Male And Female In Developing South East Asia

Examines Western perceptions of gender relations in Southeast Asia, highlighting the area's ethnic and cultural variance and showing how women and men explain the informal and psychological dimension of relationships as vital in holding family, neighbourho

This provocative book seeks to redress inaccuracies in Western perceptions of gender relations in Southeast Asia by bringing to the fore the area's ethnic and cultural variance and showing how women and men explain the informal and psychological dimensions of relationships as vital in holding family, neighbourhood and kinship ties together. Although there are differences between male and female perceptions of sex roles in society, women perceive their situation as disadvantaged rather than less significant. Male-female interpretations of power and status tend to converge usually towards the understanding that the contributions of men and women are equally important in the formation of family and society.

As a region, Southeast Asia has undergone enormous economic and social changes in the last few decades. Women as a collective have seen their lives transformed as a result of rapid development and economic growth. In exploring the progress made by Southeast Asian men and women, this book seeks to answer the following questions: (a) In what areas have women been able to achieve parity with men? (b) In what areas do women encounter specific disadvantages based on their gender as compared with men? and (c) How have womens concerns and problems been addressed by the governments in this region with the aim of encouraging gender equality? As the title of this book suggests, the chapters provide an analysis of the broad trends - including changes and continuities - in the experiences, interests and concerns of Southeast Asian women. The chapters examine the trends related to women in the following arenas: the family, economic participation, politics, health, and religion. In some arenas, the trends reflect the disadvantages women face, which in turn have led to gender gaps; in other areas, women's progress has been found to eclipse that of the men, although this tends to be the exception.

Achieving gender equality and tackling discriminatory laws, social norms and practices set a direct path toward a more inclusive economy and society. The SIGI 2021 Regional Report for Southeast Asia provides new evidence-based analysis on the setbacks and progress in achieving gender equality between 2014 and 2019 in 11 countries.

The 11 countries (Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore, Timor, Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei) of Southeast Asia include over 600 million people. Despite great linguistic and cultural diversity, the region is characterized by the relatively favorable position of women in comparison with neighboring East Asia or South Asia. The position of women in Southeast Asia is often cited as evidence that women are not universally subjugated to men. In the context of women's status, this book examines the social system in Southeast Asia during the pre-colonial, colonial, and modern periods. The book first explains the geography of the region and describes the role of women in relation to men. Further chapters are devoted to the individual countries of the region. The book also includes two appendices: one describing the eminent women who have influenced the social, political, and cultural lives of Southeast Asia; and the other narrating the harrowing tales of comfort stations run by the Japanese Imperial Forces during the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945) and the Pacific War/World War II (1941-1945). [Subject: Southeast Asian Studies, Sociology, Women's Studies, Gender Studies, History]

Transforming Gender and Development in East Asia brings together a collection of original essays from top scholars in the United States and Asia to explore the centrality of gender in the process of economic development in East Asia. Contributors demonstrate through ethnography, personal narratives, field observation, and in-depth interviews the essential parts women have played in the national growth, economic restructuring, and industrialization of East Asian countries, including South Korea, Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, and China.