Writing About "Successful Women": A Textual Analysis of Selected Popular Women's Magazines in Malaysia

Abstract

As with most developing countries, the Malaysian state has been pushing for modernisation, socio-economic development and overall prosperity of the Malaysian people ever since it attained political independence from the colonizing British in 1957.  This vigour was further spurred on by a Mahathir administration whose vision is to turn Malaysia into an industrialised country by the year 2020. In the process, Malaysians are always reminded in various ways such as through the mass media - of their duties and responsibilities in making significant contributions towards these cherished national goals. Indeed, the contributions of the populace, particularly women, to the process of national development have over time been increasingly recognised by the government and Malaysians in general. Malaysian women, like other segments of the nation who are seen as lagging behind socio-economically, have been urged to propel themselves into prominence - and quite a number of them have succeeded - especially in the private sector where the dominant culture of enterprise and competition prevails.