In this episode, we’ll examine the Burmese Women of the Khit Kala, the women of the times, the “It girls” of colonial Burma. Beginning in the 1920s, they were seen in magazines, advertisements, and newspapers, a clear and controversial symbol of change that mirrors what other women went through in the Southeast Asian colonial period.

Thank you to our patrons: Yati, Charlie, Shereen, Matt, Raymond, Christina, Jennifer, Xiaomei by Milish, Beverly, Lawrence, and Airene. Airene joined the Patreon just last month so welcome and I hope you’re enjoying the additional content especially the bonus episodes! We have:

An interview with Haldi Patra on the Minangkabau matriarchal society;

1. Ma Ying Taphan and the Krom Klone;
2. Nyai Gede Pinateh, the Harbour Master of Gresik;
3. Queen Suriyothai and the War Elephants;
4. Paz Marquez Benitez and Dead Stars;
5. The Rise and Fall of the Acehnese Queens, 1641 to 1699;
6. The Portrait of Dara Rasami; and
7. The Women of No. 14 Lebuh Leith

If you want to join the Patreon, you can give as little as $1 to get a copy of the show notes with all the references, a shout out at the end of the next episode, and of course access to the bonus

Cover Photo: Two girls in new fashions at the Shwe Dagon Pagoda, 1947. Henri Cartier-Bresson.

Tracks:

• Goddess of War - Unicorn Heads
• 1940's Slow Dance - Doug Maxwell_Media Right Productions
• Soothsayer - John Patitucci