Throughout history, popular culture has perpetuated the notion of a saintly woman as one who
works diligently without seeking recognition. She selflessly devotes herself to those she loves, often
diminishing her own needs and desires. These women tend to defer to others for decision-making
and avoid taking up space. They embody the ideals of martyrdom and motherhood, exhibiting
unwavering tolerance in the face of injustice. Examples of such women can be seen in characters like
Lorrie Sullenberger, the patient and devoted wife in Clint Eastwood's "Sully," or Sarah, the objectified
sexual partner of a man on a journey of self-discovery in Lawrence Sher's "Father Figures."
In popular culture, the idea of women as saintly figures is a fabricated myth that limits their
individuality. However, contemporary crime fiction is breaking down this idealized image of women
by introducing strong female protagonists. It's time to move past tired, outdated stereotypes that
have held back the true complexity of femininity for centuries.
Crime fiction
Noir – from film to fiction – means black
Detectives are always men, masculine genre
Golden Era, the emergence of female writers, change the stories – about women
Now well known, especially in Anglo-America (more women writers, characters, readers)
(insert how women use the genre to destabilise gender)
– emerging in Malaysia
KL Noir – a story about crime, focusing on social class, law crime (insert all studies about KL Noir)
The portrayal of women in the stories
What happen before? – women were shown as weak, strong internally (insert all studies about the
portrayal of women in Malaysian Lit)
In Noir – changed
For a considerable amount of time, feminist perspectives on crime fiction have been heavily debated.
However, it is worth noting that there has been a lack of discourse on this topic in Malaysia, despite
the rise of publications in this particular genre.