Gendered impact of displacement : livelihood changes among Rakhine people in Yangon, Myanmar | |
| Author | Su Su Nwe |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.GD-25-09 |
| Subject(s) | Internally displaced persons--Burma--Yangon Human security--Burma--Yangon |
| Note | A thesis submitted in patial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Gender and Development Studies |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | This thesis explores the impact of displacement on the traditional gender roles and livelihoods changes of displaced Rakhine people in Yangon, Myanmar, with a focus on how men and women cope with these changes under security pressures.The study pays attention to how conflict-induced displacement disrupt traditional gender roles and reshape livelihoods activities within displaced households. Using qualitative method, the research investigates how 14 men and 17 women in urban settings like Yangon employ different coping methods to deal with the changes in livelihood activity. 22 in-depth interviews which consist of 7 married couples, 1 female single, 1 male single and 6 married individuals were conducted.Three families which compose of 9 members were interviewed as case study. Displacement has impacted men and women differently, redefining their gender roles. Many men lose their traditional responsibilities as primary providers, causing a loss of identity for them. Frustration, mental discomfort, and, in certain situations, unhealthy coping strategies like aggressive and violent act to the children are resulted from the financial constraints. Many married women have taken on greater duties as a result of the loss of their spouse's job or absence of their spouse. Married women who face absence of their husbands, labor migrant and a returnee to home town undergo the compounded burden from income loss, increased caregiving and household managing responsibilities with limited resources and emotional support. Married women whose displaced together with their husband demonstrate more ability in finding new sources of income when complemented by more equal household and caring arrangements from husband. This thesis illustrates the fact that 31 respondents face adverse effects of displacement and livelihoods changes in Yangon, their vulnerabilities in city and availability of other sources of income at the new place are shaped by intersecting factors. As such, the axes that gendered impact of displacement intersect with other elements such as cultural, social, economic and political aspects.Gender-specific adaptation patterns among Rakhine people are complicated, not consistent, and greatly impacted by numerous elements, such as pre-displaced family's structures and family dynamics, cultural norms, societal expectations, and economic conditions. |
| Year | 2025 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development |
| Department | Department of Development and Sustainability (DDS) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Gender and Development Studies (GD) |
| Chairperson(s) | Kusakabe, Kyoko |
| Examination Committee(s) | Banerjee, Paula;Duanghathai Buranajaroenkij |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | AIT Scholarship |
| Degree | Thesis (M. Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2025 |