Attached Paper Annual Meeting 2024

Sarong Revolution: Myanmar Women’s Courageous and Creative Nonviolence Movement in Resisting the Violence of Military Regime

Abstract for Online Program Book (maximum 150 words)

Myanmar women are aware of the inseparable connection between their struggle for gender justice and political liberty, and they express their concerns in the “Sarong Revolution.” By waving a sarong as a flag, Myanmar women fight against taboo, sexism, and an unjust political system. I posit that a new interpretation of the male-biased gender norm, phon, helps women realize their true liberated womanhood and leads them to resist gender-based violence, and regime. First, I briefly introduce the political background of Myanmar, and then, the “Sarong Revolution” will be presented. Lastly, I present a new interpretation of phon and its application in protest. To support my argument, I use Martin Luther King Jr’s view on protest, Kwok Pui-Lan’s view on demystifying religious myths, Aye Nwe’s view on reinterpreting gender-biased cultural norms, and monk Nandamala Bhivamsa’s view on a new understanding of phon. It is a timely, intersectional, and inspirational proposal.