International Women's Day celebration: Need to do away with traditional gender stereotypes: Mei Fun
Published on: Wednesday, March 11, 2015
Kota Kinabalu: Malaysian Chinese leaders can't help dwelling on the brainy quote of a famous leader who had high regard for women – Women Hold Up Half The Sky – at the International Women's Day celebration, here, Monday.The event with the theme "Changing Mindset - Transforming Lives, Sharing and Caring. Our Women – Our Country, Our Future" was organised by the Women and Senior Citizens Bureau of the Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS) at the Putera Theatre Ballroom.Deputy Minister of Women, Family and Community Development, Senator Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun, said she believed that women would not be satisfied with holding up just half the sky.
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"Having said this, I know that women wouldn't want to hold up the entire sky by themselves because of our conviction that men and women can work together to make things happen," she said to applause when launching the celebration.She was commenting on a statement by the President of FCAS, Datuk Dr TC Goh who said that women may hold up the whole sky themselves if they so desire. "There is nothing wrong as we are living in a democratic world and there are no barriers in the way," he said earlier in his welcome address.Going by the upward trend in the number of women graduates since 2011, Chew is optimistic about women constituting important human capital for the nation's development in the years to come."In 2011, women undergraduates made up 62.5pc while another 58.3pc consisted of masters graduates. Two years down the road (2013), the figures had increased to 63.1pc and 59.3pc respectively. Not only that, 44.8pc of PhD holders were women that year," she noted.
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At this juncture, Chew drew attention to the latest 2015 Hays Quarterly Report on Women in Senior Management Positions in Asia.According to her, Malaysia is just behind China in that 36pc of senior management roles in China are held by women while 34pc of these roles in Malaysia are held by women.
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"Our proportion of women at senior management levels looks promising. Based on the statistics, Malaysia has overcome Hong Kong (33pc) and beaten Singapore too (27pc)," she said. Meanwhile, Chew expressed the need to educate the next generation on doing away with traditional gender stereotypes about men and women playing different roles."I don't see any problem in differences as we can play our respective roles side by side to bring continued development to the country. In short, men and women complement each other."For greater protection of women and on the fundamental principle of gender equality, the Deputy Minister said Article 8 (2) of the Federal Constitution was amended in August 2001 to prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender. "Earlier, in 1995, Malaysia had ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (or CEDAW)."Chew said the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development advocates flexi working hours in encouraging more women to return to the workforce, especially those with grown-up children.She also said the Government's care and concern for women's wellbeing was reflected in the provision of a mammogram subsidy through the Ministry. "Initially, only women whose monthly household income was less than RM5,000 qualified for such assistance but now, we have raised the limit to less than RM10,000 per month. This means more Malaysian women are eligible to receive the subsidy."On the Women Directors Training Programme (WDTP) initiated by the Ministry, Chew said their names are available online while calling on companies not to hesitate to appoint qualified women to boardroom positions.She reiterated that her ministry had also pushed for reforms favourable to women in the country. "For instance, previously, widows were not eligible to receive their husbands' pension once they remarried but today they are allowed to do so even if they remarry."Another example is the inclusion of mental or verbal abuse as a form of violence against women, in the Domestic Violence Act in addition to physical abuse.Earlier, in his address, Dr Goh said the concept of gender equality is the "in" thing in the 21st century."Women have made their foray into a number of male domains. What men can achieve, women can do likewise. In fact, women can perform better in certain disciplines because they are attentive and have an eye for detail."He, however, stressed that women have a choice whether to be homemakers or establish their careers in a competitive world."They can be equally successful either way, no doubt about it," he said.Chairperson of FCAS Women & Senior Citizens Bureau, Datuk Agnes Shim, who also spoke, said men and women are regarded as smart partners in the country's socio-economic development."Women's role begins in the family as a nurturer and a primary educator, and as part of their social responsibility, they also contribute in no small measure to the society in which they live."In fact, women's contribution doesn't stop in the society. The Government has always acknowledged the vital role of women in the overall development of the State and Nation," she said.On the theme of the celebration, Shim said women must change their mindset in that they must have confidence in transforming their lives through education and economic opportunities."When this happens, they are sharing a common platform and caring to make a difference in the world. Women are our country, our future."Together with the menfolk, they form the 'pillar' of the nation to bring about a better tomorrow by raising future generations," she enthused.Meanwhile, FCAS 1st Vice-President Datuk Susan Wong Siew Guen entertained the appreciative audience with a repertoire of Mandarin numbers. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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