Renegotiating Local Values by Merete Lie Ragnhild Lund

Author:Merete Lie, Ragnhild Lund [Merete Lie, Ragnhild Lund]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Social Science, Ethnic Studies, General, Regional Studies
ISBN: 9781136776854
Google: YT38AQAAQBAJ
Barnesnoble:
Goodreads: 19871137
Publisher: Routledge
Published: 1995-01-17T00:00:00+00:00

Changing Structures and Practices: Who Are the Actors?

In studying the local society of the industrial workers, we see clear tendencies towards economic as well as social change. On the one hand, FELDA schemes have played a role as actors of modernization (read: change) in the regional and national economy. It appears that they have only been partly successful. On the other hand, new roads towards national modernization are being attempted through industrialization. As a complement to agricultural development, this strategy serves an important purpose in providing employment and income.

Today it may be the young women workers who play the role as actors of change in the village. They question traditional norms through their work, mobility and interaction with people outside the family circle. They further question the modernizing impact of the settlement schemes for future generations, and they may later in life even question their role as married women.

However, change also relates to the work and lives of the FELDA settlers. Economically, they have gone through the initial days of hardship at the pioneer stage of resettlement. Life prior to resettlement had been very poor, too. Since then, the settlers have experienced periods of affluence when production prices have been high due to heavy demands in the world market, and periods of economic depression when production prices and foreign demand have been low. This shows Malaysia’s – and the area’s – vulnerability vis-à-vis external factors.

Socially, the settlers have had to become accustomed to a different type of settlement and organizational structure than the traditional kampong. Many activities have been organized on a cooperative basis, and some activities such as the Youth Association are innovations in a Malay village. In addition, people have had to rely on administrators and other officials to control their activities. Culturally too, local society has had to adapt some of its norms and values to new organizations and structures.

What is more, there have been changes in the role and functions of women. As young girls take up industrial work, some of their traditional duties within the family change. These girls generally do less housework and child care than before they took up factory work. On the other hand their mothers still work hard in the home, often doing the work that the younger girls of the household were traditionally expected to do in addition to their normal duties. Hence, the mothers’ workloads have not been reduced as was often the case in the past, when children grew up and could replace them.

Norms concerning the virtues of women have not changed much, however. Today it is considered an economic necessity that young women take up factory work as it serves an important economic function, although it often achieves a low status. It is accepted as long as the women prove loyal, industrious and diligent workers. The increasing freedom and mobility of young women are rather reluctantly accepted, however. It is tolerated if you mix with women at the place of work and stay inside the house while at home.

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