The ongoing civil unrest in Myanmar has deepened the economic crisis, pushing educated professionals like doctors and nurses into prostitution as inflation escalates and job opportunities dwindle.
Myanmar's Health Professionals Turned Sex Workers: A Desperate Reality
Myanmar's Health Professionals Turned Sex Workers: A Desperate Reality
Amidst ongoing civil strife, Myanmar’s health workers grapple with economic despair, leading many to seek work in the sex trade as a survival tactic.
In Mandalay, once proud medical graduates now find themselves in the world of sex work, revealing the grim fallout of a country torn apart by conflict and poverty.
May, who dedicated seven years to medical school, now faces a harsh reality. Just weeks after securing her dream position as a physician, the ground fell beneath her feet when a military coup occurred in February 2021. The subsequent chaos sent Myanmar spiraling further into poverty, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on the economy.
With rampant inflation – reported by the World Bank to be 26% this year – and her salary of $415 quickly losing value, May struggled to support her sick father. As desperation grew, she turned to “date girls,” sex workers who earned double what she did, lured by the prospect of financial stability.
“I never imagined this would be my life after all my years of study,” shared May, now 26 and concealing her identity from her family, who remain unaware of her current profession. Her story is not isolated; a wave of educated women including teachers, nurses, and others are thrust into sex work as Myanmar’s economy collapses under military rule.
The kyat's staggering depreciation against the dollar this year has burdened half of the population, propelling them into dire circumstances. Desperate for survival, more professionals embrace the world of sex work, highlighting a tragic transformation in a nation struggling to reclaim its stability and future.
May, who dedicated seven years to medical school, now faces a harsh reality. Just weeks after securing her dream position as a physician, the ground fell beneath her feet when a military coup occurred in February 2021. The subsequent chaos sent Myanmar spiraling further into poverty, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on the economy.
With rampant inflation – reported by the World Bank to be 26% this year – and her salary of $415 quickly losing value, May struggled to support her sick father. As desperation grew, she turned to “date girls,” sex workers who earned double what she did, lured by the prospect of financial stability.
“I never imagined this would be my life after all my years of study,” shared May, now 26 and concealing her identity from her family, who remain unaware of her current profession. Her story is not isolated; a wave of educated women including teachers, nurses, and others are thrust into sex work as Myanmar’s economy collapses under military rule.
The kyat's staggering depreciation against the dollar this year has burdened half of the population, propelling them into dire circumstances. Desperate for survival, more professionals embrace the world of sex work, highlighting a tragic transformation in a nation struggling to reclaim its stability and future.
