes in cooking and diets whilst collaborating internationally on issues affecting critical regions like the Himalayas, Arctic, and the Amazon. They participate in local events like the Biodiversity Festival, which empowers women of diverse backgrounds and sustainable biodiversity through activities like the revival of traditional climate-resilient crops and seed exchanges from different regions, contributing to the conservation of diverse plant varieties and sharing of indigenous traditional knowledge.
McMaster University
The 2021 military coup in Myanmar has killed thousands and forced millions from their homes. Yet, devastation brings changes. In a recently published study, Aye Lei Tun, explored gender attitude shifts after the 2021 coup. The study looked at changes in perceptions surrounding cultural taboos, misogynistic notions on marginalised gender groups, and the evolution of women’s political engagement.
“I wanted to understand the driving forces in gender equality movements sparked by the coup and their impact on women’s participation in politics,” Aye Lei says. Aye Lei also looked into the obstacles faced by women in obtaining Myanmar’s National Registration Card, a crucial document for equal citizenship rights.
“Women, especially from minority groups, encounter discrimination, sanctioned by patriarchal policies, in the application process,” she explained. She has also co-authored a chapter in the book Putting Women Up: Gender Equality and Politics in Myanmar. Funded by Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC), the book explores women’s experiences in political parties in Myanmar. In the chapter, Aye Lei provides insights into political parties, candidate selection methods, and their effects on women’s participation, shedding light on persistent gender inequality in Myanmar politics. Aye Lei Tun is currently pursuing a PhD at Canada’s McMaster University, focusing on Myanmar gender and media-related studies. She is a novelist and previously worked as a journalist in Myanmar.
Chiang Mai University
Ngu Wah Win stands out for her influential contributions to the economic empowerment of women in Myanmar. “As a child from humble origins, my mother’s dedication taught me the value of work. Later in life, I faced numerous barriers as a woman seeking employment, despite my high qualifications,” says Ngu Wah. “These challenges inspired me to study labour markets, employment opportunities, and gender equality. Ngu Wah has already made an impact in Myanmar’s economic reforms with research to calculate the country’s first minimum wage, leading to the governmen adopting a minimum wage in 2015.
This significantly improved conditions for women especially in the manufacturing and garment industries. “Prior to that, women were vulnerable to exploitation through lower wages compared to their male counterparts,” asserts Ngu Wah. “Gender inequality was obvious in both low-paying jobs and the limited promotion opportunities for highly educated women.” Her commitment to advancing gender equality is evident in her research on gender wage gaps, economic contributions of women, and the challenges they faced. Through collaborative research with researchers in Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, she highlighted how home-based online gig work can economically empower women and its impact during the Covid-19 pandemic. Ngu Wah is currently pursuing her PhD in Thailand’s Chiang Mai University, looking at the economic contributions of migrant workers in Thailand and the ASEAN region, especially those in domestic service which are 95% female. Additionally, Ngu Wah continues to actively engage with policymakers and to advocate for legal pathways and social protection reforms within the ASEAN region, showcasing her dedication as a driving force for positive change and the creation of a more inclusive and equitable society.
COMING UP
Gender Analysis Research Skills Training
A Gender Analysis Research Skills Training course will be at Thailand’s Asian Institute of Technology from April to June, 2025. The training, conducted in Myanmar language will equip participants with the knowledge and skills to understand and analyze different impacts, needs, vulnerabilities and strengths in conflict settings.
For more information: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/12AFhDuG5DZ/
Exploring Gender: Issues, Insights and Discussions
Published by Mote Oo, Exploring Gender: Issues, Insights and Discussions is a textbook focusing on gender in Myanmar and around the world, written for post-secondary and adult learners. It highlights a range of interconnected themes such as gender roles and stereotypes, gender and sexual identity, intersectionality and power, examining areas such as work, education, climate change, health, politics and leadership, rights and peace and conflict.
The following topics are covered:
- Sex, gender and identity
- Gender equality
- Patriarchy and power
- Gender-based violence
- Sexual orientation, gender identity and expression (SOGIE)
- Women’s rights
- Gender, peace and security
The Student’s Book includes tasks to check understanding and analyse and apply ideas. It can be used as a classroom book or as a self-study course. The Teacher’s Book has full instructions and answers, extra activities and a selection of projects. The Teacher’s Book also contains all Student’s Book content for easy reference.
The English version is now available for download. The Myanmar version will be available soon.
