Myanmar’s female doctors and nurses are turning to sex work for their stomachs

Last Updated on December 20, 2024 6:13 am

The recent economic crisis and military coup in war-torn Myanmar have left educated professional women in the country in dire financial straits. Many are being forced to turn to sex work to make a living. This trend is increasing among professional women such as doctors, nurses and teachers.

Myanmar’s economy collapsed after the military coup in February 2021. The devaluation of the foreign currency, the unbridled rise in commodity prices and the prolonged conflict have disrupted public life in the country. According to the World Bank, almost half of the country’s population currently lives below the poverty line.

May, a 26-year-old woman who used to work as a doctor in Mandalay, Myanmar’s second largest city, is now involved in sex work. She said, “It took me seven years to study medicine. But now I have to do things I never imagined to do to survive.”

Nurse Jaro (25) used to work at a private hospital in Mandalay. After the hospital closed, she started working as a ‘date girl’ through a friend. She says, “It was like hell at first. But there was no other way to earn money.

The decline in the economic situation of women in Myanmar has led to an increase in the number of women entering the sex trade. The average daily income of a woman is $5, which is 40 percent less than that of men. Many garment factories have closed since the coup, reducing job opportunities.

Su, 28, was a doctor. “My dream was to help children,” she says. But economic realities and the financial crisis in her family have forced me to do things I never imagined.

The risks for women entering the sex trade have increased. If they are caught by the police, they have to pay bribes, which brings new dangers to their lives.

A mother named Mia turned to sex for her three-year-old daughter. Her husband was shot dead by the army during protests in 2021. “People may judge me, but they won’t understand how hard it is to be hungry,” says Mia. I pray every day to be free from this life.

There is no easy way out of the crisis in Myanmar for now. The army maintains control of the cities. But in the countryside, they continue to clash with the rebels.

Women’s living standards are deteriorating day by day due to economic, social and political crises. In this context, ensuring the dignity and safety of women has become a major challenge for Myanmar.

Source: New York Times