Gender in Southeast Asia / Mina Roces

"This Element examines gender in Southeast Asia by focusing on two main themes. The first concerns hegemonic cultural constructions of gender and Southeast Asian subjects' responses to these dominant discourses. Four sections are devoted to: first, discussing hegemonic discourses on ideal masculinities and ideal femininities; second, evaluating the impact of religion; third, analysing how authoritarian regimes fashion these ideals; and, fourth, explaining hegemonic ideals surrounding desire and sexualities and the way these are policed by society and the state. The second theme is on how hegemonic ideals influence the gendering of power and politics. I argue that because many Southeast Asians see power as being held by the kinship alliance group and not just the person in office, women are able to access political power through their ties with men -- as wives, mothers, daughters, sisters and even mistresses. Women's movements have challenged this androcentric division of power."--Back cover.