This Asia Pacific Development and Security theme explores how socio-cultural norms interact with the perceptions of equitable and just development in the Asia Pacific Region. How gender equality can be achieved is an important research issue. Key projects are outlined below.
Women’s Economic Empowerment in Indonesia
Minako Sakai, Amelia Fauzia and Felix Tan are researching how emergent IT and social media foster Muslim women’s participation in economic activities, with a focus on Muslim women in Indonesia. Islam and local culture affects the construction of gender relations and patriarchy, and accommodating unique socio-cultural contexts is a key for women’s empowerment and wellbeing. This is explored in Narratives of Muslim Womanhood and Women’s Agency. Our research shows that gradual changes in gender relations are also facilitating religious and cultural tolerance.
Challenging Patriarchy in Asia and Pacific
Sarah Cooke, Jan Breckenridge, Louise Edwards, Felix Tan, Amelia Fauzia and Minako Sakai are investigating how women’s economic empowerment challenge and reconfigure patriarchy, gender roles and gendered violence in the Asia Pacific region.
Gender Inclusivity and Social Policy in the Asia Pacific
Minako Sakai, Juel Kutub and Farhat Hamid are studying how gender inclusivity in social development policies can be achieved through case studies of Bangladesh, Indonesia and Malaysia.
Crowd Funding and Religious Pluralism in Indonesia
Minako Sakai and Bhirawa Anoraga are exploring how the use of new media including crowdfunding are contributing to foster religious tolerance in contemporary Indonesia.
Religion and Women’s Rights in Lebanon
Nelia Hyndman-Rizk has published a monograph, Lebanese Women at the Crossroads, in which she explores the intersection between women’s rights and Lebanon’s confessional political and legal system.