Women
organizing in the socio-cultural & political environment (2003)
For the women’s groups, constraints on the freedom of speech
and assembly vary depending on the issues they work on. Those who
work on so-called politically ‘safe’ issues such as violence
against women (VAW), including counseling and services for women,
seem to have more space to organize, speak and move around. And
then again, when we started the VAW campaign about 20 years ago,
these were not safe issues at all. However, today the state has
appropriated the issue for itself. But when women become more political,
for example when they speak out on human rights issues, question
police violence or are critical of the nature of development in
the country, then the secret police also known as the “special
branch” intervene. More
from this report.
BAC
State
of women in urban local government in Malaysia (2001)
The number of women in local government which averages about 10
per cent of the total representation has to some extent limited
women’s participation in voicing their concerns about local
government policies, programs and projects. A bigger gender representation
would help the women gather more support from among themselves on
issues, which are of interest to women. Lack of high and good education
is a factor that may limit some women councilors from speaking effectively
on public policies or programs. However with more equal opportunities
in education more and more women have access to tertiary education
and the quality of women representation in local government would
improve with time. Download
the document from our server.
BAC
Women's
equality in Malaysia (2001): A status report
The Government of Malaysia has committed itself to women's equality
and taken a number of initiatives to promote this. By agreeing to
the commitments set forth in the Beijing
Platform for Action at the UN Fourth World Conference on Women
(1995), the Government promised to:
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Enhance the national machinery for women's advancement
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Increase women's participation in decision-making
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Safeguard women's rights to health, education and social well-being
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Remove legal obstacles and gender discriminatory practices.
Find out the results of the Malaysian
government's effort in achieving gender equality in this report.
Zero
tolerance for domestic violence (2001)
The Domestic Violence Act (DVA), enacted in 1994, recognizes domestic
violence as an issue of public concern. Its main aim is to ensure
the safety of victims of violence. Under the DVA, a person can seek
assistance from the police by making a report of the assault and
specifically asking for an IPO. The IPO is an order from the court,
which protects the person from further violence while the police
carry out an investigation. More from this report.
BAC
Straight
from the heart (2001)
Women activists and wives of prisoners detained under the Internal
Security Act (ISA) of Malaysia gathered one night and shared their
heart-rending experiences in a forum titled Women against the ISA.
Know more about them in this report.
Women
and Gender: A status report (2001)
This is a report from the University of Sains Malaysia on women
and gender in Malaysia. It gives us the whole picture of Malaysian
women including background information, population and employment,
education, marriage and the family, and the National Policy on Women.
View the document
from our server.BAC
Young
Women Leaders: A Real Trend or Utopia (2000)
In Malaysia, the role of women is so important because they represent
more than 50 per cent of voters. Although this figure is not necessarily
indicative of women’s participation in politics, it is important
to note that most of the campaigners for the ruling National Front
consists of women, popularly known as Wanita UMNO. But most of these
WANITA UMNO now have to face the challenge from WANITA KEADILAN
and the rest of the Alternative Front, which consists of the main
opposition parties. BAC
From
margin to center: Theorizing women's political participation from
activism on the margins to political power at the center (2000)
The possibilities and problems
that constrain women's empowerment through public office are complex,
yet few studies have explored this area. The political participation
of women in nations that define themselves as Islamic must be analyzed
beyond the simplistic, biased notion that it is because Islam contains
them. This paper offers an analysis of a turning point in women's
activism in Malaysia when a group of Muslim and non-Muslim women
known as the Women's Candidacy Initiative (WCI) contested the general
elections of November 1999. However, the analyses and reflections
about the attempt to move from activism on the margins to political
power at the center of public life by a women's group in Malaysia
are offered as paradigmatic: for finding parallels and relevance
beyond Malaysia or the issues of women in Islam. BAC
Is
the issue of justice for women not a necessity? (2000)
Certain sections in the Immigration
Act 1963 raised a lot of angry women voices. For instance, Section
12 states that a female holder of a work pass or work permit cannot
have the name of her husband endorsed on the pass or permit. However,
a male holder of a work pass or work permit has the right to endorse
his wife’s name on the pass or permit. Under Section 10 of the Immigration
Regulations 1963, a foreign husband cannot be issued a Dependent’s
pass to enter Malaysia. This makes it extremely difficult for women
(including Malaysian women) in Malaysia to be accompanied by their
husbands when they are working in Malaysia unlike their male counterparts
who are entitled to bring their wives along as Dependants. Aside
from the Immigration Act 1963 other discriminatory laws in Malaysia
include the Employee’s Social Security Act 1969 and some citizenship
related laws. View the document
from our server.
