Empresses, Queens, and Merchants | the Story of Women in Southeast Asian Society

Hello historians and welcome back. In today’s video we will explore the historical roles women have played in Southeast Asian history. The information presented provides a broad overview of women’s status in Southeast Asia. The region is incredibly diverse and different societies at distinct ties had varying views on the status of women. As well, each region was influenced by different religions including Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Islam, and Christianity that impacted women’s roles in varying ways. But there still can be some general conclusions drawn that involve the whole region. So, if you are interested, please enjoy the video.
For more information on women’s roles in Southeast Asia see:
Stefan Amirell, “Female Rule in the Indian Ocean World (1300-1900),” Journal of World History 26, 3 (Sept 2015).
Barbara Watson Andaya, “The Changing Religious Role of Women in Pre-Modern South East Asia,” South East Asia Research 2, 4 (Sept 1994)
Barbara Watson Andaya, “Women and Economic Change: The Pepper Trade in Pre-Modern Southeast Asia,” Journal of the Economic and Society History of the Orient 38, 2 (1995)
Anthony Reid, “Female Roles in Pre-Colonial Southeast Asia,” Modern Asian Studies 22, 3 (1988)
Music Credit: Music Library • No Copyright Khmer Mus...

[@user-ke9ih6si7d]

Hi,I think that women around the world not only in Southeast Asia used to work in the agriculture if they were born in poor families.

[@storiesinhistory]

Good point. It is true that poor families more so. But what scholars usually mean is that the introduction of the plow and transition to more intensive agriculture made women's role in agriculture less vital (this typically was the pattern in wheat growing areas). Among poor families, they engaged in subsistence farming, which was smaller scale and could be done without plows. In these cases, women's labor in agriculture was more vital. And this pattern also still existed alongside the plow in say Europe and China well into the 20th century. Many of these areas also exhibited relatively more egalitarian social relationships between women. It's more of a general trend, when put into this broader context

[@gaiamagna9156]

Great vid!!!....👍
How about queens of Patani[?] and female pirates??

[@storiesinhistory]

Definitely interested in making a video about that!

[@CautionCU]

Interesting topic and video.

[@Santasei]

It's funny I see this video when I just recently asked myself if there was ever any women that reigned a country in south east asia. Thank you for this video!
I just read about one of the cruelest queen in South east Asia, Nang Keo Pimpha of Lan Xang. Quite interesting.

[@storiesinhistory]

Thanks for watching and glad you enjoyed. I may have to make a video about Nang Keo Pimpha.

[@LA109plda]

Oohh I’m so intrigued! I hope you make the video!

[@causewaykayak]

Looks like western women were far behind their east asian counterparts. Religions have seldom worked to a woman's advantage. (This comment is from a subscriber in Ireland)

[@ikengaspirit3063]

*southeast asian counter parts

[@causewaykayak]

@@ikengaspirit3063 Thank you for the correction . This helps me learn, 🙏