On Tuesday evening, during a meeting with one of my Korean students, I found myself reflecting on the cultural and traditional roles of women in some Asian countries.
When I scheduled our meeting for 5 pm, she asked if I needed time to prepare dinner. I replied that I didn't, as my husband handles the cooking. She was surprised, as most husbands in Korea don't do housework.
I mentioned that I encourage my son to pitch in at home and am glad to see that he does it. She responded that in Korea, a mother-in-law would be upset if she saw her son doing housework. Typically, the mother-in-law and her son sit in the living room chatting while the wife does all the chores.
This conversation reminded me of my Indian student, who told me that she handled all the household tasks while her parents-in-law and husband never lifted a finger.
I explained to my student that traditionally, Asian countries are quite patriarchal, assigning women subservient roles within the family and society. Women are expected to take care of all domestic responsibilities, such as cooking, cleaning, and childcare.
However, women in modern China, due to the revolution, have shed many of the old traditions that discriminated against them. Mao's famous saying, 妇女能顶半边天 (fùnǚ néng dǐng bànbiāntiān), meaning "Women hold up half the sky," recognizes the importance and strength of women in society and empowers them to fight for equal rights. It emphasizes gender equality and the vital roles women play in all aspects of life, including work, family, and community.
Culturally, Chinese women have made tremendous progress in achieving equal rights. However, politically, I would say, baby, you've come a long way but still have a long way to go. So far, China has not seen a female state leader like Park Geun-hye, former president of South Korea, or Pratibha Patil, former president of India.
Finally, reflecting on these conversations, it's clear that while cultural norms and expectations regarding gender roles vary widely across Asian countries, there is a shared history of patriarchy that continues impacting women today.
The journey towards gender equality is ongoing, and as the famous saying goes, "Women hold up half the sky"—a testament to their enduring strength and indispensable contributions to society. Indeed, baby, you've come a long way, but there's still further to go.