ABSTRACT
Set against the discourse of motherhood in the Malaysian television industry, Islam and culture, this chapter asks such questions as what kind of challenges are faced by Muslim women – in particular, mothers – who work behind the scenes, and how do they cope with such challenges? The chapter is divided into five sections. The first section offers insight into the sociocultural and religious setting in which Malay-Muslim women manage their families and work. The second section maps the literature from media sociology and cultural studies, echoing the feminist stance on women and motherhood in television production. The third section reflects on the methodology. The fourth section deliberates on the findings, the kinds of sociocultural and structural challenges faced by mothers who work behind the screen of television production. Finally, the fifth section discusses how these women negotiate their roles as mothers and as Muslim professionals. Living and working in a patriarchal culture and industry require these mothers to strive harder than others, especially in comparison to those who work in female-dominated professions. Such challenges include sociocultural values, gender bias, institutional racism and lack of organisational support. Although these challenges are common in the Western context, the experiences of Muslim mothers in television production in Malaysia are unique. Good leadership and teamwork, flexible working condition and the role of religion are three vital elements that help these mothers pursue their careers in television production.
