The New Professional Women of Asia

Declining birth rates in countries that have an inverted pyramid of demographics is a cause for concern.

With longer life spans than ever, China among other Asian countries, will have serious economic challenges in the years ahead to take care of its senior citizens.

A rise of professional millennial women in Asia, also means a change of social norms and more women who choose careers and fulfillment, postponing their traditional roles of starting a family and being a Mother.

A rising number of these professionals as well, in times of economic scarcity, may even elect not to have children. In fact, that's exactly what seems to be occurring. Read on.

• Singapore's total fertility rate was 1.24 in 2015, far below the ideal replacement level of 2.1 needed to keep the population from shrinking.

Most Japanese want to be married, but are finding it hard

Fertility Rates Have Plummeted

East Asia has a TFR (total fertility rate) that's substantially lower (#APAC), than North America, 1.8 to 2.1. South Korea, Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong and Taiwan, the list is not short. Countries with declining fertility rates, and women making new choices.

What signals lower birth rates? Besides the one-child policy of China, uncertain economic conditions and new values are creating an economic press that's changing how young women are negotiating their lives.

Millennial women are now more empowered to resist stigmas of being a "left over woman".

Focusing on their own success and development in times of economic uncertainty, with rising costs of living and with a real scarcity of (male) "providers", means taking matters into your own hands.

Check out this documentary from 2012:

Prophets of the New Economy

Millennial women are learning to pursue their careers and delay marriage (even at the cost of being ostracized or embarrassing their families).

The struggle is real for Millennial Asian professional women, stuck between the future and the past.

Asian Millennial women must play by the rules of tradition, while negotiating and planning for a different global future. This is an undocumented story, and they are the true pioneers of the new world.

A Silent Revolution is Occurring

Millennial Asian female professionals must negotiate with the collectivist values of places, countries with great histories of traditional values, societies where respecting their elders is paramount. Where reverence, humility and even obedience is the status-quo.

Millennial Asian female professionals are undergoing a transformation. They are becoming success stories with careers that allow themselves the freedom to choose their ideal mate and follow their best case future scenario.

"Demographic Implosion" is Coming

Changes in their perspectives, means all of society itself is changing its perspective from the inside-out, albeit slower in some regions of Asia, than others. It's no great secret, young women are the trend-setters of the Earth.

Even Elon Musk, recognizes the danger of inverted pyramids and "demographic implosion". It's a dire warning, listen to the video.

Age of the Asian Millennial Woman

The key demographic of the 21st century, is actually the new Asian woman.

They are better educated, pursue careers and can support themselves financially at rates never seen before in so many Asian countries.

They don't require a traditional family, as the only way to lead a fulfilling life. This is changing old norms in places like Japan and China.

Since in many places in Asia, couples are expected to have children in their 20s, this is at odds with the new movement of Millennial Asian women. At odds, with the new reality they must negotiate.

Since traditionally women are primary decision makers of consumer spending in the family unit, and young women are trend-setters, the female Asian Millennial professional is changing the world and setting new precedents.

It's a beautiful feminist narrative, but also a painful time where women are re-negotiating their roles in a post-modern world.

Many will forgo the dream of having children, not all by choice, but by necessity.

All over the world, what we call 'family', is changing. The changing future of work, mimics the already transforming future of family.

More Educated Women Means Lower Birth Rates

Young ambitious Asian Millennial professional women are no longer okay to give up their careers or sacrifice their personal development for their husbands, if they can afford it.

The economic cost of demographic the stress of inverted demographic pyramids is significant, and hits hard in many countries around the world. This economic upheaval coincides with many technological changes that will occur in the 2020s and 2030s.

In many parts of Asia, this will be a huge economic and cultural issue.

Economy and Empowered Women changes the Dating Game

With more men unable to provide financial security for young women, Millennial women professionals in Asia (like in other parts of the world) are starting to realize and recognize they don't require to sacrifice their careers, talent and educational opportunities to actualize a traditional Asian family in their 20s. There are functional alternatives.

They can wait until their 30s and in some cases will choose to forgo having families altogether. Previously, this would not have been socially acceptable in many Asian cultures.

Consequently there's also a new breed of female Asian Millennial professions who cannot find an appropriate male partner due to not necessarily having the demeanor of the submissive, vulnerable female archetype of femininity. This is relatively new obstacles for many Asian female professionals.

Rise of Female Leaders

In the west and in the U.S., we are seeing a substantial rise of Millennial female professionals who are CEOs and co-founders of startups. As more Millennial Asian professionals were educated abroad than ever before, their professional future is more about being global citizens (Millennial values) than following the traditional norms of what is expected of women.

There's some evidence that female CEOs of startups develop unique selling propositions where social entrepreneurship is the focus, and not only profits and the highest margins.

What a different world it would be if an equal number of CEOs were women and an equal number of funded startups embodied the values of Millennial female professionals.

I'm the 2nd ranked LinkedIn Top Voice in Marketing and Social, and I'm passionate about speaking on the future of feminism at the intersection of #millennial professionals and their unique life-paths and values. Follow me to stay in touch.

This article was inspired by dialogue with Thea H.D., and inspired by articles and shares from J.JH. Park, S.J. Kim, Q.Shahab, C.C. Huang, M.H. Kang, S. Kamath, J. Haria, A. Singh, C.Z. Chow, R. Wang, M. Miki, S. Hyder, C.C. Wang and too many others to count.

#APAC #Millennial #Women #NewEconomy #China #Asia #Economy #GlobalCitizens #Leadership

Think this article is relevant to someone you know? Share it with your network.

Are Millennials the most sandwiched generation of all-time? How many young women do you know who sacrifice their personal life for their career objectives?