This study investigates the economic violence and poverty endured by Indian women in Malaya, as portrayed in Malaysian Tamil folk songs. Drawing on 29 selected songs from documented collections, the research highlights two major dimensions of economic subjugation: economic violence within the family and economic marginalization within plantation society. Indian women, despite their vital contributions to the labor economy, were subjected to exploitation by husbands, parents, and in-laws, and faced systemic barriers in public life. Their struggles were compounded by severe poverty, forcing them into begging, borrowing, and morally compromising situations for survival. The study employed a combination of historical, descriptive, and explanatory research designs. Thematic analysis, following Braun and Clarke’s six-phase framework, was used alongside narrative and discourse analysis to uncover deeper meanings embedded in the songs. This methodological triangulation strengthened the validity and depth of the findings. The songs reveal the cumulative emotional, financial, and psychological burdens faced by Indian women, often pushing them toward contemplating death as an escape from relentless suffering. Through these folk narratives, the research exposes the intersection of patriarchy, colonial exploitation, and systemic poverty, preserving the subaltern voices of Indian women and shedding light on their lived experiences in historical Malaya.
Aaravamudhan, V., Sivakumar, K., Vishnu, C, R. & Mohanasundaram, K. (2024). Challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in rural India: A mixed-method study on perception. The International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/14657503241254954
Braun, V. & Clarke, V. (2006) Using thematic analy-sis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77-101. http://dx.doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
Bruno, L., Strid, S. & Ekbrand, H. (2024). Men’s Economic Abuse Toward Women in Sweden: Findings From a National Survey. Violence Against Women, 1–25. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/10778012241257248
D’Agostino, F., Zacchia, C. & Corsi, M. (2024). Risk of Economic Violence: A New Quantification. Int. J. Financial Stud., 12(3), 82. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijfs12030082
Dancz, V. (1987). Women and Party Politics in Peninsular Malaysia. Singapore: Oxford University Press.
Datta, A. (2016). ‘Immorality’, Nationalism and the Colonial State in British Malaya: Indian ‘Coolie’ Women’s Intimate Lives as Ideological Battleground. Women’s History Review, 24(4), 584-601. https://doi.org/10.1080/09612025.2015.1114326
Diallo, S., Souare, M. L., Diallo, A. S., Kadouno, T. R., Goualie, G. B., & Bah, M. K. (2024). Physico-chemical and nutritional characteristics of 12 varieties of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz, 1766) grown in the Republic of Guinea. World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 23(03), 814–821. https://doi.org/10.30574/wjarr.2024.23.3.2599
Gopal, A. N., & Musa, M. (2020). Indian Women in Malaya, 1900 to 1945: Migration Experiences and Socioeconomic Condition. TALENTA Conference Series: Local Wisdom, Social, and Arts, 3(4), 129-135. file:///C:/Users/Vivobook/Downloads/1148-Article%20Text-980-1-10-20201205%20(4).pdf
Howell. (2001). An Introduction to Historical Methods. Cornell University Press.
Immanuel, S., Jaganathan, D., Prakash, P., Sivakumar, P. S. (2024). Cassava for Food Security, Poverty Reduction and Climate Resilience: A Review. Indian Journal of Ecology, 51(1), 21-31. DOI: https://doi.org/10.55362/IJE/2024/4191
Ishankhanova, G. A. (2024). Prevention of Economic Violence as a Form of Family Violence: Theoretical and Practical Measures. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF POLITICAL SCIENCE LAW AND CRIMINOLOGY, 6 (8), 24-29. https://doi.org/10.37547/tajpslc/Volume06Issue08-05
Katigason, K., & Dali, A. M. (2022). A Historical Study of the Murder Cases of Indian Women in Malaya, 1900-1945. SEJARAH: Journal of the Department of History, 31(1), 92-105. ISSN 1985-0611 e-ISSN: 2756-8253 https://doi.org/10.22452/sejarah.vol31no1.5
Logeswari, A. (2017). Trauma of Tamil labourers during British colonisation in Malaya as reflected in Malaysian Tamil folk songs (Master’s thesis, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris). http://myto.upm.edu.my/find/Record/oai:ir.upsi.edu.my:4812/UserComments
Lok, R. S., Sonelal, J., Rabin, K., Umesh, A., & Teknath, B. (2023). Navigating the Research Landscape: A Guide to the Selection of the Right Research Design. International Research Journal of MMC (IRJMMC),4(1), 64-77. https://doi.org/10.3126/irjmmc.v4i1.51863
Mahesh, V. P. (2020). Role of Women Entrepreneurs in Our Indian Economy: Issues and Challenges – An Overview. International Review of Business and Economics, 4 (1), 202-209. https://digitalcommons.du.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1191&context=ire
Makeswari, K. (2007). Indian Migration into Malaya and Singapore During the British Period. Biblio Asia, 3(3), 4-11. https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/files/pdf/BiblioAsia%20Oct%202007.pdf
Manickam, J. R. (2012). The Malaysian Indian Dilemma. Author.
Martella, R. (2013). Understanding and interpreting educational research. Guilford Press.
