ISANA

Ms Kim Edmunds

Abstract: This paper examines gender and the social change impact of an overseas education for a group of Indonesian graduates of Australian universities. Twenty five respondents participated in this research, the majority being Australian Development Scholarship (ADS) recipients from the University of Newcastle. Data collected by survey questionnaire and interview are analysed in relation to the impact of an overseas education on gender relations and social change in the family, community and workplace. It was evident from the study that gender and culture have become increasingly salient and fluid, however, despite the progress made towards gender equity, the core structure of gender beliefs has not changed. While there was evidence of the social change impact of their overseas education and the hybridisation effects of globalisation, considerable gender bias and inequality still persist as a result of hegemonic cultural beliefs about gender.

Key words: Gender relations, social change, globalisation, hybridisation, hegemonic cultural beliefs

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