The Longyi Revolution and Beyond

Insight Myanmar

Episode #275: Nyein Chan May's story is one of unyielding resilience and fierce commitment to justice in the face of overwhelming adversity. Born and raised in Myanmar, she grew up in a society steeped in patriarchal norms and military oppression. But Nyein Chan May refused to be confined by these outdated ideologies. She left Myanmar just before the coup to study political science and intersectional feminism in Germany, driven by a vision to dismantle the structures that sought to silence her and countless others.

In the revolution that erupted after the military coup, Nyein Chan May recognized that the fight was not just against the junta but also against a deep-seated, patriarchal society, and sexist beliefs even within the resistance. She spoke out, unwavering, about the dual revolution that women in Myanmar must wage—against both the military dictatorship and the patriarchy that has oppressed them for centuries.

As the Longyi Revolution unfolded, Nyein Chan May saw more than a protest against oppression; she saw a movement that could redefine what it meant to be a woman in Myanmar. She knew that true revolution would require dismantling not only the junta but also the deep-seated misogyny embedded in her society. Speaking truth to power, she connected with women on the frontlines, who were not just fighting for their country’s freedom but for their right to be seen, heard, and valued.

“Women's rights and the rights of marginalized groups are not to be considered separately from the revolution!” she says. “If we understand the broader definition of the word, ‘revolution,’ it is not only about fighting against the military junta; it is about building a new society, about defending ourselves against these discriminatory ideologies. If you define yourself as an actor in the revolution, then stop thinking separately about women's rights and the rights of marginalized groups from the whole context of the revolution.”