Purpose

This research intends to explore women’s educational thought among the Chinese and Malay intellectuals in early 20th century British Malaya. The objectives of this research are: (1) to investigate the dissemination of female education among the Chinese and Malay and its underlying ethnic consciousness; (2) to analyze the role women played and their outlook on education by studying contributions made by Liew Yuen Sien (1901-1975) and Zainon binti Sulaiman (1903-1989).

Design/methodology/approach

This research examines the history of education by utilizing sources including newspapers, periodicals, and school magazine. This subject was subjected to document analysis.

Findings/results

1. Social and religious reforms led the Chinese and Malays in British Malaya to advocate for female education as a means to improve and elevate their societal status and revolutionize their respective communities.

2. In contrast to Zainon, who emphasized on Islamic teachings and sought to nurture devoted wives and mothers due to her Malay Islamic identity, Liew Yuen Sien was influenced by Chinese nationalism ideas and focused on female athletics.

Originality/value

1. Studies on women’s education in Malaya are scarce, and they were limited to separate studies on the educational development of the Chinese and Malay communities. This study puts the women’s education of these two communities in a horizontal dimension, and systematically presents the similarities in the development of women’s education.

2. To analyse the role of Chinese and Malay intellectual women in the development of their respective ethnicities’ educational landscape. This research goes beyond the traditional analysis of male intellectuals and deepens the connotation of the study of women’s education.