Women leaders of Asia

Women leaders of Korea are writing a new history of party politics as they have become chairpersons of all the major parties. The political tide of men has undergone a transformation into that of women involving not only their participating but their leading. Similar changes can be found in Asia everywhere.

Some entered politics in their younger days and joined elite groups early while some grew as political figures leading democratization and NGO activities. Some became presidents or prime ministers taking over their family members such as father, husband or brother.

The Middle East, known as a region of restricting women’s rights also saw women leaders’ public appearances. Of course, limitation and glass ceiling still exist but women’s entering into the world of men itself is a prelude to change. AsiaN has gathered contemporary women leaders of Asia.

Deputy Mayor of Beijing and First Vice-Premier Wu yi, Governor of Qinghai Province Song xiuyan and Vice Chairperson of standing committee of National People’s Congress Chen zhili are regarded as representative women leaders of China.

Wu yi(吴仪)/ China
First Vice-Premier and often called as ‘the Iron Lady’. After graduating from the Petroleum Refinery department at the Beijing Petroleum Institute(currently called China University of Petroleum (中国石油大学) in 1962, worked for 26 years as a petroleum technician. Elected deputy mayor of Beijing in 1988 and appointed Vice Premier of the State Council in 2003. Forbes considered her world’s second most powerful woman in a row in 2004 and 2005(first was Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel). Visited the USA as a leader of the trade representatives when US-Chinese relations were under strain after the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989. Headed China’s entry into the World Trade Organization, war against the SARS crisis in 2003 and a bid for Shanghai Expo in 2010. Never married and her success is often compared to those with powerful husbands.

Song xiuyan(宋秀岩)/China
China’s second female governor (first was Gu Xiulian, Governor of Jiangsu in 1983). Born in 1955 and currently the Vice-Chairman of the All-China Women’s Federation. After a long career in the provincial government of Qinghai, elected as Governor of the province in 2005. North Korea officially announced Kim Jong-un as the successor when she visited the country in November 2010.

 Chen Zhili(陈至立)/China
China’s first Minister of Education. Currently serves as Vice Chairperson of Standing Committee of National People’s Congress, Vice Chairperson of organization commission of 29^th Olympic Games and the Governor of Beijing Olympic Village. Born in 1942 and concentrated on her career as a scholar until 1982 after graduating from department of physics at Fudan University. Served long time in Shanghai including Secretary of Science and Technology Work Committee of CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee and Head of Publicity Department of CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee. Attracted attention when she introduced illiteracy elimination project and compulsory education for 9 years.

India, Indonesia, the Philippines and Sri Lanka have had women presidents. In Thailand, Yingluck Shinawatra has become Prime Minister on her brother’s coat-tails and in Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina Wazed has become Prime Minister on her father’s coat-tails whereas Begum Khaleda Zia on her husband’s coat-tails. Burma’s democracy icon Aung Sang Suu Kyi is preparing for an election after the 20-year house arrest.

Sheikh Hasina Wazed / Bangladesh
Born in 1947. Lost her father, mother and three brothers in a coup in 1975 and lived in exile until 1981. Returned to Bangladesh as the President of the Bangladesh Awami League. The eldest of five children of Sheikh Mujibar Rahman, the Founding Father and first President of Bangladesh. Elected Prime Minister twice in 1996 and 2008.

 Begum Khaleda Zia / Bangladesh
Former First Lady of Bangladesh and then Prime Minister, becoming the first woman in the country and second in the Muslim world, only after Benazir Bhutto of Pakistan. After President Ziaur Rahman was assassinated in 1981, she led her husband’s party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party. Became Bangladesh’s first female Prime Minister in 1991 and then re-elected in 2001.  

 Aung San Suu Kyi / Burma
A democracy icon of Burma. General Secretary of the National League for Democracy. On 8 August 1988 (known as the 8888 Uprising), mass demonstrations for democracy were violently suppressed and she came to the front line of Burmese politics. Her NLD won the 1990 election by a landslide but the military junta nullified the result. Placed under house arrest in 1989 until 2010. Received Rafto Prize and Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought in 1990 and Nobel Prize in 1991.

Sonia Gandhi / India
Born in Italy in 1946. Widow of former Prime Minister of India Rajiv Gandhi, daughter-in-law of the Third Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi and granddaughter-in-law of the First Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru. Officially took charge of the Congress Party in 1988 and was elected to parliament in elections in 1999. Currently serving as the President of the Indian National Congress.

