Gender Equality and Traditional Views in Southeast Asia
A recent global study has highlighted the complex attitudes towards gender roles in several Asian countries, particularly in Malaysia and Indonesia. The research, conducted by Ipsos and the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership at King’s College London, surveyed over 23,000 individuals from various nations, including Singapore, India, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Brazil. The findings reveal that traditional views on women’s roles persist in some regions, despite efforts to promote gender equality.
In Malaysia and Indonesia, a significant percentage of respondents agreed with the idea that “a wife should always obey her husband.” Specifically, 66% of Indonesian respondents and 60% of Malaysian respondents supported this view, which was the highest among the 29 countries surveyed. Additionally, when asked about whether husbands should have the final say on major household decisions, 67% of Indonesians and 58% of Malaysians agreed.
These results reflect deep-rooted cultural norms and customs, often influenced by Islamic teachings. Mohd Faizal Musa, a research fellow at the Institute of the Malay World and Civilisation at the National University of Malaysia, explained that Southeast Asian societies are complex and cannot be understood through a single narrative. He pointed to the adat perpatih system in Malaysia, a customary practice guided by Islam that emphasizes matrilineality and prioritizes women.
Melissa Yoong, an associate professor in sociolinguistics at the University of Nottingham, Malaysia, noted that while both countries remain attached to traditional male roles, they may view female progression in careers and leadership roles more positively. She emphasized that gender equality policies have largely focused on women’s economic empowerment, with less attention given to reshaping views about men’s roles and gender relations through social and legal reforms.
Malaysia has launched a national initiative aimed at equipping at least 100,000 women with skills and opportunities beyond 2030, aligning with its goal to increase female labor force participation. The initiative also plans to promote childcare-friendly practices. Similarly, Indonesia aims to raise its female labor force participation rate to 70% by 2045, up from about 56% in 2024. The country has launched a roadmap leading up to 2045, addressing issues such as childcare services and maternity protection.
Yoong suggested that these policies could lead to a more positive perception of women’s pursuit of careers and leadership roles. However, the study also revealed unexpected results in Japan and South Korea, where only 7% and 9% of respondents, respectively, agreed that women should obey their husbands.
Kyung Hee Ha, an ethnographer and assistant professor at North Carolina State University, noted that individual views in Japan and South Korea often diverge from systemic patriarchy. Both countries ranked low in the World Economic Forum’s Gender Gap Index, with Japan scoring poorly in political and economic participation. Despite this, Ha observed that personal views do not always align with societal norms.
Feminism backlash
Observers suggest that economic uncertainty and institutional rules, such as military service, might contribute to the reluctance of many males in Asia to support the feminist movement. This phenomenon is not unique to Asia but is seen globally. According to the study, 57% of Gen Z males agreed that men were being discriminated against amid the promotion of gender equality.
Yoong explained that the young generation came of age during a period when gender equality appeared to have been achieved in many countries, leading to feminism being perceived as unnecessary or even unfair. As a result, some young men who feel left behind by institutions and socioeconomic changes may blame feminism for their struggles and be drawn to calls for a return to traditional gender norms and family values.
In Singapore, 64% of respondents across all age groups agreed that efforts to give women equal rights with men “have gone far enough,” above the global average of 52%. This conservatism is often tied to state-institutionalised masculine norms that link male identity to service and stoicism, such as national service.
According to the Singaporean research team Campus Sexual Misconduct in a Digital Age, these norms lead to gender equality being viewed as a zero-sum game and a “systemic betrayal.” The team noted that male grievance is often displaced onto women, sustaining a zero-sum framework that legitimises gender-based violence.
Women may also be perceived as threats to existing power structures when individuals feel uncertain about their future and opportunities. However, this perspective misunderstands rights as a zero-sum game, which they are not.
