Yangon: Burger Queen (Part II)

Submitted July 17, 2009

How could we argue? First the language barrier made it impossible to communicate that, yes, I did indeed want the chicken patty on my chicken burger. But secondly, how can I possibly argue over 1500 kyats, not even $1.50 in the States? Especially when I realize she's probably living day to day from her wages. True, I don't know that, and it is purely speculative to say that may be her daily wages. But from what I have observed and learned most of life here is a day to day existence.

Thinking through the experiences of the week, I have come to a somewhat familiar realization that I have never had to fight for my education, for a safe place to live, for a good job, or for my life. I felt so grateful that this young woman at Burger Queen had chosen to tend to these non-burgers. (Non-burgers in the sense that I actually only ended up with a bun, some vegetables, and sauce.) Young woman are so vulnerable here.

Domestic Workers are often promised a job and safe housing for the opportunity to receive a basic education in the city. However, the reality is that more often than not these girls are at risk for abuse, emotionally and/or physically, and they are considered to be non-human. As domestic workers they have no rights and limited opportunities to attend school because they become so busy with housework.

Young women from the most economically vulnerable places in the country, especially in the mountainous areas, are often trafficked into the city or across the border into Thailand to become prostitutes. I had learned about this growing issue when I was in Thailand, however, I am constantly exposed to how complex and far reaching the problem of trafficking is.

I am also wrestling with the thinking that in the U.S. we tend often overlook the vulnerability of our own women to trafficking and abuse. When I worked at the Rescue Mission there was limited space for women in other shelters. After calling several shelters, I was told that if a woman was not involved in prostitution, drug abuse, physical abuse, or had no children there was little or no shelter available for her. Ironically, if the women we were working with weren't involved in any of these high risk activities, not having safe shelter actually put them at a greater risk for becoming involved in them.

When we think about where we begin to confront these issues on both a local and global scale it is overwhelming. But I am becoming more convinced that as we build relationships with one person at a time, we will find hope, and we will find the space for God's transformative work. Perhaps, for the sake of relationship, I would even be willing to take on another Burger Queen chicken-less patty with veggies and sauce. It didn't taste too bad anyway.