In The News
This piece was originally published in the Star on 14 June 2007.
Towards an equal society
THIS weekend, Kuala Lumpur will be hosting Fiesta Feminista, which aims to bring together people who share a vision for a just and equal Malaysian society, free from all forms of discrimination, particularly discrimination against women. The theme for the inaugural event is Embracing Diversity.
Star Two asked a few Malaysians - Connie Ng (entrepreneur, 50), Hwa Yi Zheng (student, 19) and mother and daughter pair Thailamy Muthiah (homemaker, 63) and Sengkodi Rajandren (clerk, 37) - what they thought of the status of women in our society today.
Do women have more opportunities and independence today compared with 20 years ago?
Sengkodi: Girls today have a better chance of getting an education. But the challenges are still there. In the workplace, for example, women face discrimination in terms of job opportunities and decision-making. Women are also still not safe from rape, domestic violence and sexual harassment. Much more needs to be done.
Hwa: Yes and no. As a society progresses, greater societal allocation and recognition for women naturally happens.
Now it may be all right for women to enter university, work their way up the corporate ladder, or maybe even run for president. But in many parts of the world, women are education-deprived, and dependent on marriage as a means of support and livelihood. They are unable to walk the streets without an entire society determining what they are or are not allowed to do.
Have women gained more access to decision-making?
Ng: In the mid-80s, women entered politics and the workforce in greater numbers, and some were promoted based on competenceand merit. They also started to own property and choose their life partners. Unfortunately the situation seems to have regressed. Now, we are made to think that men have become disadvantaged because more women are entering universities and doing better at "male" subjects like engineering and computer science.
In politics, women are only considered important during elections because of their voting power; they are not fairly represented in decision-making.
In the private and corporate sectors, Malaysian women have achieved some level of recognition, but a lot more has to be done.
What challenges do women today face and how can we overcome them?
Hwa: I think one of women's main challenges today is finding their niche and individuality, within their own localised society, amidst restrictions imposed on them by law, religion and culture.
We should constantly review and amend laws in favour of egalitarianism; have progressive and fair interpretation of religion; tap into media, education and literature to teach the younger generation about equality and civics; promote a greater active role of the husband in raising families; crack fewer sexist jokes in a day; have less gender stereotyping; have more male secretaries and less hierarchal male leadership.
Thailamy: Better upbringing. Children must be taught to respect women: respect your mother, wife and sister. They must also be taught to show care and concern beyond one's self interest. If your neighbour is beating his wife, do something; don't have a tidak apa attitude. We should help people regardless of their ethnicity, class, or gender.
Sengkodi: Parents must allow their daughters to have the same opportunities as their sons. Also, women in general need to be more aware of their rights. The education system should play a bigger role in promoting respect for women.
Ng: The media still projects a good woman as one who can play many roles - supermum, role model and corporate achiever. Women are pressured to perform their traditional roles and more, while men get let off the hook.
We need to focus on equal rights and opportunities, remove bad laws, and implement and enforce laws committed to real change.
What does feminism mean to you and is it relevant in Malaysia today?
Sengkodi: Women with the freedom to think and the freedom to act! Feminism is about taking control of our own lives.
Hwa: It is relevant in affecting necessary change in structures and laws, which impede women's social standing and freedom. On the other hand, I would say that not all of our society is ready for concepts like "empowerment" and "restructuring", which come together with feminism.
Thailamy: Feminism is not about hating men. It is about doing something about the men who hate women. Feminism is relevant in Malaysia and the rest of the world.
Ng: Feminism is relevant as long as Malaysians believe that parenting, caring for aged parents and housework are a woman's job, and as long as money and sexual humiliation are used as tools to discriminate against women and to deny them their rights.
