Guest contributor
Nyein Chan May
“If I said anything that upsets you, I do not beg your pardon (ပြောမှားဆိုမှားရှိရင်လည်း ခွင့်မလွှတ်ကြပါနဲ့).” This is how I end each episode of my podcast: A Htet Sin (အထက်ဆင်) – a show dedicated to exploring feminism, intersectionality, and the power dynamics between genders. This podcast was born out of a deep bond of friendship and a shared commitment to contribute to Myanmar’s Spring Revolution.
Let’s start with the name A Htet Sin. This refers to a small black piece of textile traditionally found on top of every woman’s hta-mein (skirt). I’m sure many of us recall the early days of Myanmar’s anti-coup protests in 2021, when women took to the streets and hoisted their hta-mein as flags of resistance.
As an intersectional feminist, I saw this moment as both a social and ideological revolution, while for conservatives clinging to outdated patriarchal norms, it was a red alert. I vividly remember the reaction of Germany’s current Foreign Minister, Annalena Baerbock, who expressed both respect and amazement when I shared the story of the hta-mein protests with her.
The idea to name my podcast A Htet Sin came to me a year ago while sitting with two friends, pioneers of the Rebel Wisdom (ဉာဏ်သူပုန်) podcast. They later became co-founders of the Burma Podcast Network (BPN), of which A Htet Sin and Rebel Wisdom are two of its founding shows. This small piece of black textile has the power to provoke thoughts, inspire revolutionary ideas, and irritate those who uphold patriarchal values. What better symbol could there be for my podcast?
We never questioned whether a podcast about feminism was needed during such a crucial time of revolution. Interestingly, it’s a question I’ve mostly been asked by middle-aged men. We knew that this was our way of contributing to the Spring Revolution. As part of Myanmar’s younger generation, we are determined to challenge the outdated patriarchal structures in society and test the limits of its tolerance for new ideological shifts.
I began A Htet Sin by posing a fundamental question: What does feminism mean? Rather than simply defining the term for my audience, I invited them on a journey to explore how we understand and interpret feminism within the context of Myanmar. The word “feminism” still carries various interpretations, and many people remain unfamiliar with this concept in their daily lives.
A Htet Sin aims to bring the topics of feminism, women’s rights, and the rights of marginalized groups closer to those who are not well-versed in Western literature or liberal ideologies. As an intersectional feminist, I strive to explore these issues from perspectives beyond the cis-gender approach. My experience has shown me that gender is about more than just equality between women and men – it’s about power: the demonstration of power, power relations, and the abuse of power.
But what does this have to do with the Spring Revolution?
Myanmar’s society has been patriarchal for decades, where women faced discrimination, and LGBTIQA+ individuals were marginalized. Women and marginalized groups were often excluded from society or used as tokens for “pinkwashing,” or using methods that are sympathetic towards women and LGBTIQA+ but having nothing to do with equality or inclusion.
Voices have been ignored, achievements overlooked, and recognition of active participation in Myanmar’s politics and resistance movements is long overdue. There is also the danger of internalizing and normalizing discrimination, where women within the resistance movement may not realize that their rights are being denied, often through power abuse by male superiors or colleagues.
A Htet Sin has also become a platform to address gender-based power abuse within the resistance movement. To tackle these issues and make the podcast accessible to listeners from all backgrounds, I conduct thorough research, interview women from diverse social and political backgrounds, and engage with members of marginalized groups.
I also spend hours reading academic papers and theories to ensure each episode is well-informed and impactful. These efforts pay off when I receive feedback from women of all ages, sharing how the podcast has helped them understand women’s rights, recognize domestic violence in their lives, and more. A year after its launch, in collaboration with another show under BPN, we held our first online live debate on jokes about women in comedy.
Being a vocal young woman in Myanmar, especially amidst armed conflict, is challenging. Some see me as a troublemaker, others as bold or even a naïve feminist. But I firmly believe that if the rights of women and marginalized groups continue to be ignored or overlooked, any future democracy will be incomplete.
A fundamental aspect of any revolution is the fight against all forms of discrimination – based on gender, race, and religion. To embed these values into society, we must build and strengthen people-to-people relationships.
As A Htet Sin continues to grow, my hope is that it will serve not only as a platform for raising awareness and sparking discussions on the understanding of feminism, gender equality and power relations but also as a catalyst for societal change – or a small attempt to do so.
Nyein Chan May is an intersectional feminist, podcaster and co-founder of an NGO German Solidarity Myanmar.
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