Myanmar Girl's Secret Fight: Feminism Found Her Before She Found the Word!

Title: Learning feminism before knowing its name: Verse’s story from Myanmar

Myanmar Girl's Secret Fight: Feminism Found Her Be...

Verse, a Burmese filmmaker, is using her art to challenge gender bias and elevate the voices of women in Myanmar, voices that are too often drowned out. Her journey, fueled by a deep-seated passion for equality, is as compelling as the stories she tells on screen.

It all started back in 2018 when Verse began her career as a reporter. She had dreams of covering the political landscape, but quickly faced a frustrating reality: systemic gender bias was alive and well. During a crucial assignment, she was denied the opportunity to cover parliament in Nay Pyi Taw, while her male colleagues were sent to the capital. "I was told women weren’t given those opportunities," she recalls. "I could not accept a workplace that denied my growth simply because I was a woman.” That was a turning point. She decided to leave journalism, opting instead to join a women’s rights organization, shifting her focus to human rights and feminist advocacy.

But perhaps the seeds of her activism were sown long before her professional life even began. Verse grew up watching her grandmother, a Rakhine woman who ran a sawmill, boldly defy societal norms. This wasn't some abstract theoretical concept; it was lived experience. Her grandmother, a respected businesswoman in a male-dominated industry, refused to conform to restrictive gender roles. She instilled in Verse a sense of resilience and equality that transcended any textbook definition of feminism.

Even in seemingly minor acts, her grandmother challenged expectations. Consider the simple act of drying laundry. While others in the neighborhood insisted women hide their underwear under the longyi (a traditional Burmese garment), her grandmother refused. She believed underwear needed sunlight for hygiene, so she hung them out in front of the house, unashamed. She simply didn't buy into the idea that being a woman diminished her dignity. It’s this kind of subtle rebellion, this quiet defiance, that shaped Verse's understanding of feminism.

That early experience with injustice in journalism stung. Verse's filmmaking has become a powerful extension of this feminist inheritance. Her narratives shine a light on the experiences of women who are often marginalized or completely invisible. “Through film, I want people to feel empathy to see women’s emotions, existence, and oppression in new ways. My mind is always thinking for them.” It's about giving a voice to the voiceless, ensuring that their stories are not only heard but also deeply felt.

One particularly impactful project is her animated film “Exit,” which portrays the lives of sex workers in Myanmar, who face immense stigma, violence, and criminalization. Supported by Goethe-Institut Myanmar, the film is being screened at numerous venues, bringing this crucial issue to a wider audience. Verse’s work serves as a reminder that feminism isn’t just an abstract concept; it’s a lived reality, a fight for justice, and a powerful force for change.