Feminist Criticism: A traceable premise in Welsh and Malaysian Short Stories

Abstract

This is a comparative study of short stories from Wales and Malaysia, countries which are in many ways as culturally distant as they are geographically remote.  Several corridors might lead to a fruitful comparative study.  Both countries have more than one official language and have a history of cultural tensions arising from different legacies of colonialism including prominent discourses of authenticity and rootedness positioned against imported cultures. The National language of Wales and Malaysia is Welsh and Malay respectively.  But, the two short stories, one from each country that will be discussed are written in the English language. How women’s loyalties may be divided between religious or national affiliations and feminist aspirations are also interesting to compare. This research acknowledges key differences in how women writers from Wales and Malaysia negotiate feminist aims in often conflicting cultural, national and religious contexts. Stories from post-war Welsh and Malaysian women writers are compared. Interesting findings include different ways of resolving conflicts in a patriarchal society where Welsh women are more vocal and ensure that their voices are heard in one way or another. The Malaysian women on the other hand are voiceless and relentlessly suffer in silence.   The Welsh woman as depicted in the story is deprived of help in her dreaded daily chores and all she could do is shout and scold her husband to no avail.