No pants, no beer, no yoga, no... job?

by Bri Roozen

You read the title right - although Muslim Malaysian women are not allowed to wear pants, do yoga, drink beer, and (maybe) attend a Black Eyed Peas concert, more and more are being encouraged to go to work. Particularly in the area of Kelantan, one of the small states in Malaysia, women have become a huge part of local trade, infrastructure, and economy. Decked out in gold bracelets and scarves, they (wo)man the market stalls in a show of independence and responsibility not often seen in other strictly Muslim cultures. In fact they're earning as much as the average man in the same state, a sign that although women may not be entirely equal for now, change is on the way.