Purwokerto – Soedirman Center for Global Studies (SCGS), a laboratory under the Department of International Relations, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Jenderal Soedirman, successfully held the SCGS Masterclass Series #2 program on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, online via Zoom. The SCGS Masterclass Series is a guest lecture open to the public, featuring international experts who share their perspectives on global issues.

In this session, coinciding with Kartini Day, SCGS had the opportunity to present Prof. Kyoko Kusakabe from the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Thailand. She is a professor at AIT and an expert in gender and development. In the SCGS Masterclass Series themed “Structural Vulnerability and the Infringement of Women’s Rights in Southeast Asian Labor Markets”, Prof. Kusakabe discussed the dynamics of the labor market in Southeast Asia, the structural vulnerabilities faced by women, and various myths that hinder gender equality in the professional world. 

In her presentation, Prof. Kusakabe highlighted a paradox in Southeast Asia, although women’s labor force participation rates are relatively high and their tertiary education levels surpass those of men in most ASEAN countries, they still lag behind in promotions to senior management levels and corporate boards. She emphasized that one of the main obstacles is social expectations that still require women to prioritize domestic work over men. 

Prof. Kusakabe dissected five myths that often prevent society from questioning gender injustice. One of them is the myth that household members always help each other harmoniously, which often masks the reality of domestic violence and inequality in decision-making within the family. She also pointed out that unpaid care work acts as a “tax” on women, preventing them from participating more fully in the formal economy. 

Furthermore, she argued that gender issues, including gender-based violence, should be viewed as a serious national economic problem rather than just a social welfare issue. Citing World Bank data, she explained that violence against women can cost a country’s GDP up to 3.7%. As a solution, Prof. Kusakabe proposed the “6R” strategy to address care work: Recognize, Reduce, Redistribute, Reward, Representation, and Revalue. 

The session continued with a lively Q&A after Prof. Kusakabe’s presentation. Participants took advantage of this opportunity to explore deeper into gender-sensitive public policies and structural challenges in their respective countries. Through this discussion, the SCGS Masterclass Series is expected to enrich the academic knowledge of the wider community, especially students, regarding global dynamics in women’s rights and economic justice in the modern era.