Intersectionality and Gender Injustice in Higher Education in Pre- and Post-coup Myanmar

Title: Intersectionality and Gender Injustice in Higher Education in Pre- and Post-coup Myanmar

Author: Miss Ei Yin Yin Phyu

Year: 2023

Keywords: Gender equality, Sex discrimination, Sex discrimination in education, Sexual freedom

Theme: education

Advisor(s): Naruemon Thabchumpon

The full thesis available here.

Abstract: This research examines gender injustice in Higher Education in pre- and post-coupMyanmar. It explores how gender injustice has been perceived and practiced during the semiciviliangovernment and after the 2021 coup, both in private and public spaces. Usingintersectionality and gender injustice concepts, this research employs a qualitative approach,collecting primary data through interviews with women university scholars, as well assecondary sources such as legal documents, education laws, university policies and regulationsregarding gender equality. It incorporates other gender-related concepts and frameworks inorder to strengthen its empirical findings. Primary data collection included 17 femaleparticipants from diverse socio-demographic backgrounds and religious beliefs with workexperiences ranging from 9 to over 25 years in public universities or institutions acrossMyanmar. The findings of this study support the thesis argument on the interconnected genderinjustice faced by women in the academic sphere, especially academic women from ethnicminorities, marginal groups and non-Buddhist religions. The gender injustice situation has beeneven worse after the 2021 coup. Finally, the thesis aims to contribute to the interconnectedgender and societal workplace challenges faced by Myanmar’s female academics and to thedevelopment interventions by state and non-state actors for fulfilling Sustainable DevelopmentGoals (SDGs).