Sartorial Strategies of Female Punks in Malaysia’s Socio-Religious Landscape

Abstract

This study explores the sartorial strategies employed by female punks in Malaysia, a Muslim-majority country, to navigate the complex interplay of subcultural identity, local socio-cultural norms, and religious expectations. Utilizing an ethnographic approach, the research reveals how these women selectively adapt their appearance across various social settings, balancing their allegiance to the punk subculture with the pressures of local societal norms. By using clothing as a symbolic tool, they maintain a coherent sense of self while negotiating different social landscapes. Drawing on symbolic interactionism, this study portrays punk identity as a dynamic and interpretive process, challenging the notion that subcultural styles are purely about resistance. Instead, it suggests that these practices can facilitate integration and acceptance, enabling individuals to bridge multiple social worlds. By advancing the conceptual framework of localization of subculture the research not only examines the formation and expression of subcultural identities through style but also how these identities are continuously adapted to personal and social changes. This study underscores the importance of local context in shaping subcultural practices and highlights the adaptive responses of these women, thereby repoliticizing punk subculture styles in a Malaysian setting.

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