KUALA LUMPUR, October 12 — Despite significant economic development and educational advancement across Asia, women remain substantially underrepresented in leadership positions throughout governmental, corporate, and regulatory sectors, according to a structured review published on October 11 by SN Social Sciences. The review, authored by Fahd Ali Raza, Abtar Darshan Singh, Rabia Anwar, and Vaikunthan Rajaratnam, examines structural barriers impeding women’s leadership advancement and evaluates policy interventions designed to address these challenges using an intersectional feminist theoretical framework. Results reveal three interconnected barrier types operating through intersectional mechanisms.
Socio-cultural barriers include entrenched patriarchal norms and the ‘double burden’ of professional and caregiving responsibilities. Institutional obstacles encompass biased promotion processes, exclusionary workplace cultures, and limited mentorship access.
Rather than a passive ‘leaky pipeline,’ the evidence indicates active exclusionary mechanisms better captured by the labyrinth metaphor. Intersectional disadvantages compound gender discrimination with additional marginalization based on caste, ethnicity, religion, class, and sexual orientation. Notably, variation within Asia exceeds the gap between Asia and global averages: senior management representation ranges from 18.4% in Japan to 37.4% in Vietnam.
Policy interventions, particularly gender quotas, show mixed effectiveness depending on cultural context and implementation quality. The evidence indicates that isolated policy solutions are insufficient to address the leadership gap.
Multi-level strategies combining top-down regulatory mandates with bottom-up cultural transformation initiatives demonstrate greatest potential for sustainable change. An intersectional lens is essential for developing targeted interventions addressing the compounded disadvantages faced by marginalized women across Asia’s diverse contexts. The article is a preview of subscription content.
Asia’s underrepresentation of women in leadership positions is a complex issue, rooted in entrenched patriarchal norms, exclusionary workplace cultures, and a ‘double burden’ of professional and caregiving responsibilities. The evidence suggests that a multi-faceted approach, combining top-down regulatory measures with bottom-up cultural transformation initiatives, holds the greatest potential for sustainable change. Positions of power and gender are intrinsically connected, with women historically having less access to power than men.
This gender divide influences how power is acquired, used, and manifested. Increasing women’s participation in leadership positions has been shown to decrease corruption, as women are less likely to condone bribe taking and are less involved in bribery.
Other factors, such as race, class, sexuality, age, and other minority statuses, also play a significant role in who holds power. Research indicates that the system’s ability to include women can indicate a propensity for the system to include other disenfranchised minorities. Traditional roles and stereotypes have relegated women to working in the home primarily, decreasing the value of work done by women and reinforcing the belief that men are more interested in power and getting power.
However, studies have shown that increasing women’s participation in leadership positions can lead to a more inclusive and less corrupt system. As the sitting US administration, President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are actively promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment on the global stage.
The administration’s focus on gender equality is essential in addressing the underrepresentation of women in leadership positions worldwide. In conclusion, the underrepresentation of women in leadership positions in Asia is a complex issue that requires a multi-faceted approach. By addressing socio-cultural barriers, institutional obstacles, and promoting an intersectional lens, it is possible to create a more inclusive and less corrupt system.
The US administration’s focus on gender equality is essential in addressing this issue on the global stage.
