16 Women Fighting for Fairness in Asia

From challenging gender norms to putting the spotlight on issues like the #Metoo movement and period poverty, a new generation of activists, authors and entrepreneurs are driving conversations about freedom and equality across the region

which focuses on building peace in Myanmar, and Justice for Women, which assigns female lawyers and legal aid to women in need. Through these organisations she has continually advocated for equality for all people in Myanmar, in particular the rights of the Rohingya people, a persecuted and stateless Muslim minority group in the country.

A leading figure in the #Metoo movement in China, former state media journalist Sophia Huang Xuequin conducted a landmark nationwide survey on workplace harassment in the news industry. She has also built an online platform through which victims of sexual harassment can share their stories using the hashtag #Woyeshi. Her work has encouraged many students to come forward, leading to the reprimanding of a significant number of university academics.

Vietnamese singer Mai Khôi started out as the Communist Party of Vietnam’s sweetheart, until she began to feel a disconnect between her personal values and those she was singing about. She then changed her tune, using her voice to speak out against the government on issues such as censorship and corruption. Her music is now banned in Vietnam, and Khôi has since been compared to the likes of Lady Gaga and Russia’s Pussy Riot. A documentary about her,

premiered at the Doc NYC festival in November 2019.

Realising a traditional career path wasn’t for her, Akiko Naka left the safety of a job in finance, taught herself to code and went on to build the job search site Wantedly. Naka knew that most people choose jobs based on money and security rather than passion, so she committed to building a platform that connects users with companies based on shared values, hoping in the long run this will lead to more people enjoying their work. The company officially launched in 2012. Since then, it has grown to become one of the largest social recruiting platforms in Japan.

Apisuk has campaigned for the rights of sex workers and challenged stereotypes about the sex industry. As director of the Empower Foundation, she offers support to women working in the Thai sex trade, of which there are an estimated 250,000 around the country.

Hannah Chung became one of Hong Kong’s zero-waste leaders when she attempted to live for a year without producing any rubbish in 2016, documenting her progress on Instagram and bringing attention to the city’s shocking wastefulness. She is now head of business development for Singapore start-up Muuse, which is revolutionising takeaway dining and delivery by introducing a new circular system of reusable containers, keeping plastic out of landfill.

Miao, a member of the Social Democratic Party, became one of the first ever openly lesbian politicians in Taiwan when she was elected to Taipei City Council in 2018. Following her election, she said in a livestream speech on her Facebook fan page that her election “will turn a new page in Taiwan’s politics, and it is just the beginning”. Miao has since gone on to become a driving force advocating for issues such as the abolition of the death penalty, judicial reform, gender equality and labour rights.

Shiori Ito made headlines in 2017 when she filed a suit against a prominent TV journalist, Noriyuki Yamaguchi, claiming he sexually assaulted her in a hotel room. After she made the allegation, Ito faced a torrent of abuse, but she persisted and became a powerful voice behind the #Metoo movement. She has since published nonfiction book that explores and exposes sexual violence in Japan, and taken part in a documentary based on her experiences,

for BBC2.