 Pratibha Patil / India
India’s first woman president elected in 2007. Started her career as a lawyer and became first female Governor of Rajasthan. India follows a parliamentary system and the President of India is the head of state whereas the Prime Minister of India has actual authorities.

 Megawati Sukarnoputri / Indonesia
Indonesia’s first female President and daughter of former President Sukarno. After serving as Vice President under Abdurrahman Wahid, she became President when Wahid was removed from office in 2001. Currently, leader of the opposition party PDI-P.

 Wan Azizah Wan Ismail / Malaysia
Currently the President of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (People’s Justice Party) and was the Member of Parliament for Permatang Pauh from 1999 to 2008. Served as a doctor for 14 years and entered politics following dismissal and arrest of her husband in 1988.

 Gloria Macapagal Arroyo / the Philippines
The 14^th President of the Philippines from 2001 to 2010. Second female president after Corazon Aquino and the daughter of former President Diosdado Macapagal. After Joseph Estrada was accused of corruption and forced from office in 2001, she was sworn into the presidency. Currently a member of the House of Representatives representing the 2^nd District of Pampanga.

 Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga / Sri Lanka
The 4^th President of Sri Lanka from 1994 to 2005. Her father S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike assassinated in 1959 was Prime Minister and her mother Sirimavo Bandaranaike was the world’s first female Prime Minister in 1960. Lost her right vision in an assassination attempt by the separatist Tamil Tigers in 1999.

 Yingluck Shinawatra / Thailand
Thailand’s first female Prime Minister and younger sister of former Prime Minister of Thailand Thaksin Shinawatra. The Pheu Thai Party which maintained close ties to Thaksin nominated her as their candidate for Prime Minister in May 2011 and the Party won a landslide victory. King Bhumibol Adulydej appointed her on 8 August and the proclamation on her appointment took retroactive effect from 5 August.

In the Middle East, professional women such as a lawyer and a journalist have entered politics. Some of their ferocious struggles led them to receive Nobel Peace Prizes.

Shirin Ebadi / Iran
An Irnian lawyer and a human rights activist. The first ever Iranian and the first Muslim woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003. Made determined efforts for democracy and human rights, especially women’s, children’s and refugee rights. Lived in Tehran but has been in exile in the UK since 2009 due to persecution of Iranian citizens who are critical of the current regime. Was listed by Forbes as one of the 100 most powerful women in the world in 2004. Called as a potential presidential candidate.

Tawakel Karman / Yemen
Born in 1979 and the youngest Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. Gained prominence during the 2011 Yemeni Uprising and called by the Yemenis the “Iron Woman” and “Mother of the Revolution”. A journalist, a politician and a human rights activist leading “Women Journalists Without Chains”. Directed the Yemeni protests calling for the end of President Ali Abdullah Saleh’s regime.  

 Amat Al Alim Alsoswa / Yemen
Yemen’s first woman journalist, first woman TV programme deputy director, first woman undersecretary for Ministry of Information, first woman ambassador to the Netherlands and first woman minister for Human Rights.

 Haya Rashed Al Khalifa / Bahrain
First Muslim woman to become the President of the 61^st session of the United Nations General Assembly. One of the first two women in Bahrain to practice law and Vice Chairperson of the International Bar Association from 1997 to 1999. First female Bahraini ambassador to France and a member of the ruling Al Khalifa family of Bahrain.

 Najah al-Attar / Syria
The first woman Vice President of Syria and the Arab world. Obtained PhD in Arabic literature from the University of Edinburgh in the UK. Worked in the Department of Translation of Ministry of Culture and later appointed as Minister of Culture. Syria is largely controlled by the Baath Party and her brother Isam al-Attar, leader of the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood has lived in exile in Germany.

In Korea, women have been elected as chairpersons of all major parties, first time ever in history.

Park Geun-hye / Korea
Head of the conservative Grand National Party and daughter of former President Park Chung-hee. Tried to emulate her father’s success by becoming the nominee for the Grand National Party for the 2007 presidential election but lost to Lee Myung-bak (current President of Korea) by a narrow margin. One of the top candidates for 2012 presidential election.  

 Han Myeong-sook / Korea
First female Prime Minister of Korea and since 15 January 2012, leader of the main opposition party, DUP (Democratic United Party). First female candidate for Seoul Mayor’s election in 2010 and narrowly defeated by Oh Se-hoon of the Grand National Party. Started her career as civil movement activist and then entered politics in 2000. Served as Minister of Gender Equality and Minister of Environment.  

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