Gender Issues in Asian Studies

This study focuses on the major gender issues identified in East, South, and Southeast Asia and their interconnection with emancipation factors. It discusses the impact of economic changes on male and female populations and the progress made in reducing gender gaps in the region. The study also explores the role of women in politics and the challenges they face in career-oriented paths.

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Running head: GENDER ISSUES IN ASIAN STUDIES
Gender Issues in Asian Studies
Name of the Student:
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Author Note:

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GENDER ISSUES IN ASIAN STUDIES
Introduction
The continuous and rapid economic changes visible in the Asian country has been
creating the remarkable impacts separately in both male and female population. These changes
became more challenging for the females who are working in the family or private domains and
men who are involved in politics and commercial activities. It has been observed that more
active participation of women in the politics in different countries rescheduled the agendas that
brought changes in society. However, it was noticed that the visualization of the masculinity and
femininity images are in flux that is accelerated by the new technologies and the
commercialization of the popular culture1. In fact, the presence of such issues is visible in the
studies, art, literature, and media. The study is thus focusing on discussing the major issues
identified in East, South, and Southeast Asia. Furthermore, the study also aims to concentrate on
the interconnection identified between gender issues and emancipation factors, majorly found in
the subaltern and post-colonial studies.
Discussion
The current economic changes in Asian countries imply the significant growth in political
and social context. It has been observed that the women participation in the political zones and
other businesses have been increasing much remarkably due to which the agendas are
rescheduled to ensure the social changes. As per the East Asia Forum Quarterly (EAFQ), it was
noticeable the diversity and complexity issues of sexuality and gender are mostly seen in the
Asian country2. However, on the other hand, it is also identified that the encouraging legal
1 Fresnoza-Flot, Asuncion, and Kyoko Shinozaki. "Transnational perspectives on intersecting experiences: gender,
social class and generation among Southeast Asian migrants and their families." Journal of Ethnic and Migration
Studies 43, no. 6 (2017): 867-884.
2 Islam, M. Rezaul, and Stefan Cojocaru. "Migrant domestic workers in Asia: Transnational variations and policy
concerns." International Migration 54, no. 1 (2016): 48-63.

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GENDER ISSUES IN ASIAN STUDIES
reforms are enacted for recognizing the rights of the women. The gender issues have been much
prominent. Females were not given any chance to take participation in any sort of career-focused
paths. It is important to indicate that over the last two decades, the economy of the East and
Southwest Asia has been making progress towards reducing the gender gaps3. In addition to this,
in South Korea, it was observed that various patriarchal laws are introduced for the abolition of
‘family-head’ system. It provides the women the equal opportunities to live freely. Moreover,
this opportunities are enacted to lift up the ban on women in military. In East Asia, women from
Philippines have been mostly participating in the political institution. It was observed that
various patriarchal laws are introduced for the abolition of ‘family-head’ system. However, the
issues remain intact since there were numerous disagreement upon the ability of women to lead a
nation. However, on the contrary, such progressive legal enactment for women has been
signifying as sticky issues. In East Asia, women are making it to the top in every field of career,
mostly in political agenda4. However, on the other hand, as per the social norms, women are still
dictated as the primary child carers. In such area, women who are more involved in social
networking in their progressive career are still being criticized. The wages are quite lesser than
the men in the workplaces. The discrimination thus became much prominent with time.
Considering the art and academia, it is noticeable that the apprenticeships to a political
career is becoming a visible weakness in cultural and institutional support5. Especially, while
participating in the workplace or any other career-oriented background, women have been facing
3 Brooks, Ann. Gendered work in Asian cities: The new economy and changing labour markets. Routledge, 2016.
4 Liu, Mingnan, and Yichen Wang. "Interviewer gender effect on acquiescent response style in 11 Asian countries
and societies." Field Methods 28, no. 4 (2016): 327-344.
5 Noland, Marcus, Tyler Moran, and Barbara R. Kotschwar. "Is gender diversity profitable? Evidence from a global
survey." Peterson Institute for International Economics Working Paper16-3 (2016).

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GENDER ISSUES IN ASIAN STUDIES
such recognizable issues. In post-colonial era, the gender issues have been much prominent.
Females were not given any chance to take participation in any sort of career-focused paths6. It is
important to indicate that over the last two decades, the economy of the East and Southwest Asia
has been making progress towards reducing the gender gaps. However, the gaps are yet to be
fixed since it is quite recognizable in the men-oriented countries. For example, in Southeast Asia,
women generally earn up to 30% to 40% less than the men as put forwarded by Asian
Development Bank. The reasons of such biasness can be defined in many a ways.
It is implied that the women mostly prefer to work as the part-timers since they have to
look after to their children. In such cases, the illustration of the country differences portrays
outright discrimination. In fact, the discrimination is also seen in the division between
management and professionals. In such division, it is mostly seen that the men are selected in
majority of the numbers rather than the females. Furthermore, in order to consider the land and
property rights, it was notable that despite working in farms in a larger number, the women earn
much lesser than the males. In Southeast, East, and South Asia, women used to get lesser access
to study literature, art, film, or media7. The legal restriction did not allow women to pursue their
ambitions. Eventually, it was realized that the female participations in the political and social
agenda can make the real differences since they can judge the social issues from a closer
perspective. In East Asia, women from Philippines have been mostly participating in the
political institution. However, on the contrary, such progressive legal enactment for women has
been signifying as sticky issues. The issues remain constant until the progress took place aptly.
6 Chakraborty, Lekha. Asia: A survey of gender budgeting efforts. International Monetary Fund, 2016.
7 Bhugra, Dinesh, Soumitra Pathare, Renuka Nardodkar, Chetna Gosavi, Roger Ng, Julio Torales, and Antonio
Ventriglio. "Legislative provisions related to marriage and divorce of persons with mental health problems: a global
review." International Review of Psychiatry 28, no. 4 (2016): 386-392.

