Navigating ‘Purdah’ Culture in Urban Space: The Restricted Lives of Young Married Rohingya Refugees in Malaysia

Abstract

Rohingya refugees often migrate through Malaysia before resettling in other countries. One of the most significant Rohingya cultures relates to purdah, in which women are instructed to not be seen by men and are not permitted go to most public places. Women, including girls in their early teens, are expected to stay at home, which hinders their education and access to public spaces. The purpose of this chapter is to shed light on the lives of young Rohingya refugees who live in Malaysia’s urban areas under a purdah culture. This study gathered narratives about child marriage from 20 young and married Rohingya refugees with key themes including access to public and private space in relation to culture and everyday life. The chapter discusses the restricted life of this vulnerable group and sheds light on how they navigate public and private spaces within purdah culture. Due to purdah culture, they are restricted from public places such as schools, playgrounds, markets and wider public spaces. Medical care is only accessible to Rohingya women through their husbands, making this the only way they can access public facilities.