Empowering women will strengthen society

THE Women, Family and Community Development Ministry has been given a “failed” rating by women activists for its 100-day report card.

Naturally, it rejected the rating and the deputy minister seems to have taken the criticism personally, claiming that it was intended to tarnish the reputation of both her minister and herself, a quaint defence.

While the report talks of the defence and named a few actions taken by the ministry as proof of mistaken perceptions, the examples cited were less than convincing as measures towards raising the position in women in areas where much needs to be done.

For example, has the long proposed 30 per cent of management positions for women in the public and private sector been achieved? Indeed the 30 per cent women in management proposal was made during the premiership of Tun Abdullah Badawi in the 2000s.

One would have thought that two decades would have been enough time to demonstrate a 50 per cent gender balance by now.

There can be little excuse to suggest that the objective is impossible. Enrolment of women at undergraduate level is high, often higher than male enrolment.

Obviously there is foot dragging. For example, why are government-linked companies not involved as a solution? Can the government not set an example? Research has shown that organisations with women leadership are no less effective.

The deputy minister cited the success of Waja Squad volunteers, a support group intended to befriend abused women, whose number have risen dramatically during the pandemic.

The benefit is undeniable, but in the way of improving the social status of women, it does little. Did the programme stop abuse? Did it help to raise men’s awareness on the status of women?

Are there attempts to educate these abusive husbands on gender equality and mutual respect?

Presumably abuse cases are reported to the police and the law will act appropriately. But in a society where patriarchal norms are the received values and women are but chattels, much has to done. New norms are needed, which should be made part of Moral Education at schools.

Indeed, the ministry is supposed to take care of the welfare of all citizens, and women are a part, albeit a large part.

After all, the welfare of women covers the welfare of children, too. A working mother is beneficial to the family and country. Therefore, affordable facilities to release women into the workforce is also necessary.

How far has this been achieved? Of course, employers are happier to bring in foreign labour, which in the final analysis, is cheaper. But dependence on foreign labour is not a perfect solution — a problem demonstrated during the pandemic.

The government has been pushing for better female labour force participation, but family life circumstances for many women are just not amenable.

How much has the ministry done to facilitate this national aspiration? Can our women go out to work knowing that her family responsibilities are not put at risk? And, has the ministry taken the initiative to ensure that her remuneration pays for the sacrifice fairly?

Only recently in a speech in Sarawak, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob mentioned a request for the setting up of a women’s bank.

There are women’s banks in Nepal and Cambodia. The working capital is raised from corporate donations and elsewhere. In Malaysia, the state can put in the seed capital.

The point of note in this policy proposal is the empowerment of women. As a group, women has shown themselves to be worthy of assistance.

Many have taken small loans to kick off small- and medium-scale enterprises (SME), either at home or community based, and are successful in their business.

Accompanied by educational programmes of financial skills and practical training is a superb way of empowering rural women and alleviating poverty.

Women are often a forgotten group as agents of development. Yet, many examples demonstrated the reliability of women as borrowers and entrepreneurs.

In Finland, the women’s bank is a foreign aid organisation, raising money for women of underdeveloped countries. Through donations, by the third year (2010), it had collected €3 million.

In Malaysia, the capital can be raised as part of corporate social responsibility programmes.

Even though the women, family and community development minister and her deputy may have been offended, it is only right for the women activists to criticise as there has been little push for empowering women.

Much of the solutions provided do little to engender society and give women the chance and respect they deserve.

Women reproduce society physically and through their nurturing, they also construct society. Empowered women can help build a strong society.