Often described as conservative, keen and traditionalists, Asian women have been trying to live and outlive those characteristics in line with their desire to be viewed either as someone bolder and more liberal, or downright graceful for keeping up with the standards that their ancestors had come to practice as far as centuries ago. Nonetheless, coming from that descent has given them the privilege to act in certain ways that, though at times eccentric, are almost always deemed acceptable simply because they are what they are. Chinese women, for instance, have been divided into what they may consider “wild” (even by simply wearing shorter skirts or sleeveless tops) and “pure” (demure and still acting in a way that their forebears did before). Though this may seem like a clash of differences, they had somehow learned to still get along- as most other Asians do.

In the Philippines, the Western influence has managed to contribute to the outfits of their women- from the traditional baro’t saya (blouse with matching long skirt reaching to their ankles) during the Spanish era, to the usual shorts and thong slippers of today. In the Middle East, women are still practicing the old ways of covering up their body- considering them sacred and only for their husbands’ eyes. Despite these differences, however, Asian women in general, have managed to be similar in one thing- that is, being more outspoken than ever. Think Aung San Suu Kyi of Myanmar and Corazon Aquino of the Philippines, Zhang Ziyi of China and Aishwarya Rai of India- these women has succeeded to conquer not only their own country, but the world as well, and they did this by managing to keep the balance between showing nationality and care for their country, while embracing the right of everyone, including women, to freedom of action and expression. And in summary, that is the Asian women of today- free.

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