This paper reflects on the conceptual and methodological challenges of utilizing a cross-cutting method by studying the capacity of state feminism in Malaysia. There is a need to explore the compatibility of state feminism’s theoretical framework beyond its current setting (Stetson and Mazur 2013: 657-658). Current state feminism literature has been concentrated conceptually on developed Western countries. I employ a cross-cutting method between state feminism and feminist institutionalism for identifying elements influencing feminism in developing non-Western countries. Despite the existence of dedicated official machinery aiming to improve women’s lifes in Malaysia, the situation continuously deteriorates. Visible for instance in the placement in the Global Gender Gap Index from 72 in 2006 to 100 in 2013 (UN Report, 2014). Formal and informal rules as Feminist Institutionalism analytical tools are fruitful to understand how state feminism works in developing, semi-democratic countries with strong ethnic religious political context, such as Malaysia.
