Representations of Malaysian Female Motorcyclists in Online Newspapers and Magazines
Nur Amirah Zakaria and Farrah Diebaa Rashid Ali
Abstract
Members of motorcycling cultures globally are often stereotyped as outlaws. These cultures have been seen as predominantly a male arena, the ratified members of which are described as masculine, bearded, and carefree, with the exception of an adherence to gang code and social economy. Women’s roles in motorcycling culture are assumed to be limited to bystanders, where they exist within the motorcycling community to support their male partners and families, riding on the back seat rather than actively participating as drivers and prominent members of the community (Plugfelder 2009). Yet, it is a truism that women’s involvement in motorcycling cultures and activities remains limited in Malaysia, a country that articulates the roles of men and women, reinforced in media representations of the sexes, and in interaction discourse.
This study uncovers representations of Malaysian female bikers in online newspapers and magazines. Twenty articles on Malaysian female bikers were analysed using Sack’s Membership Categorization Analysis, finding greater emphasis on the roles of mother and daughter. The role of wife also appears. Apart from highlighting the career of these female bikers, they were also represented as successful professional racers and travellers. We concluded that media and society will always anchor women in expected social roles.
Keywords: Motorcycling cultures, gender, female, social roles, membership categorization analysis, linguistic anthropology