’Protecting’ Women: Legislation and Regulation of Women’s Sexuality in Colonial Malaya

Abstract

This article traces the origins, development and impact of the women and girls’ protection legislation in Malaysia. It shows how the stigma attached to those working in the sex industry today not only has historical origins, but also stems from legislation that was supposedly formulated to protect them. By critiquing the measures offered under the colonial era Women and Girls’ Protection Ordinance, I argue that these were flawed because there were other unstated motivations for enacting this law. For various reasons, right from the beginning, the desires of men—both from the white colonial government as well as the Chinese ruling elite-were prioritized over the interests of prostitutes.