Women and Socioeconomic Change in Malaysia: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

Socioeconomic transformation has significantly influenced the position, roles, and well-being of women in contemporary society, particularly in relation to family structure, social participation, environmental adaptation, and community sustainability. Nevertheless, existing studies discussing women and socioeconomic change remain fragmented across multiple disciplines, resulting in limited holistic understanding of the interconnected social, cultural, health, and developmental dimensions affecting women. Therefore, this systematic literature review aims to synthesize and analyse the current body of knowledge related to women and socioeconomic change. This study applied the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocol to ensure a transparent and systematic review process. Data were retrieved from two major databases, namely Scopus and ERIC, using advanced search strategies based on the keywords “women”, “socioeconomic”, and “change”. The review covered publications from 2022 to 2026. Following the screening and eligibility process, 20 primary studies were selected for final analysis. The findings revealed three major themes. The first theme, Women, Gender Roles, and Sociocultural Transformation, highlighted issues related to gender norms, women’s leadership, sociocultural expectations, legal rights, and feminist discourse. The second theme, Family, Well-Being, and Social Health, emphasized family relationships, health quality, ageing, communication patterns, migration, and food insecurity. The third theme, Socioeconomic Development, Environment, and Community Sustainability, focused on urbanisation, environmental vulnerability, water conservation, and sustainable community development. Overall, the review demonstrates that socioeconomic change has multidimensional implications for women’s lives and societal well-being. The study contributes to the existing literature by providing an integrated thematic understanding of women and socioeconomic transformation, while also highlighting the need for inclusive policies, sustainable social support systems, and future interdisciplinary research.