Asia

Negative Representation

• In TV and film, women are submissive accessories to men, due to the intrinsic importance of upkeeping traditional family values, strict gender roles, and the influence of Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, and Buddhism. • Women who display individual agency threaten their family's honour.

Positive Representation

• Caramel - film directed by Nadine Labaki from Lebanon. A beauty salon in Beirut becomes a safe haven for women to question marriage, ambitions, and sexual identity. Good female representation is able to transcend cultural differences. • Little Women - TV show directed by Kim Hee-Won from South Korea. The K-drama follows three sisters thrust into the possession of a large sum of money. The women are presented as independent from the supporting male characters.

Recent Positive Changes

• Female directors from Palestine, India, Malaysia, and Uzbekistan are being recognised and rewarded for their films at the Venice Film Festival, Mumbai Festival and Doha Film Institute. • Greater global exposure through Netflix and Amazon (K-dramas have seen particular success).

Barriers To Change

• Films directed or created by women suffer from underfunding, with Asian societies believing that only male centred movies sell. • Religious and cultural beliefs fuel sexism and ageism among female actors and directors, discouraging them. • Asia can't be generalised. Thailand and the Philippines are more progressive that India and Uzbekistan, predominantly due to cultural and religious differences.

What More Needs To Be Done?

• More training opportunities need to be provided to increase the number of women working as sound mixers and technicians, particularly in the Middle East. • Encouragement of female directors will prevent over-sexualisation of women and the male gaze, deconstructing current rigid societal norms. • In the Philippines, encouraging women to direct films and shows other than comedy which often only include female characters with limited depth.

TV & Film Recommendations

• Caramel - film directed by Nadine Labaki from Lebanon. The film revolves around the lives of 5 Lebanese women and their struggles to overcome religious and social obstacles. • Parched - film directed by Leena Yadav from India. The film follows 4 women in Gujarat as they discuss men, sex, and life. • Crazy Rich Asians - screenplay written by Adele Lim from Malaysia. The film follows a professor and her boyfriend as she meets his family and discovers his fortunes. • 40 Days of Silence - directed by Saodat Ismailova from Uzbekistan. This film follows the story of four women in Central Asia during key moments of their lives. • Little Women - directed by Kim Hee-Won from South Korea. This TV show follows sisters as they become embroiled in a major incident and face off against the wealthiest family in the nation.

Click on the posters below to learn more about these films and TV shows