Changes of gender relations in Kuching Malay Household.

Abstract

This research note analyses the connection between the influences of broader social changes such as the family circles, education and employment, media and Islamic teaching on young Malay women’s experiences of domestic work and their evaluation of changing gender roles in the performance of domestic work. The 20 young women who participated in this study all live in or around Kuching, and between the ages of 19 and 27 years. A questionnaire and structured-interview are employed in order to identify and explore young women’s evaluations and expectations of changes of gender relations in marriage and family. There are three main findings of the study. First, household work is organised around a distinction between inside and outside chores, and in relation to this, the preponderance of inside household chores are routinely performed by women, outside chores are performed predominantly by men. Second, there is evidence that men have more leeway and choice about the extent to which they perform household tasks. Third, there is evidence that men are slowly increasing their participation in ‘inside’ domestic work, especially after they have grown up. A few of the young women believe that the existing gender division of domestic labour should be preserved, but at the same time encouraging men’s participation in domestic works. However, some of them think it is old-fashioned and should be rejected as they are now in employment.