Memo #277
By Timothy S. Rich – timothy.rich [at] wku.edu
Political life in Asian countries is often characterized as a man’s world, especially compared to its Western counterparts. Yet we have also seen increasing political leadership opportunities for women in the region. Since 2000 alone, women have been elected prime minister in Bangladesh and Thailand, and elected president in the Philippines, Indonesia, and South Korea. Yet, despite increases in the region’s number of female heads of government (surpassed only by Europe), their successes are not necessarily representative of burgeoning political opportunities for all women.
A striking characteristic among many of Asia’s female presidents and prime ministers is their familial connections to dominant male figures from previous elections or the democracy movement. From India and Sri Lanka (e.g. Indira Gandhi, Srimavo Bandaranaike) to the Philippines and Indonesia (e.g. Corazon Aquino, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Megawati Sukarnoputri), pedigree appears as the primary means of breaking the glass ceiling. One must question whether supporters identify a distinct policy from these leaders. For example, despite claims to the contrary, Yingluck Shinawatra of Thailand remains framed by supporters and opponents alike as a proxy to her brother Thaksin Shinawatra, ousted in a coup in 2006. Similarly, coverage of Park Geun Hye’s victory largely focused on the legacy of her father Park Chung Hee’s authoritarian rule.
These cases highlight a paradox: an increasing number of women with familial ties in office while opportunities for other women remain rare. For example, according to data from the Interparliamentary Union (IPU), women only comprise roughly fourteen percent of lower house legislature seats in Asia’s democracies labeled “free” by Freedom House, half the rate of European democracies. While quotas increase female representation, until parties actively recruit women for lower level offices as a means of gaining experience, cracks in the glass ceiling will be limited.
About the Author:
Timothy S. Rich is an assistant professor of political science at Western Kentucky University. His research focuses on electoral politics in South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan.
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Park Geun Hye, president of South Korea since 2012 and daughter of the former South Korean dictator Park Chung Hee.
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Links:
- Timothy S. Rich, “Breaking the Glass Ceiling: Female Presidential Hopefuls in East Asia,” Ballots and Bullets, 2011
- Farida Jalalzai and Mona Lena Krook, “Beyond Hillary and Benazir: Women’s Political Leadership Worldwide,” International Political Science Review 31(1), 2010
- Mark R. Thompson, “Female Leadership of Democratic Transitions in Asia,” Pacific Affairs 75(4), 2002/2003
- Inter-Parliamentary Union, “Women in National Parliaments,” 2013
- Kazuki Iwanaga (ed.), Women’s Political Participation in Asia: Obstacles and Challenges, University of Hawai‘i Press, 2008
Related Memos:
See our other memos on Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, South Korea, and Thailand.
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