ABSTRACT
This chapter will investigate gender roles in early Orang Asli communities through an exploration of the available literature written by colonial officers, as well as contemporary academics. The office of midwifery within the Semelai community is used as a case study and the gender dynamics therein will also be discussed. This is followed by a deliberation on the more pronounced male gender bias within certain indigenous leadership structures as found in some Orang Asli communities and an exploration of the Semelai spiritual leadership as a case study. Narratives from individuals will form a core component of this chapter, whereby their views on leadership, the division of labour in the domestic sphere, and the role of women and men in the family and society will be discussed toward understanding contemporary Orang Asli perceptions of gender roles.
