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Paper short abstract:

This study uses a feminist critical approach to examine Covid-19's gendered impacts in Malaysia. Analyzing newspaper data from January 2020 to October 2023, it highlights domestic violence, health issues, and social dynamics, offering policy recommendations for future challenges.

Paper long abstract:

This study adopts a feminist critical approach to explore the gendered impacts of Covid-19 in Malaysia. Malaysia has been recognized as a front-runner in gender equality and women's participation in Southeast Asia; however, the specific gendered impacts of Covid-19 in Malaysia have yet to be fully identified. The data for this study consists of archived information from two major English newspapers that reported on the gendered impacts of Covid-19 in Malaysia from the start of the pandemic on January 25, 2020 (the date of the first reported case) until it was officially declared over on May 5, 2023, as well as six months post-pandemic (May to October 2023). The study highlights several key themes, including domestic violence, privacy issues, mental and physical health conditions, and social and family dynamics. Understanding the gendered impacts of Covid-19 in Malaysia is a comprehensive undertaking that requires detailed organization and management. Furthermore, the study identifies institutional responses to the pandemic's gendered effects, which involve redefining some traditional gender roles. This research contributes valuable insights to the literature and practice concerning the gendered impacts of Covid-19 in Malaysia. Additionally, it offers policy recommendations based on neoliberal institutional responses for future unexpected challenges.