Feminism and a View of Conservative Gender Roles among Young Working Women in Malaysia

Ian Shen Goh; Janak Ashok Teckwani; Ze Ren Ku; Kezia George; Nicole Yuk Cheng Lee; Chia Yee Pang

doi:10.47405/mjssh.v6i8.931

Ian Shen Goh Faculty of Social Sciences and Leisure Management, Taylor’s University Lakeside Campus, Malaysia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9455-2011
Janak Ashok Teckwani Faculty of Social Sciences and Leisure Management, Taylor’s University Lakeside Campus, Malaysia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7075-6212
Ze Ren Ku Faculty of Social Sciences and Leisure Management, Taylor’s University Lakeside Campus, Malaysia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6336-283X
Kezia George Faculty of Social Sciences and Leisure Management, Taylor’s University Lakeside Campus, Malaysia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3114-2442
Nicole Yuk Cheng Lee Faculty of Social Sciences and Leisure Management, Taylor’s University Lakeside Campus, Malaysia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3540-3654
Chia Yee Pang Faculty of Social Sciences and Leisure Management, Taylor’s University Lakeside Campus, Malaysia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6055-1117

DOI: https://doi.org/10.47405/mjssh.v6i8.931

Keywords: feminism, gender roles, working women, Malaysia, conservational

Abstract

People are often influenced by norms and ideologies, including the concepts of feminism and conservative gender roles. With perceptions evolving constantly, we intend to investigate the subject of feminism and the view of young working women in Malaysia with regards to conservative gender roles. Studies on the subject have been scarce or minimal so far, hence understanding the general population’s perception will allow us to better measure public awareness on the topic of our research. The demographic of participants in this study specifically encompasses working women, between the ages of eighteen and forty years old. The participants were recruited through virtual mediums, namely WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram. They were then asked to participate in a semi-structured interview to aid in the collection of detailed data which was then analysed through the process of transcription and coding for recurring themes. The study suggests that young working women in Malaysia are more in tune with feminism than originally anticipated due to digital platforms. Among the inequalities faced in the workforce, the most cited are equal and fair pay. Family upbringing, tradition and culture were often cited as shaping the general evolution of gender roles. Research can be done on feminism, gender roles and their implications on the LGBT community as a whole.

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Feminism and a View of Conservative Gender Roles among Young Working Women in Malaysia

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