Literary Realities of Malaysian Women: Views from Malaysian Women Short Story Writers Writing in English

Malaysian Literature in English (MLE) is a sectional literature of less than a century old. Marginalised because of the English medium and enjoying a limited audience, MLE contributes to the treasure trove of Malaysian works. This paper attempts to explore current issues written by women writers in works published from 2001 to 2004. Their writings show women in various subjectivities from the young professional urban woman to the old forgotten sex worker in the winter of her life. By studying this gamut of women through the voices of women, we show the ways in which Malaysian women have been affected by modernity and fast development. While women have made great leaps in the educational and professional sectors, but they too suffer from alienation due to the disparity between personal ambitions and society's expectations.