Living 'Like a Startled Crow': The Persistent Insecurity of Women Amid Myanmar's Polycrisis

Women in Myanmar are living "like a startled crow" amid a polycrisis of war and economic collapse. Explore the impacts of displacement and digital violence.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 7, 2026, 7:37 AM EST

Source: Information for this report was sourced from The Diplomat

A Life of Constant Vigilance

For women across Myanmar, the everyday reality of the ongoing civil war is defined by a deep sense of precariousness. Analysts use the metaphor of a "startled crow" to describe the psychological state of many women who feel they can never let their guard down. The collapse of the rule of law and the intensification of conflict have eroded the basic safety of homes and communities. This atmosphere of constant threat means that long-term planning has been replaced by a desperate focus on immediate, daily survival, as women navigate a landscape where military activity and economic instability are inextricably linked.

The Polycrisis: Economic and Security Convergence

The term "polycrisis" captures the overlapping nature of the challenges facing Myanmar’s female population. Beyond the physical dangers of bombs and bullets, a severe economic crisis has decimated livelihoods. With the formal economy in tatters, women often bear the primary responsibility for finding food and resources for their families, frequently putting them in harm's way. This economic desperation is compounded by a healthcare vacuum, where resistance medical teams many comprised of female doctors and nurses who left state hospitals after the coup struggle to provide basic care in liberated zones and IDP camps under constant threat of aerial bombardment.

Digital Exploitation and Gender-Based Violence

The insecurity extends into the digital realm, where a "silent crisis" is unfolding. The civil war has been accompanied by a sharp rise in cyber-attacks targeting women, including the non-consensual sharing of intimate images and online harassment used as a tool of political and personal intimidation. These digital threats mirror the physical dangers on the ground, where gender-based violence remains a pervasive and under-reported consequence of the conflict. In many areas, the lack of a functioning judicial system means that survivors have almost no recourse for justice, further entrenching the cycle of vulnerability.