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Of course this is not always the case, but it seems like South Asians are more conservative with marriage/sex than East/Southeast Asians.
For China, you can attribute it to stuff like communism and the cultural revolution wiping out old traditional norms and also for Japan and Korea, western or industrial influence, but what explains South East Asia. Even conservative parts of SEA (eg. Indonesia have more liberal parts like Bali). Prostitution and sex tourism is prominent in SE to westerners in a way that is not so in the subcontinent (yes, I know it is an issue, but you don't really hear of sex tourism to India or impoverished Indian women resorting to "that option"). You hear of people going to nightclubs or partying in places in say Goa, but that is not the same scale as what people think of going on in say Bangkok. Even though South Asia is probably even more influenced by British colonialism and thus exposed to the west than some parts of SE Asia seem. Even Muslim Southeast Asia seems more liberal than Muslim South Asia.
I don't think arranged marriage is as much of a thing in SE/E Asia but I could be wrong, compared to S Asia.
I ask in part because if South-east Asia is really part of South Asia's sphere of influence or at least was so in some part of history, why the difference in conservatism, especially in women and gender roles. Did it liberalize more recently?
Do you think in part there is an influence of India's caste system relating to being more conservative in general?
Women in Indonesia can be conservative and not so conservative, Bali may seems to be liberal but majority of its population are very religious ( being descendant of Hindus of Java who refused Islam). Though they have high level of tolerance to other religious minority.
Of course this is not always the case, but it seems like South Asians are more conservative with marriage/sex than East/Southeast Asians.
For China, you can attribute it to stuff like communism and the cultural revolution wiping out old traditional norms and also for Japan and Korea, western or industrial influence, but what explains South East Asia. Even conservative parts of SEA (eg. Indonesia have more liberal parts like Bali). Prostitution and sex tourism is prominent in SE to westerners in a way that is not so in the subcontinent (yes, I know it is an issue, but you don't really hear of sex tourism to India or impoverished Indian women resorting to "that option"). You hear of people going to nightclubs or partying in places in say Goa, but that is not the same scale as what people think of going on in say Bangkok. Even though South Asia is probably even more influenced by British colonialism and thus exposed to the west than some parts of SE Asia seem. Even Muslim Southeast Asia seems more liberal than Muslim South Asia.
I don't think arranged marriage is as much of a thing in SE/E Asia but I could be wrong, compared to S Asia.
I ask in part because if South-east Asia is really part of South Asia's sphere of influence or at least was so in some part of history, why the difference in conservatism, especially in women and gender roles. Did it liberalize more recently?
Do you think in part there is an influence of India's caste system relating to being more conservative in general?
Firstly, sex tourism in a few redlight districts doesn't not equate to general attitudes to sex among the GENERAL POPULATION. It's like citing what goes on in Las Vegas or parts of Nevada, and other redlight districts in the US as an example of behaviour there. The fact is, attitudes towards sex in South-East Asia aren't particularly liberal, nor East Asia. I feel much of SEA is still more traditional than the West, although attitudes are liberalising. Marriage is still very important in East and SE Asia, and even if men sleep around when young there's a lot of pressure to marry and settle down.
As for India, it's simply because of how traditional/conservative it remains. Hinduism/the caste system and the VERY family oriented society (more than the rest of Asia, exc Middle East) has to do with this. The Middle East is largely the same. Also you mention not as many Indian women becoming prostitutes: actually prostitution is rife in India, as in many developing countries, it's just not as much aimed at foreigners. The fact India gets only 7 million tourists (a huge nation of 1.2 billion) while Malaysia and Thailand alone get around 20 million EACH goes a long way to explaining it.
I wish for the return of the days of Alexander the Great, when large masses of Europeans, Africans and Asians were openly encouraged to copulate and procreate.
South Asia and West Asia society is more religious. East Asian religions are not that serious, they are more of philosphies than religions.
The pressure for men to marry and settle down is all over asia. Single men and women in their middle age without a spouse are viewed negatively in asia. Trend is changing in developed asian countries, with increasing number of people choosing not to marry or have children.
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Postman
Firstly, sex tourism in a few redlight districts doesn't not equate to general attitudes to sex among the GENERAL POPULATION. It's like citing what goes on in Las Vegas or parts of Nevada, and other redlight districts in the US as an example of behaviour there. The fact is, attitudes towards sex in South-East Asia aren't particularly liberal, nor East Asia. I feel much of SEA is still more traditional than the West, although attitudes are liberalising. Marriage is still very important in East and SE Asia, and even if men sleep around when young there's a lot of pressure to marry and settle down.
As for India, it's simply because of how traditional/conservative it remains. Hinduism/the caste system and the VERY family oriented society (more than the rest of Asia, exc Middle East) has to do with this. The Middle East is largely the same. Also you mention not as many Indian women becoming prostitutes: actually prostitution is rife in India, as in many developing countries, it's just not as much aimed at foreigners. The fact India gets only 7 million tourists (a huge nation of 1.2 billion) while Malaysia and Thailand alone get around 20 million EACH goes a long way to explaining it.
The vast majority of marriages in South Asia are still arranged while arranged marriages are very rare in Southeast and East Asia nowadays. Whatever the reasons why South Asians still stick to such a practice will be the same answer to your question.
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