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Understanding the gender-drug cultivation nexus: A qualitative case study of the gendered practices in the opium poppy cultivation for drug production in Hopong, South Shan State, Myanmar

Villalobos, Ayda LU (2021) MIDM19 20211
LUMID International Master programme in applied International Development and Management
Department of Human Geography
Abstract
Myanmar is the world's second-largest producer of opium poppy, the raw material from which heroin and opium are produced. 85% of this opium poppy is cultivated in rural areas of Shan State, where about 1 in 10 households in the villages are directly involved in opium poppy cultivation for the drug industry (MIMU, 2017). The economy of opium poppy permeates social and family dynamics; nonetheless, there is no research emphasizing gender practices in opium poppy cultivation for drug production in Myanmar. Through the lens of intersectionality, I intend to uncover the gendered organization of opium poppy cultivation in Hopong, south Shan State, and register the experiences of peasant farmers with the gender approach of the Alternative... (More)
Myanmar is the world's second-largest producer of opium poppy, the raw material from which heroin and opium are produced. 85% of this opium poppy is cultivated in rural areas of Shan State, where about 1 in 10 households in the villages are directly involved in opium poppy cultivation for the drug industry (MIMU, 2017). The economy of opium poppy permeates social and family dynamics; nonetheless, there is no research emphasizing gender practices in opium poppy cultivation for drug production in Myanmar. Through the lens of intersectionality, I intend to uncover the gendered organization of opium poppy cultivation in Hopong, south Shan State, and register the experiences of peasant farmers with the gender approach of the Alternative Development (AD) project in the area. Being the first time an academic paper analyzes intersectionality in a drug economy in Southeast Asia, the research builds on a qualitative case study design, where interviews, participant observation, transient walks, surveys, and focus groups with opium poppy peasant farmers, gender specialists, and opinion pieces on the topic have been analyzed. By employing the concepts of intersectionality, agency, and subjectivity, this study concludes that the crop is fundamentally gendered, thus gender practices intersect in various ways with opium poppy cultivation. Meanwhile, a proper understanding of context is required for appropriate and meaningful interpretation of AD interventions in Hopong. In this sense, AD projects may not succeed unless intersectional and conflict-sensitive approaches are included in logical frameworks and intersections go beyond a blanketed ‘women and youth’ approach. (Less)
Abstract (Spanish)
Myanmar es el segundo productor mundial de amapola, la materia prima a partir de la cual se producen la heroína y el opio. El 85% de amapola se cultiva en las zonas rurales del estado de Shan, donde aproximadamente 1 de cada 10 hogares participa directamente en el cultivo de adormidera para la producción ilegal de drogas (MIMU, 2017). La economía de la amapola impregna dinámicas sociales y familiares; sin embargo, no hay investigaciones que hagan énfasis en las perspectivas de género en el cultivo de adormidera para la producción ilegal de drogas en Myanmar. A través del lente de la interseccionalidad, pretendo ilustrar la perspectiva de género del cultivo de amapola en Hopong, al sur del estado de Shan, y registrar las experiencias de los... (More)
Myanmar es el segundo productor mundial de amapola, la materia prima a partir de la cual se producen la heroína y el opio. El 85% de amapola se cultiva en las zonas rurales del estado de Shan, donde aproximadamente 1 de cada 10 hogares participa directamente en el cultivo de adormidera para la producción ilegal de drogas (MIMU, 2017). La economía de la amapola impregna dinámicas sociales y familiares; sin embargo, no hay investigaciones que hagan énfasis en las perspectivas de género en el cultivo de adormidera para la producción ilegal de drogas en Myanmar. A través del lente de la interseccionalidad, pretendo ilustrar la perspectiva de género del cultivo de amapola en Hopong, al sur del estado de Shan, y registrar las experiencias de los campesinos y campesinas con el enfoque de género del proyecto de Desarrollo Alternativo (DA) en la zona. Esta es la primera vez que un artículo académico analiza la interseccionalidad en las dinámicas sociales de las drogas en el Sudeste Asiático. La investigación esta diseñada a partir de un estudio de caso cualitativo, donde se han analizado entrevistas, observación de campo, encuestas y grupos focales con campesinos y campesinas, especialistas de género, y artículos de opinión. Al emplear los conceptos de interseccionalidad, agencia y subjetividad, este estudio concluye que el cultivo de amapola fundamentalmente atraviesa practicas de género. Ademas, se requiere una comprensión adecuada del contexto para una interpretación local y significativa de las intervenciones de DA en Hopong. En este sentido, es posible que los proyectos de DA no tengan éxito a menos que se incluyan enfoques interseccionales y sensibles al conflicto en los marcos lógicos y las intervenciones vayan más allá de un enfoque generalizado de 'mujeres y jóvenes'. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Villalobos, Ayda LU
supervisor
organization
course
MIDM19 20211
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
gender, rural development, drug policy, rural livelihoods, drug economy, women, agency, Myanmar, drug crop cultivation, alternative development, opium poppy, feminist drug policy
language
English
id
9064829
date added to LUP
2021-09-09 11:54:02
date last changed
2021-09-09 11:54:02
@misc{9064829,
  abstract     = {{Myanmar is the world's second-largest producer of opium poppy, the raw material from which heroin and opium are produced. 85% of this opium poppy is cultivated in rural areas of Shan State, where about 1 in 10 households in the villages are directly involved in opium poppy cultivation for the drug industry (MIMU, 2017). The economy of opium poppy permeates social and family dynamics; nonetheless, there is no research emphasizing gender practices in opium poppy cultivation for drug production in Myanmar. Through the lens of intersectionality, I intend to uncover the gendered organization of opium poppy cultivation in Hopong, south Shan State, and register the experiences of peasant farmers with the gender approach of the Alternative Development (AD) project in the area. Being the first time an academic paper analyzes intersectionality in a drug economy in Southeast Asia, the research builds on a qualitative case study design, where interviews, participant observation, transient walks, surveys, and focus groups with opium poppy peasant farmers, gender specialists, and opinion pieces on the topic have been analyzed. By employing the concepts of intersectionality, agency, and subjectivity, this study concludes that the crop is fundamentally gendered, thus gender practices intersect in various ways with opium poppy cultivation. Meanwhile, a proper understanding of context is required for appropriate and meaningful interpretation of AD interventions in Hopong. In this sense, AD projects may not succeed unless intersectional and conflict-sensitive approaches are included in logical frameworks and intersections go beyond a blanketed ‘women and youth’ approach.}},
  author       = {{Villalobos, Ayda}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Understanding the gender-drug cultivation nexus: A qualitative case study of the gendered practices in the opium poppy cultivation for drug production in Hopong, South Shan State, Myanmar}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}