ABSTRACT
Women artist-academics in Malaysia constantly struggle to earn recognition in academia and the arts. Their academic contribution and professional creative works are slow to be recognized, which creates a labyrinth in which women unceasingly battle the system for their voices to be heard. This chapter reflects the author’s personal journey as an artist-academic as she advocates her thoughts and craft and undertakes multiple intersectional roles to discuss her experiences in a three-fold part: (i) finding a sense of belonging within the faculty, (ii) navigating multiple systems seeking available and necessary resources, and (iii) triangulating the faculty between students, staff, and community/industry for various decisions whilst keeping the wellbeing of all involved as priority. As the roles are connected and interrelated, the discussion leads to devised stories and strategies for navigating the career trajectories for women in the academia as artists and academics.
