Bridging the Gender Gap: Socio-economic Pathways to Employment Equality in Asia

Year 2025, Volume: 10 Issue: 1, 10 - 23, 30.06.2025

Meltem Ince Yenilmez , Burak Darıcı

Abstract

With significant inequalities between men and women, gender inequality in the workplace remains a significant issue in Asia. The employment-to-population ratio for women was only 44.7% in 2024, compared to an average of 73.5% for men. With women's participation at 24.5% and men's at 75.3%, South Asia is the most unequal area. In East and Southeast Asia, female employment rates are higher at 61.2% and 55.8%, respectively, but they are still below the male participation rate of more than 77%. Among the primary barriers are cultural customs, a subpar childcare system, and limited access to formal education and employment. In South Asia, these disparities perpetuate poverty and inequality, while in East and Southeast Asia, salary gaps and underrepresentation in leadership positions obstruct inclusive progress. Between 2014 and 2024, with fixed effects panel data regression approach, urbanization, education, economic expansion, and foreign direct investment (FDI) all had a significant role in advancing gender equality. For example, although East Asia has benefited from urbanization and improved education, South Asia continues to face major structural and cultural obstacles. Despite slight improvements, women continue to be overrepresented in informal and insecure jobs, which furthers economic inequality. Addressing these issues requires expanding education, strengthening childcare systems, enhancing access to financing for female entrepreneurs, and enforcing laws on equal pay. Closing the gender gap is not only morally right but also economically important to support inclusive growth and long-term regional prosperity.

Keywords

Gender disparity, Employment-to-population ratio, Cultural barriers

Cinsiyet Uçurumunun Azaltılması: Asya'da İstihdam Eşitliğine Giden Sosyoekonomik Yollar

Abstract

Erkekler ve kadınlar arasındaki önemli eşitsizliklerle birlikte, iş yerindeki cinsiyet eşitsizliği Asya'da önemli bir sorun olmaya devam etmektedir. Kadınlar için istihdamın nüfusa oranı 2024 yılında sadece %44,7 iken, bu oran erkekler için ortalama %73,5'tir. Kadınların istihdama katılımının %24,5, erkeklerin katılımının ise %75,3 olduğu Güney Asya, en eşitsiz bölgedir. Doğu ve Güneydoğu Asya'da kadın istihdam oranları sırasıyla %61,2 ve %55,8 ile daha yüksektir, ancak yine de %77'yi aşan erkek katılım oranının altındadır. Başlıca engeller arasında kültürel gelenekler, yetersiz çocuk bakım sistemi ve örgün eğitim ve istihdama sınırlı erişim yer almaktadır. Güney Asya'da bu eşitsizlikler yoksulluk ve eşitsizliği sürdürürken, Doğu ve Güneydoğu Asya'da maaş farklılıkları ve liderlik pozisyonlarında yetersiz temsil kapsayıcı ilerlemeyi engellemektedir. 2014 ve 2024 yılları arasında, sabit etkiler panel veri regresyon yaklaşımı ile, kentleşme, eğitim, ekonomik genişleme ve doğrudan yabancı yatırım (DYY) toplumsal cinsiyet eşitliğinin ilerletilmesinde önemli bir rol oynamıştır. Örneğin, Doğu Asya kentleşme ve eğitimdeki iyileşmeden faydalanmış olsa da, Güney Asya büyük yapısal ve kültürel engellerle karşılaşmaya devam etmektedir. Küçük iyileşmelere rağmen, kadınlar kayıt dışı ve güvencesiz işlerde aşırı temsil edilmeye devam etmekte, bu da ekonomik eşitsizliği artırmaktadır. Bu sorunların ele alınması için eğitimin yaygınlaştırılması, çocuk bakım sistemlerinin güçlendirilmesi, kadın girişimcilerin finansmana erişiminin artırılması ve eşit ücret yasalarının uygulanması gerekmektedir. Toplumsal cinsiyet uçurumunun kapatılması sadece ahlaki açıdan doğru değil, aynı zamanda kapsayıcı büyümeyi ve uzun vadeli bölgesel refahı desteklemek için ekonomik açıdan da önemlidir.

Keywords

Cinsiyet eşitsizliği, İstihdamın nüfusa oranı, Kültürel engeller

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