South asian women

The evolution and history of women in Asia coincide with the evolution and history of Asian continent itself. They also correspond with the cultures that developed within the region. Due to the patriarchal nature of traditional Armenian culture and society, [1] women in Armenia are often expected to be virtuous and submissive, to safeguard their virginity until marriage, and assume primarily domestic tasks. Women in Cambodia, sometimes referred to as Khmer women , are supposed to be modest, soft-spoken, "light" walkers, well-mannered, [3] industrious, [4] belong to the household, act as the family's caregivers and caretakers [3] and financial comptrollers, [4] perform as the "preserver of the home", maintain their virginity until marriage, become faithful wives, [3] and act as advisors and servants to their husbands. Throughout the history of Persia, Persian women presently known as women in Iran , like Persian men, used make-up, wore jewellery and coloured their body parts.

The 11 countries of Southeast Asia include over million people. Despite great linguistic and cultural diversity, the region is characterized by the relatively favorable position of women in comparison with neighboring East or South Asia. Over time, however, the rise of centralized states and the spread of imported philosophies and religions Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism, Islam, and Christianity increasingly privileged males and stressed female subordination. Although such influences were most noticeable among the elite, the strength of local traditions was always a moderating force. By the s the entire region except for Siam Thailand was under European control. In some areas women were recruited as cheap wage labor on plantations tea, sugar, tobacco, rubber and in processing factories.

If the girl child manages to overcome health issues and gets a basic education, it is unlikely she will escape child marriage — in the region, 1 in 2 girls are married before the age of Bangladesh has the highest rate of child marriage at 52 percent, followed by India at 47 percent, Nepal at 37 percent, and Afghanistan at 33 percent. Although Bhutan is a middle-income country, it still has a high rate of women giving birth before the age of Huge disparities by region, caste, class, and income affect the use of maternal and child health services in South Asia. The young age at which many girls first become pregnant — combined with their poor education, inadequate decision-making power and poor control over resources — means that many enter pregnancy ill-equipped to support healthy foetal growth and subsequently raise a healthy child.

We asked them about their struggles, where they derive their strength from, and what challenges they face. A society where women are no longer economically dependent on men, are aware of their rights and remain unharmed from domestic and social violence. At the Mother Camp of Mother Trust Organization MTO , I see scores of men undone by drug addiction, who have lost everything but still have the courage to better themselves. I draw strength from that resilience every day.