The Representation of Women in Malaysia: Political Discourse over Female Genital Mutilation

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24651289
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Gender
• Research Institution: Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University
• Principal Investigator: IGUCHI Yufu 立命館アジア太平洋大学, アジア太平洋学部, 准教授 (80412815)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: ジェンダー表象 / マレーシア / 女性器切除 / 植民地主義 / ナショナリズム / イスラム

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study explores how women in Malaysia are represented in relation to colonialism, nationalism, multi-ethnic society and Islam, by examining the discourses on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Malaysia. The major findings of this study are as follows. First, practices of FGM in Malaysia have been rediscovered and reinforced in the recent Islamic resurgence and they are connected to Malay nationalism centered on Malays, the majority population of Malaysia. Second, studies on FGM and the subsequent discourses are centered on Africa and are not fitted to the Malaysian situation.

Free Research Field

ジェンダー研究