An introduction to the status and role of women in Southeast Asia through history.
It is a well-known story that Chinese travellers were amazed when in what is now Southern Vietnam to see Cham women riding horses and taking part in market vending. Those same travellers – most notably the diplomat Zhou Daguan, whose memoir tells us so much about life in the Khmer Empire – were also surprised to see the high status which women enjoyed in Southeast Asia. In nearly all of the states of that region, women have had more freedom to organise and control their own lives more than in many other parts of the world. That does not mean that they had equality with men, of course or that they were not oppressed in certain circumstances. However, sexual freedom and the opportunity to work outside the house were much more likely to be found in this area than in most others. The many legends of female warriors support this idea, as also do the various myths and folk tales of strong women taking the lead which are to be found. Even in Chinese literature, when women have this kind of power and ability, they are generally considered to be ‘Southern’ or in some other way removed from the Chinese heartland. The Yueh sword maidens, for example, combined the concept of a fighting woman of great beauty who hailed from the area of Northern Vietnam and its neighbouring Chinese regions.
Within the Khmer Empire in particular, it was possible for women to ascend to high office and to administer government facilities and departments. In the time of Jayavarman VI, for example, the northern princess Tilaka was especially well-favoured: “Adolescent, she acquired not only the superior beauty associated with perfect conduct, but also a high position worthy of her race, with the esteem of the greatest families” (quoted in Briggs, The Ancient Khmer Empire, 1951, p.179). The nature of rice-paddy agriculture in the region promotes the independence of women as well, to some extent. While men work in the fields, women tend to stay at home and are occupied with domestic and childcare labour, as well as some craft activities which might in due course bring some additional income. Sharing childcare responsibilities enables some women to gather together in villages and, in addition to reinforcing social networks, they may also participate in some production activities. Village based factories provide status, income and purpose and they are important means of promoting rural regional development.
