The Dorothea S. Clarke Program in Feminist Jurisprudence Presents: Women and Democratic Change in Myanmar

About the Talk

Women in Myanmar are driving social justice, criminal justice, and political parity, especially since the 2021 military coup. Social norms and cultural barriers hinder women's access to social justice in healthcare, education, employment, family matters, and cultural and religious rights. On the other hand, gender stereotypes reduced women's prospects of standing for office and being chosen by their party, which can be seen in Myanmar's 2008 constitutional elections. Myanmar women face economic exploitation, sexist oppression, racial and ethnic discrimination, trafficking, and gender-based violence, all of which are increasingly becoming political issues. Following a woman's rape case, Rohingya were forcibly displaced in 2017. Women have always experienced systematic discrimination, preventing them from accessing social, criminal, and political justice. However, women keep driving and participating in politics, even in armed conflicts, with the resilience of desire, love, caring, support, patience, and peace to make Myanmar a democratic country.

(***this topic is based on an unpublished research paper.)

About the Speaker

Su Yin Htun is an Institute of International Education Scholar Rescue Fund (IIE-SRF) Fellow and Visiting Scholar in the Einaudi Center for International Studies' Southeast Asia Program. Ms. Htun is a law professor who has participated in the Civil Disobedience Movement.

This talk will be followed by a Q&A session.

RSVP for lunch here: https://cornell.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_ctILNP7bnjlfPp4

To attend via Zoom, register here: https://cornell.zoom.us/meeting/register/QGjdr8mdTQuHRTIXfYrVyQ

The East Asia Program (EAP) offers several funding opportunities to support student research and study related to East Asia.

Applications open Friday, November 14, 2025.

In person or join virtually: https://cornell.zoom.us/j/96326164591?pwd=blycNanfjyZvIATeenFOxSKAfEFLv….

Can't attend? Contact eap@cornell.edu.

Speaker: Mark Meulenbeld, Associate Professor, School of Chinese, The University of Hong Kong

Description:

Daoist priests in central and northern Hunan Province (PRC), an area known as Plum Mountain (Meishan 梅山), are the custodians of many local traditions. Among them is an ancient and elaborate ritual dedicated to a sacred site famous since medieval times: Peach Blossom Spring (Taohuayuan 桃花源), or Peach Spring Grotto (Taoyuandong 桃源洞), locally also referred to as Immortals’ Precinct of Peach Spring (Taoyuan Xianjing 桃源仙境). More specifically, in addition to a written iteration by the poet Tao Qian 陶潛, the site’s miraculous efficacy is ritually channelled into households of the region, consecrated on domestic altars, and its transcendent beings embodied by domestic spirit-mediums. A variety of these local traditions have long been transmitted in manuscript form. The present CCCC session will zoom in on a ritual manual transmitted by a lineage of Daoist priests from Yangyuan 楊源 Village in central Hunan, who practice their rituals in the surrounding towns, villages, and hamlets. Copied in 1942 by a Daoist priest named Zhang Youli 張攸利, the tradition recorded in the first half of the manuscript is titled “To Sing Ballads for [spirit-mediums] Seated at the Altar” (Chang Zuotan Ge 唱坐壇歌). It contains several narratives that revolve around the regional lore of Peach Spring Grotto.

To join virtually: https://cornell.zoom.us/j/96053368226?pwd=mNysMAyctkp5VLnC27BEAqbnu52X6…

About Cornell Classical Chinese Colloquium
The group meets monthly during the semester to explore a variety of classical Chinese texts and styles. Other premodern texts linked to classical Chinese in Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese have also been explored. Presentations include works from the earliest times to the 20th century. Workshop sessions are led by local, national, and international scholars. Participants with any level of classical Chinese experience are welcome to attend.
o At each session, a presenter guides the group in a reading of a classical Chinese text. Attendees discuss historical, literary, linguistic, and other aspects of the text, working together to resolve difficulties in comprehension and translation.
o No preparation is required; all texts will be distributed at the meeting.
o Refreshments will be served.

Come and explore the wide range of international work being done at Cornell! This annual showcase features a concurrent student poster session and speed talks by Einaudi Center graduate students and visiting scholars. Refreshments will be served.

Student Experience Poster Session

Over 70 undergraduates will present their international summer experiences. They conducted research, worked in Global Internships, and put leadership into action as Laidlaw scholars.

Applications are open now for Global Internships and the Laidlaw Leadership and Research Program.

Global Research Speed Talks

Graduate students and visiting scholars from the Mario Einaudi Center for International Studies will present three-minute speed talks on their interdisciplinary and international research. Speakers will address topics such as fascism in 20th century Spain, regenerative agriculture in England, migrant labor in India, and more.

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The International Research Showcase is hosted by the Einaudi Center for International Studies and cosponsored by the Office of Global Learning. Both are part of Global Cornell.