Dossier

Masculinities in Asia

What About the Boys?

The political impact of constructions of masculinity has been on everyone's lips since Trump's re-election, if not before. But what is the situation in Asia?

Our contributions from India, Myanmar, Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia, China, and South Korea show

how ideals of masculinity influence (young) generations and even entire nations,
how men themselves suffer from hegemonic masculinity, and
how queer interventions and traditional Asian ideas can offer alternatives.

A shirtless person with short dark hair and closed eyes lies among dark green leaves. Visible tattoos include a stylized wing, a triangle, and text. — Image credits

India

Masculinities and the Making of the Indian Nation

Analysis

From freedom struggle to today’s politics, the story of India is also a story of men, power, and women’s rights.

By Urvashi Butalia

Myanmar

Group of soldiers in camouflage uniforms with rifles marching on sandy ground, trees in the background.

Between Power and Oppression: Masculinity in Myanmar is a Trap

Analysis

After the coup in Myanmar, the military junta has conscripted men as soldiers. Trapped between militarized power and unseen oppression, men struggle with trauma, fail their traditional provider roles, and are forced to replicate the unjustness they once resisted.

By Anonymous Author

Built-up hillside in morning light, clouds drifting through the valley, tall forested mountains in the background.

Researching Masculinity as an Ethnic Phenomenon in Myanmar

Analysis

Masculinity among the ethnic communities of Myanmar should not just be seen as biological or as a result of gender inequality. It is deeply rooted in a cultural and social framework that has shaped daily life for generations.

By Dr. Salai Vanni Bawi

Malaysia

Oppression, Expression, Liberation

By Bonnibel Rambatan

A colorful comic-style artwork explores gender roles and societal expectations. It contrasts childhood joy with imposed masculinity and militarism. Children play and interact, while scenes of violence, control, and authoritarian imagery unfold. Text in speech bubbles reflects on growing up with forced masculinity, witnessing violence, and questioning societal norms. The piece ends with a person outlined in red, marked as a “threat.” — Image credits

A vibrant comic-style artwork explores gender identity and liberation. A hand holds a magical wand. Butterflies and flowers surround speech bubbles reflecting self-discovery. A black-and-white group photo shows smiling trans and nonbinary people. Chains break as a statue with red eyes is freed. Colorful portraits show diverse gender expressions. A hand unlocks a cage; a winged figure in a dress floats free. Text reflects freedom from rigid gender roles and the joy of exploration. — Image credits

A colorful comic-style artwork critiques gender norms and binary roles. People stand near cages, flowers, and protest scenes. Speech bubbles reflect on harassment, repression, and toxic masculinity. A graph shows growing political polarization from 2005–2020. Words like “masculinity = domination” and “femininity = domestication” are contrasted with joyful, gender-diverse communities. The piece ends with a call for trans and universal liberation. — Image credits

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Singapore

Photographs documenting the performance of Till Flesh Does Us Part, a piece that mixes ballroom dance, spoken word poetry and theatre, in collaboration with Amin Alifin (IG: @aminalifin), as part of Hantu Ballhaus performed in Centre 42, Singapore, 30 October 2024.

"till flesh do us part"

Poem

What happens, when cultural anxieties around sexual and gendered norms meet the ghost of Pontianak, the vengeful spectre of victims of sexual assault? The poet Marylyn Tan has them meet in a haunted ballroom – and gives us a glimpse of this in a fiery spoken word piece.

By Marylyn Tan

men forced their way into our bodies, so we haunt their minds rent-free.

Marylyn Tan

Cambodia

Person blickt nach unten, teils von dunklen Schatten verdeckt, rechter Arm angewinkelt, unscharfer Hintergrund mit Lichtpunkten.

Getting Rid of Gendered Stereotypes in Cambodia

Analysis

Rigid gender norms in Cambodia continue to reinforce a version of masculinity that tends to stifle progress toward gender equality. These outdated norms harm both women and men, fueling gender-based violence, and stigmatizing nonconformity.

By Kong Sreynou

China

Ein Mann mit nacktem Oberkörper begräbt sein Gesicht in seinen Händen.

When Masculinity Hurts: Domestic Violence in China

Analysis

Domestic violence and hegemonic masuclinity are deeply entwined in China – they reinforce and stabilize each other, to the detriment of women. Our author pleads for an alternative thinking about masculinity in general – drawn from pre-modern concepts and Bruce Lee.

By Chen Qi

South Korea

Two taekwondo fighters exchange kicks mid-air during a match; one wears blue gear, the other red. Judges and spectators in the background.

Korean Masculinity Must Move From Endless Proof to Shared Care

Analysis

South Korean men, trapped in the rigid ‘K-timeline’ from school to military to marriage, face endless pressure to prove their masculinity, fueling resentment toward women and radicalization. A transformation is needed, with care at its core.

By Taehwan Kim

Photo Project "MACHT" ("POWER")

Who exercises power? How can one person shape the politics of an entire nation? And does masculinity have anything to do with the gender of the ruling person?

The photographers Patrik Budenz and Birte Zellentin began to artistically explore the influence of individual politicians on the history of their countries globally. The project MACHT (“POWER” in German) visualizes one hundred years of global politics through the lens of its protagonists. For the Heinrich Boell Foundation, they selected 23 Asian states and superimposed portraits of those in power between 1921 and 2021. The intensity and thus the visibility of each person varies according to the length of their term in office.

The visualization of female political leaders in Asia reveals that patriarchal power structures have impeded the accession of women in power. However, of the few female political leaders of Asia that are revealed in the images, most are connected to powerful ruling dynasties in countries with high levels of gender inequality. Female leaders here have often been able to transform gender stereotypes into political capital.

The work of Budenz and Zellentin not only illustrates power structures, but also reveals that politics – as abstract as it may sometimes seem – is always defined and determined by people.