Malays’ Women Economic Participation in Malay Sultanate Era: The Beginning of a Struggle in Economics

The journey to achieve independence has been filled with grief, perseverance and determination for the rights in our own land. Malay women are not left out, struggle the same experience. Nowadays, Malay women today are able to stand on its own and not only for its own interests, but able to improve the standard of family life and become a key contributor to the family’s finances. However, the fun and freedom that is now owned by the Eve is not an easy one. Starting from the Malay monarchy system, past the era of colonialism until independence, the Malay women through various challenges and constraints. The ability to penetrate the economy is an important indicator in determining the survival of the Malay women in Malaysia. This article examines the Malay women’s participation in the economy through three levels of time during the Malay monarchy era, colonialism and after independence. The methodology used in the study is content analysis and literature review. This study found that the Malay woman is experiencing change and growth, particularly in the context of participation in the economic sector. Malay women are now contributing as active labor in various sectors rather than just as an employee of the side without a fixed wage or as informal workers.