Feminism and the Women's Movenment in Malaysia Book

Combining both personal and academic insights into the Malaysian womenâ??s movement, this study provides an in-depth account of the multiple struggles of the Malaysian womenâ??s movement, from securing gender equality in a patriarchal society to achieving unity among members of a multi-ethnic society that are further divided along class and religious lines.Most historical versions of national struggles have created icons out of male figures. The authors of this book have provided a corrective to this. They detail the importance of the role of the womenâ??s movement, led by numerous unsung personalities in promoting social change in Malaysia. The book centres on a crucial argument: that in the context of an ethnically fragmented post-colonial, authoritarian society, an autonomous woman movement, which began in the early eighties had actually achieved significant political success. However the study observes that by the late 1990s, feminist issues were also readily appropriated by the state and the market, and also suggests that the emergence of â??market feminismâ?? poses specific challenges for the future of the Malaysian womenâ??s movement. This thorough and engaging account of feminism and the womenâ??s movement in Malaysia will capture the interest of scholars, policy makers and activists.Read More