Reason and Passion: Representations of Gender in a Malay Society

This book explores gender relations in Malay society, particularly in Negeri Sembilan, famous for its unusual mixture of Islam and matrilineal descent. It analyzes how Malay Muslims deploy evocative, heavily gendered symbols of reason and passion and examines the cultural and political processes that constitute feminine and masculine identity. It also explores the relationship between gender and kinship and the role of ideology in everyday life. The study is historical and comparative, exploring the political economy of contested symbols and meanings.

Format: Hardback
Length: 416 pages
Publication date: 15 July 2022
Publisher: University of California Press

This book delves into a comprehensive historical and ethnographic exploration of gender relations within Malay society, with a specific focus on the renowned state of Negeri Sembilan, renowned for its unique blend of Islam and matrilineal descent. Author Peletz conducts a thorough analysis of the diverse ways in which Malay Muslims employ evocative and heavily gendered symbols of reason and passion. Unlike many studies of gender, this book goes beyond mere description and delves into the cultural and political processes that shape the construction of both feminine and masculine identities. It also examines the intricate relationship between gender and kinship and assesses the role of ideology in everyday life.

Peletz emphasizes the significance of examining gender systems not in isolation but in the context of other patterns of hierarchy and social difference. His study encompasses a historical and comparative approach, while also exploring the political economy of contested symbols and meanings. This book goes beyond a mere treatise on gender and social change in a Malay society and presents a valuable and highly intriguing model for the analysis of gender and culture. By addressing issues of hegemony and cultural domination at the core of contemporary cultural studies, it offers a rich and insightful perspective.

This title is part of UC Press' Voices Revived program, which commemorates the University of California Press' commitment to seek out and nurture the brightest minds and provide them with a platform to express their ideas, reach a wider audience, and have a significant impact. Drawing on a backlist dating back to 1893, Voices Revived utilizes print-on-demand technology to make high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again. Originally published in 1996, this title has been revitalized to reach a new generation of scholars and enthusiasts.

Weight: 771g
Dimension: 234 x 156 x 28 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780520367715