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GENDER ISSUES IN ASIAN STUDIES
During the post-colonial era, the realms to women and men became the notion of the
inherent characteristics. On one hand, men were characterized by the one who takes participation
in critical judgment. Men used to be judged as their sternness, rationality, propensity for
acquisition and violence, and objectivity8. On the contrary, women were entitled to their
fickleness, purity, possessiveness, dependence, and so on. These differences were brought to an
end after the post-colonialism era. During this period, the Asian government worked upon
enacting more legal reformations that helped in achieving women empowerment.
It is important to note that Asian women experience the physical violence from their
intimate partners. In fact, as far as the statistical facts are considered, it is also noticed that only
30% females of the entire population are employed in non-agricultural wage9. The wage
differences are still some considerable issues visible in the Asian countries. However, the current
enactment of the different acts are supporting women empowerment in many of the fields. For
example, females in Southeast Asia have been getting access to literature, art, and media studies.
Previously, the women even had the little access to the resources due to which they were mostly
engaged in the agricultural activities10. Even though the gap is yet to be fulfilled, the law
enforcements are quite providing opportunities to the women to work on their careers with
necessary recognition.
Conclusion
8 Li, Rebecca Y. Hei, and Wang Ivy Wong. "Gender-typed play and social abilities in boys and girls: Are they
related?." Sex Roles 74, no. 9-10 (2016): 399-410.
9 Morley, Louise, and Barbara Crossouard. "Women's leadership in the Asian Century: does expansion mean
inclusion?." Studies in Higher Education 41, no. 5 (2016): 801-814.
10 Low, Daniel CM, Helen Roberts, and Rosalind H. Whiting. "Board gender diversity and firm performance:
Empirical evidence from Hong Kong, South Korea, Malaysia and Singapore." Pacific-Basin Finance Journal 35
(2015): 381-401.

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GENDER ISSUES IN ASIAN STUDIES
Women empowerment has been into discussion for quite a long time. It has been
observed that during the post-colonialism era, women in Asian countries had been facing the
significant gender biasness. They were generally considered as the best care givers to the
children due to which they were deprived from career related studies. However, keeping pace
with the continuous growth in the economy, the social change came into consideration. It
provides the women the equal opportunities to live freely. Moreover, this opportunities are
enacted to lift up the ban on women in military. Therefore, women were given the power to fulfil
their dreams and take active participations in political activities as well. Most specifically,
women started getting access to the diverse studies like Media, Art, and Literature that made
them much progressive and powerful. However, in many countries in Asia still need to work
upon such gender biasness. The gender neutrality will thus be protected from the topical issues.

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GENDER ISSUES IN ASIAN STUDIES
References
Bhugra, Dinesh, Soumitra Pathare, Renuka Nardodkar, Chetna Gosavi, Roger Ng, Julio Torales,
and Antonio Ventriglio. "Legislative provisions related to marriage and divorce of persons with
mental health problems: a global review." International Review of Psychiatry 28, no. 4 (2016):
386-392.
Brooks, Ann. Gendered work in Asian cities: The new economy and changing labour markets.
Routledge, 2016.
Chakraborty, Lekha. Asia: A survey of gender budgeting efforts. International Monetary Fund,
2016.
Fresnoza-Flot, Asuncion, and Kyoko Shinozaki. "Transnational perspectives on intersecting
experiences: gender, social class and generation among Southeast Asian migrants and their
families." Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies 43, no. 6 (2017): 867-884.
Islam, M. Rezaul, and Stefan Cojocaru. "Migrant domestic workers in Asia: Transnational
variations and policy concerns." International Migration 54, no. 1 (2016): 48-63.
Li, Rebecca Y. Hei, and Wang Ivy Wong. "Gender-typed play and social abilities in boys and
girls: Are they related?." Sex Roles 74, no. 9-10 (2016): 399-410.
Liu, Mingnan, and Yichen Wang. "Interviewer gender effect on acquiescent response style in 11
Asian countries and societies." Field Methods 28, no. 4 (2016): 327-344.
Low, Daniel CM, Helen Roberts, and Rosalind H. Whiting. "Board gender diversity and firm
performance: Empirical evidence from Hong Kong, South Korea, Malaysia and
Singapore." Pacific-Basin Finance Journal 35 (2015): 381-401.

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GENDER ISSUES IN ASIAN STUDIES
Morley, Louise, and Barbara Crossouard. "Women's leadership in the Asian Century: does
expansion mean inclusion?." Studies in Higher Education 41, no. 5 (2016): 801-814.
Noland, Marcus, Tyler Moran, and Barbara R. Kotschwar. "Is gender diversity profitable?
Evidence from a global survey." Peterson Institute for International Economics Working
Paper16-3 (2016).