Sexuality, Gender and Rights

Attitudes towards sexuality and gender in South and Southeast Asia have begun to change in recent decades. However, diverse forces-such as the resurgence of religious fundamentalism, increased militarization, the spread of HIV and AIDS, and the continued preference for male children coupled with constraints on women’s power to control all aspects of their lives-continue to have negative consequences. This volume analyzes and documents the groundbreaking work done by many organizations to bring issues of sexuality and rights to public attention, to expand the freedoms of women and sexual minorities and to highlight the unfair distinctions faced by those not conforming to gender and sexual norms across a range of expressions, behaviours and identities in Asia. This volume covers eight countries in South and Southeast Asia. The contributors address issues of power and social hierarchies by using the principles of justice, equality, non-discrimination, and access to rights and services. They cover diverse issues like sexual rights, sexuality education, sexual health services, transsexuals and other sexual minorities, HIV/AIDS prevention, as well as sex work and the representation of sexuality in popular culture. The contributors argue that neither gender nor sexuality can be addressed in isolation from human rights and demonstrate how linking sexuality and gender with human rights has an impact on peoples lives across intersecting issues and contexts. Moving beyond theoretical discussions of sexuality, gender and rights, this volume looks at what these ideas mean in practice and offers examples of the diversity of effective approaches that can be adopted in varied settings. Moreover, it illustrates how sexuality ties in with wider issues—health, personal relationships, economic well-being, equitable access to public services, and the freedom to think, speak and associate without fear of discrimination. This fascinating volume will prove invaluable in academic programmes in the areas of sexuality, gender, women’s studies, anthropology and sociology, as well as for organizations and individuals working on issues of sexuality, rights, gender and health.