Positioning Women in Malaysia

Book excerpt: Cecilia Ng documents the changing position of women in Malaysia. It is divided in three sections, each of which correspond to a different theme. The first section focuses on the role of the state in agricultural modernisation and its impact on rural women and the gender division of labour; the second explores the relationship of technological innovation and changing employment patterns in the industrial and digital economy. The final section attempts to link feminist theory and practice as articulated in the nascent Malaysian women's movement, and discusses the relevance of feminist theories in explaining the experiences of women in the developing world.