Megha, D., Thomas, M., Kanth, B., Navaneetham, P., & Dilsha, M. K. (2024). Indian family relationships, marriage, and career choices in the context of globalization: A multigenerational evaluation. International Journal of Population Studies, 11(4), 1-20. https://www.researchgate.net/deref/https%3A%2F%2Fdoi.org%2F10.36922%2Fijps.2404?_tp=eyJjb250ZXh0Ijp7ImZpcnN0UGFnZSI6InB1YmxpY2F0aW9uIiwicGFnZSI6InB1YmxpY2F0aW9uIiwicG9zaXRpb24iOiJwYWdlQ29udGVudCJ9fQ
Mishra, V., Tiwari, A. D., Aadhar, S., Shah, R., Xiao, M., Pai, D. S. & Lettenmaier, D. (2019). Drought and famine in India, 1870–2016. Geophysical Research Letters, 46 (4), 2075–2083. https://doi.org/10.1029/
Mohd, R. A., Kazi, R., Rohaan, B., & Suhit, B. (2022). A study on research design and its type. International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET), 9(7), 1132-1135. https://www.irjet.net/archives/V9/i7/IRJET-V9I7216.pdf
Muir, R. (2024). Be Inspired. Making It Easy To Explore New Cuisines, Ingredients, Wines & Places. https://beinspired.au/?srsltid=AfmBOooj01AUWVxwO-2z-dypn-lTfbHnXa pY4pOcEZoBNimFnzIE-Qz
Murasu Nedumaran. (1997). Mal?ciyat tami?k kavitaik ka?añciyam (1887-1987). An Anthology Of Malaysian Tamil Poetry. Klang: Arulmathiyam Publications.
Mutthammal, P. (2006). N???uppu?ap p??alka?il e? paya?am. Coimbatore: Kongu Ilainjar Mandram.
Nguyen, L., Govindasamy, R., & Mentreddy, S. R. (2024) Turmeric trends: analyzing consumer preferences and willingness to pay. Front. Sustain. Food Syst., 8, 1-18. doi: 10.3389/fsufs.2024.1359040
Nithiya, G. S. (2020). Gender Beliefs and Capability Deprivation: A Study Among Indian Women in Penang, Malaysia. (Doctoral Dissertation, Universiti Sains Malaysia). https://eprints.usm.my/54001/1/Nithiya%20Guna%20Saigaran.pdf
Param, S. A. M. (2015). Battling with Ourselves: Exploring How Far Indian Middle-Class Working Mothers in Malaysia Are Able to Negotiate Gendered Spaces. Asian Women, 31 (2), 30-52. https://e-asianwomen.org/xml/04341/04341.pdf
Pareek, P., & Bagrecha, C. (2018). Socio – Personal Challenges Faced by Indian Women Entrepreneur. International Journal of Management Studies, V (4(8)), 38-50. http://dx.doi.org/10.18843/ijms/v5i4(8)/05
Postmus, J. L., Hoge, G. L., Breckenridge, J., Sharp-Jeffs, N., & Chung, D. (2020). Trauma Violence Abuse, 21(2), 261-283. doi: 10.1177/1524838018764160.
Pushpam, K. N. (2024). Facts And Figures: Economic Empowerment of Women. International Journal of Advances in Engineering and Management (IJAEM), 6 (7), 854-859. https://ijaem.net/issue_dcp/Facts%20And%20Figures%20%20Economic%20Empowerment%20of%20Women.pdf
Satyen, L., Bourke-Ibbs, M., & Rowland, B. (2024). A global study into Indian women’s experiences of domestic violence and control: the role of patriarchal beliefs. Sec. Gender, Sex and Sexualities, 15, 1-11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1273401
Shantini, P. (2013). Transnational Collaboration and Media Industry in South India: Case of the Malaysian-Indian Diaspora. In Gopinath Pillai (Eds.). The political economy of South Asian diaspora (pp. 187-203). UK: Palgrave Macmillan.
Sharp, N. (2008). What’s yours is mine: The different forms of economic abuse and its impact on women and children experiencing domestic violence. Refuge.
Sufyan, M. S., Ansor, M., Mawardi. & Ismail, S. (2022). Subaltern Agency and Economic Resilience of Marginalized Community in Aceh. Share Jurnal Ekonomi dan Keuangan Islam 11(1), 20-41. http://dx.doi.org/10.22373/share.v11i1.10362
Syamala, N. G. & Ganesan, S. (2021). Nationalism among Indian women in Malaya from 1941 to 1948. EPRA International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research (IJMR) – Peer Reviewed Journal, 7(1), 67-72. file:///C:/Users/HP/Downloads/855pm_15.EPRA%20JOURNALS-6063%20(1).pdf
Thandayutham, R. (1998). Mal?ciya n???uppu?ap p??alka?. Chennai: Tamil Putagaalaiyam.
Thanikaivel, M., & Priya, K. (2018). Economic Empowerment of Women in India. International Journal of Technical Research & Science, 3(7), 251-253. https://www.academia.edu/37586208/ECONOMIC_EMPOWERMENT_OF_WOMEN_IN_INDIA
UN Women. (2024). Benefits of women’s economic empowerment. https://www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/economic-empowerment/facts-and-figures
Vaus, D. (2001). Research design in social research. Sage.
Agilan, D. K., Ponniah, K., & Thamburaj, K. P. (2025). Economic Violence and the Subaltern Reality of Indian Women in Malaysian Tamil Folk Songs. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 15(6), 437–456.
Copyright: © 2025 The Author(s)
Published by Knowledge Words Publications (www.kwpublications.com)
This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial and non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of this license may be seen at: http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode
