Congratulations on being awarded the John Legge Prize 2024 for the Best Thesis in Asian Studies in Australia in 2023! Can you tell us a bit about your thesis? What is the topic it explores and what did you find?
My thesis, titled “The Role of the State in Preventing and Responding to Conflict-Related Sexual Violence: A Case Study in Myanmar”, addresses a critical global security issue by investigating the role of the state as a prevention actor in Myanmar. As the country grapples with the longest civil war in the world, it remains one of the least explored contexts regarding the topic. This knowledge gap largely stems from the sensitivity surrounding Conflict-Related Sexual Violence (‘CRSV’) in Myanmar, particularly due to its association with the military as an alleged perpetrator.
In my thesis, I present rich empirical data on Myanmar’s state-led CRSV prevention and response efforts. Using a feminist institutionalist approach, I analyse why internationally-driven CRSV prevention initiatives, particularly the Joint Communique signed between the United Nations and the State, have not only failed but may have caused additional harm in the context of Myanmar.
How did you first become interested in this topic?
My interest in this topic was fuelled by my work as a Gender-Based Violence (‘GBV’) program analyst for the United Nations Population Fund from 2017 to early-2019 in Lashio, northern Shan State, a region long affected by conflict. This experience was both challenging and rewarding. I observed that there is a need for evidence-based solutions to address sexual and gender-based violence against women and girls in Myanmar’s conflicts. When most support predominantly relied on international actors through foreign aid, I became increasingly curious about the lack of action from the state in preventing and responding to CRSV. This curiosity drove me to explore it further in my PhD thesis.
What was the most challenging aspect of doing this research?
The greatest challenge was the data collection process. I developed my research design in 2019, before the military coup in Myanmar, which took place shortly before I was scheduled to begin collecting data. The sudden event was both shocking and disheartening. I found myself overwhelmed with anger and grief, making it difficult to gather the courage and motivation to proceed. As I continued with the research I struggled with feelings of guilt, particularly when reaching out to participants who were courageously resisting the oppressive regime. I had to constantly assess the potential risks—not only to my research participants but also to my family and myself.
However, as a local researcher with prior experience in conflict-affected areas, I felt a strong obligation to continue the work, recognising that I was in a better position than most to conduct this research. Navigating between my personal emotions and professional responsibilities throughout the data collection process was the most challenging experience.
Do you have a favourite anecdote, moment or insight from doing your research?
The overall experience of conducting this research was fraught with challenges, particularly with the COVID-19 pandemic and the military coup. However, a joyous moment was when my mother was granted a visa to visit me and my family in Australia. We nearly lost her to COVID while she was in Myanmar, where she had limited access to healthcare and vaccination. Seeing her for the first time in three years after all we endured was a profound joy and provided me with much-needed emotional support during the final six months of completing my thesis.
Are there particular scholars whose work you admire or have shaped your academic trajectory?
My thesis employs Feminist Institutionalism as a guiding framework, so I am greatly influenced by scholars in this field, such as Georgina Waylen, Fiona Mackay, and Louise Chappell. Their work has been instrumental in shaping my understanding of how gender dynamics are embedded within state institutions and in tracing informal gendered practices and political opportunity structures for women’s participation. Given my focus on CRSV, I have also engaged extensively with International Relations scholars in this field. Jacqui True and Sara Davies’ research on how entrenched gender inequalities can intensify CRSV and Jelke Boesten’s work on CRSV in Peru provide a crucial foundation for my thesis. I build upon their insights by applying a feminist institutionalist perspective to these issues in Myanmar’s institutional context.
What are the hopes for the influence of your work?
My thesis aims to contribute to the existing knowledge of CRSV in Myanmar, a country experiencing a prolonged civil conflict. While numerous studies have explored CRSV in contexts like the Democratic Republic of Congo, Peru, Nigeria, and South Sudan, Myanmar remains significantly under-researched. The sensitive nature of CRSV in Myanmar, particularly its connection to the military, complicates access for researchers. I hope my thesis fills this critical research gap and enhances the understanding of CRSV within Myanmar’s unique institutional context. Ultimately, I aim for my findings to inform the policymaking process, particularly by highlighting the failures of international actors to acknowledge domestic political complexities and institutional legacies when engaging with the state as a prevention actor.
Image: Supplied.
