Interestingly the impact on men and women was extremely different. Women’s role changed. Did not bind themselves with just domestic work which went against traditional practices. Often they started their own businesses or took up paid labour elsewhere.

A number of men often turned to drug and alcohol abuse, had overwhelming feelings of uselessness. Slipped further and further down society.

Divorce although being viewed as having positive connotations, related to increasing women’s rights, often were experienced negatively in the village. Prior to the rubber plantation, divorces were extremely rare, after the plantation many felt they had to divorce their husbands due to their anti-social behaviour.