Thursday, March 11, 2010

Status of Women in Asia


The status of women in Asia is one that, although it still has a long way to go, is improving gradually.


The number of women getting an education nowadays is a lot higher than it was 50 years ago, for example in 1950 in all of Asia 14% of girls aged 15 to 19 were enrolled in secondary school, a number that increased to a 26% by 1990.


Studies have also shown that the mortality rate of women in Asia has also dramatically improved, surpassing that of men. This probably implies that there are better health services available to women throughout Asia.


Another improvement of women's status in Asia is the fact that now better job oppurtunities are available for them, the number of women in the labour force has increased steadily, lets take Singapore as an example of women employed in industrialisation: in 1957 about 22% of women aged 15 ro 64 were employed, a number that rose to 55% by 1999.

Despite all this, we must bear in mind that the traditional Asian culture is based on a social hierarchy in which women are the lowest members. However one must be careful when saying that, in general, Asian countries are sexist because, although it may seem so in our Western eyes, for the people of these countries it is only natural for women to be treated so.


Sources:
http://www.eastwestcenter.org/fileadmin/stored/misc/FuturePop05Women.pdf


http://www.jobmonkey.com/teaching/asia/html/a_word_to_women.html


http://www.unescap.org/55/e1133e.htm

http://www.questia.com/read/105962107?title=Democracy%20and%20the%20Status%20of%20Women%20in%20East%20Asia

Also, take a look at this interesting video on how sexism affects modern women in China today: http://www.vidoemo.com/yvideo.php?i=QXgzZFJBcWuRpRWdvc1k&the-sexist-revolution-china=

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