Disparaged and underestimated : a study on the radical Malay women movement in 20th century Malaya

How did Malay women contribute towards independence? To what extent were they truly radical? The national narrative of independent Malaysia often spoke of great men and their gallant efforts in their nationalistic struggle. While there were contentions towards the valid contributions between the rightist and leftist nationalistic movements, they were still undoubtedly acknowledged as major players of nationalism. Yet, nationalistic women movements were not given the same recognition. Unlike the male-dominated nationalists, women nationalists not only had to fight for independence, but for women emancipation as well. The existing literature that delved into the actions taken by these women to garner mass support and raise political awareness were limited. Hence, this paper seeks to examine how Malay women manoeuvre their nationalistic and anti-colonial agenda around the different political and traditional spaces. In understanding the traditions of the Malay culture and the socio-economic demographic of Malayan women in the twentieth century, it will underline the struggles of Malayan nationalism, played out in the context of women’s resistance. Bachelor of Arts in Histor