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Women’s Participation in the Burmese Ethnic and Student Oppositional Movement

Svensson, Emelie LU (2015) MIDM19 20151
LUMID International Master programme in applied International Development and Management
Abstract
The official notion of women in Burma is that they are equal to men but happy with their non- political domestic role in society. This notion undermines the work and struggle done by women in the oppositional movement. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to add to the understanding of how women participate in the Burmese ethnic and student oppositional movement. The study used feminist standpoint theory in the theoretical framework to stress the importance of basing knowledge on women’s experiences. Thus, this study aims to tell ‘another story’ beside the often-used male narrative, to understand what power relations and hierarchies women experience within the movement and within the organisations they belong to. As youth and... (More)
The official notion of women in Burma is that they are equal to men but happy with their non- political domestic role in society. This notion undermines the work and struggle done by women in the oppositional movement. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to add to the understanding of how women participate in the Burmese ethnic and student oppositional movement. The study used feminist standpoint theory in the theoretical framework to stress the importance of basing knowledge on women’s experiences. Thus, this study aims to tell ‘another story’ beside the often-used male narrative, to understand what power relations and hierarchies women experience within the movement and within the organisations they belong to. As youth and students have had an important role in the Burmese political history, I have mainly interviewed women active in student and youth organisations. My interpretation of women’s experiences in the movement showed that gender hierarchies and conservative notions of gender roles are important factors influencing how women are able to participate in the movement. I also found two intersecting factors which seemed to, together with gender, be especially relevant for women’s participation in the ethnic and student oppositional movement; age and ethno-politics. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Svensson, Emelie LU
supervisor
organization
course
MIDM19 20151
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Burma, Myanmar, Social Movement, Ethnic and Student Oppositional Movement, Student and Youth Organisation, Feminist Standpoint Theory, Women’s Participation
language
English
id
5410045
date added to LUP
2015-06-29 15:25:15
date last changed
2015-06-29 15:25:15
@misc{5410045,
  abstract     = {{The official notion of women in Burma is that they are equal to men but happy with their non- political domestic role in society. This notion undermines the work and struggle done by women in the oppositional movement. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to add to the understanding of how women participate in the Burmese ethnic and student oppositional movement. The study used feminist standpoint theory in the theoretical framework to stress the importance of basing knowledge on women’s experiences. Thus, this study aims to tell ‘another story’ beside the often-used male narrative, to understand what power relations and hierarchies women experience within the movement and within the organisations they belong to. As youth and students have had an important role in the Burmese political history, I have mainly interviewed women active in student and youth organisations. My interpretation of women’s experiences in the movement showed that gender hierarchies and conservative notions of gender roles are important factors influencing how women are able to participate in the movement. I also found two intersecting factors which seemed to, together with gender, be especially relevant for women’s participation in the ethnic and student oppositional movement; age and ethno-politics.}},
  author       = {{Svensson, Emelie}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Women’s Participation in the Burmese Ethnic and Student Oppositional Movement}},
  year         = {{2015}},
}