In brief
As Myanmar's economy crumbles post-coup, educated professionals like doctors are resorting to sex work to survive. Inflation and poverty are skyrocketing, leaving many with no other options.
In the shadow of a devastating civil conflict, Myanmar's educated professionals are facing an extreme crisis. After years of hard work and dedication, many doctors, nurses, and teachers are finding themselves in the unthinkable position of turning to sex work to make ends meet. May, a newly graduated doctor, is one such individual. With her dreams dashed after the military coup in February 2021, she watched her monthly salary of $415 disappear as inflation soared. Amid power shortages and flooding, the economy spiraled downwards, forcing her to adapt in the most desperate of ways. Now working as a prostitute in Mandalay, May reflects on her harsh reality: “It’s difficult to accept that, despite all my years of study to become a doctor, I’m now doing this kind of work just to make ends meet.” The World Bank reports that nearly half of Myanmar’s population now lives in poverty, with the kyat losing significant value against the dollar. This dire situation has thrust doctors, teachers, and other professionals into survival mode, highlighting the severe social and economic ramifications of the ongoing war.