Wither
the women's movement?
Various women's organizations gathered and exchanged ideas and opinions
regarding the women's movement in Malaysia. With the theme "Rethinking
the Women's Movement," these organizations pondered questions
about the movement, the persons behind it and the directions it
is taking. Read more from this report.
BAC
Women
and Politics in Malaysia (1999)
Women have been underrepresented in Malaysian politics. Currently
less than 10 per cent of all MPs in Parliament are women, yet women
constitute almost half of registered voters. In order to understand
this situation, Aliran Monthly interviewed two prominent women activists,
Zaitun Kassim (Toni) and Dr. Cecilia Ng on the question of women’s
involvement in politics. Can women make a difference or will the
status quo remain unchanged? View the document
from our server. BAC
Women
in Politics: Malaysia (1999)
In the 1995 general elections, women formed 59% of those who
turn up to vote. Malaysia also ranked 73rd out of 180 countries
with only 7.8% of women elected to Parliament. Even the increase
to 10.4% in 1999 is below the Asian Countries average of 14.1%.
According to statistics, Vietnam has the highest percentage of women
MPs in an Asian country with 26% and ranks 11th in the world. With
women forming at least half of Malaysia's population and work force,
the fact that women are also politically conscious and motivated
is amply substantiated by the fact that more Malaysian women than
men take the trouble to register as voters, and more women than
men turn out to cast their ballot. The tragedy takes place when
the women are not selected as candidates in equal proportions or
given cabinet positions likewise. View the document
from our server. BAC
Women
power in Malaysia (1999)
One of the proud achievements of democracy in Malaysia is the active
participation of women voters, who accounted for about 54 per cent
of registered voters and 59 per cent of voter turnout in the previous
general elections. Given this large voting block, political parties
woo women for their votes. One approach these parties employ is
establishing women's movements, which will spearhead their respective
parties' efforts to get the support of Malaysian women. View the
document
from our server. BAC
Women
in Malaysia (1998)
This paper deals with the socioeconomic status of Malaysian women.
It provides an analysis of the recent trends of the female labor
force participation, the areas where the female labor force is concentrated
at present, and gender differentials in wages, and it makes recommendations
to improve women’s status through their participation in economic
development. It also looks into
Malaysian women's participation in politics. It analyzes the trends
in Malaysian women's participation in political life and the civil
service, and women's legal status with regard to citizenship, education,
employment, legal rights and status in marriage, divorce, and the
guardianship of children. View the document
from our server.
Women
and media in Malaysia (1998)
The media continues to be a male dominated bastion, manipulated
by commercial interests and does much damage through its portrayal
of women as sex objects and as a group that plays a secondary role
to men. In fact, the media seems bent on degrading women and portraying
them as objects of male gaze, male sexuality and male violence.
Many of the local Malay, Tamil and Chinese dramas portray women
as emotional, weak and long suffering, which has been the stereotypical
image put forth for so long. View the document
from our server. BAC
Woman
activist risks jail to fulfill dream
This is a feature article on Malaysian rights activist, Irene Fernandez.
A director of the non-government organization Tenaganita who has
had numerous run-ins with the government because of her work, Irene
works with sex workers and migrant workers and helps them to fight
for their rights in a society that does not always recognize that
they have rights in the first place. View the document
from our server. BAC
Bibliographies
University
of California in Berkeley: Women's Studies Bibliographies
