Equating Gender : Explorations in the Asia-Pacific

The Asia-Pacific region shows great inter-regional and intra-regional divergence in gender equity. Most countries of Asia and the Pacific recognize equality between men and women as a matter of fundamental right and citizenship. Despite these formal and legal commitments, and the demonstrated benefits of gender equality to societies and economies, gender discrimination remains pervasive in the region. This book represents the emerging trends in inter-disciplinary research spanning nations and regions in the Asia-Pacific with the aim of achieving a regional theoretical perspective and a more balanced picture of the root causes of gender inequity in the region. The major theme explored in this book is that of gender dimension in development in the Asia-Pacific. It includes case studies from this region reflecting changing policy paradigms and their impact on gender equity, and revisiting the local and regional gender discourse heritage. It represents a cross section of current trends in gender research by serious scholars from India and abroad. Both important aspects of contemporary gender research, the collection of empirical evidence and incisive analysis of ground realities are addressed. Emerging issues of queer theory and transgender equity are also presented. The diversity of issues analyzed helps in presenting a comprehensive and interesting cross-sectional picture of the contemporary gender equity scenario in the Asia-Pacific region. [Subject: Gender Studies, Asia-Pacific Studies]