photo via Urban Outfitters

I know that I rant about the rampant sexism in our culture a lot, but if given a choice, I'd gladly take my situation over that of other women around the globe. Between the female genital mutilation, bride kidnapping (basically, marriage by abduction), lack of reproductive rights or education, and general misery, I'd much rather fight the patriarchy with all of the rights I already take for granted, thank you very much. And check out how bad it is in Myanmar (aka Burma):

Frequently widowed or separated from their families at an early age, women are forced to work as porters and unpaid labourers for local SPDC military troops and are often raped by soldiers. Ethnic women in areas where armed conflict with the junta is ongoing face constant threats of attack, rape, torture, slavery, and murder by SPDC soldiers. In addition, while male members of the community are taken as porters, serve as soldiers, or are killed, women are often left alone to raise their children. Even after fleeing to a neighboring country for protection, female refugees and children are the most vulnerable in threats to their security.

What can we do about it? Well, surprisingly, you can help them out by cleaning out your underwear drawer.

You see, men in Myanmar are a superstitious lot. In fact, they are so disdainful of a woman's vadge that they believe that contact with a pair of girl's panties will actually rob a man of his power. So, basically, they think that Victoria's Secret is like a huge den of vampire lingerie. So a group in Canada has organized Panties for Peace to basically play on the junta's superstition but also to send a powerful message to not only the government but also to tell the Burmese women that they are not alone.

Just imagine: if the military really does get unsettled by used underwear, then their fear of losing their power will actually come true, except it won't be caused by some fragile fabric on an elastic waistband, but rather their silly superstition that drives their downfall. It's a plot twist worthy of Shakespeare. I don't know that it will work, but I can tell you that I have an old pair of period panties that will be earning some frequent flier miles in very short order. Girl power!