Development, Malay Women And Islam In Malaysia: Emerging Contradictions

Abstract

Increased educational opportunities — which is an extension of rapid economic development in Malaysia — and the Islamic resurgence are significant social forces, operating in divergent directions, in bringing about changes to the position of Malay women. At this conjuncture, tertiary education, which has been observed in some societies to be a vital ‘liberating’ force, is counterposed to Islamic resurgence. The traditionally prescribed role of Malay women has been both reinforced and reconstituted by the values, morals and norms emanated from the Islamic resurgence. Under such circumstances, Malay women students are caught in a cognitive dilemma and respond in a variety of ways in an attempt to reconcile the values of one to the values of the other.