Competitive excellence sets contemporary Asian women apart. In a world that still struggles on gender equality, women have been forthright on pursuing their ambitions beyond the traditional confines of domestication. This advocacy eventually transformed a conservative patriarchal cultural mind frame, to one more tolerant of women pursuing an educational degree and a career comparable to their male counterparts. With a steadfast resolve for equality, the gender roles have dramatically changed in recent years.

Today, we are introduced to women beyond beauty and sexual leisure. We see the quality of their faculty put into good use. We see them outside household responsibilities and submissiveness. Instead, we see an admirable determination and resolve to pursue their
personal ambitions. We see independent and empowered women with a passion to succeed. We finally recognize the qualities of women that set them at par perhaps beyond their counterparts. As the world welcomes the 21st century, society finally bears witness on what real Asian women are made of.

However, not every Asian woman is fortunate enough to have the opportunity to explore beyond the confines of tradition. Many continue to struggle within a rigid patriarchal environment, mostly behind a burkha. With the limitations imposed by such tradition, the deviants become a victim of repression and abuse. Such practice while safeguards tradition, have led women to reconsider
change within a minimal degree of empowerment. It is most unfortunate that we continue to witness the travesty of a scar behind the veil.

Yet there are women who have shown and continue to prove women’s resiliency and fortitude in the face of adversity. A notable political figure in Burma, Aung San Suu Kyi is the leader of the National League for Democracy partylist. While she has the advantage of having politically influential parents, she has independently made her mark in Burmese history. Her landslide victory as Prime Minister led to her house arrest by the reigning military junta government. Yet in spite of her situation, she won the Nobel prize for her literary work in 1991 and continues to effectively perform her role as the partylist leader. More importantly, she has maintained her status as a dignified political figure respected not only by the Burmese people but likewise around the world.

Aung San Suu Kyi epitomizes the Asian woman of today. She embodies a character that vindicates the competence of Asian women not only in surpassing traditional roles but more importantly, the aptitude to excel irrespective of the challenge imposed by circumstance.

Indeed, the Asian women of today have proven their worth amidst the challenge of masculine domination. Yet it has been a journey which bears the scar of repression and mockery. With the hovering predicament on gender inequality, Asian women have learned to uphold their conviction and embrace reality with competitive excellence.

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