Ministry missing the point on sexist posters, says Bar president

Updated 4 years ago · Published on 2 Apr 2020 8:57PM · 3 Comments

THE Women and Family Development Ministry is still missing the point about gender stereotyping despite its apology for posters advising women on how to maintain harmony in the home during the movement-control order (MCO), said the Malaysian Bar.

Bar president Salim Bashir, in a statement, said the series of posters, titled “Kebahagiaan Rumah Tangga” (Household Harmony), imposed expectations of women’s appearance and behaviour, and implied that they are solely responsible for household chores.

“(The posters) also suggested that women need to be docile and patient when faced with verbal and emotional abuse.

“This is wholly unacceptable. Surely it is recognised that both genders should share household responsibilities, and women should not be required to feel subservient to or weaker than men.

“While the ministry has issued an apology and taken down the posters, it appears that they have missed the point, stating that they apologise if the tips shared were inappropriate and had offended the sensibilities of certain groups.”

He said this shows that the ministry failed to recognise that the intrinsic message of its advisory is offensive to all women as it perpetuates negative gender stereotypes and inequality.

Two days ago, the ministry apologised for the posters, shared on its social media accounts, that advised women not to nag their husbands about household chores.

Women were also encouraged to wear make-up at home during the MCO, and to adopt an affection tone and speak like Doraemon – a blue robotic cat in a popular Japanese manga series – should there be conflict with their partners.

Minister Rina Harun has caught plenty of flak online over the posters. – April 2, 2020.

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Comments

  • She is preaching what she does at home

    Posted 4 years ago by H. Mokhtar · Reply

  • Still missing the point. It puts the entire responsibility for home atmosphere on the wife. No wonder men opt out and abandon their families if they feel its not their joint responsibility. Men should grow up and stop thinking they need mothers not equal partners as wives.

    Posted 4 years ago by Malaysia New hope · Reply

  • En Salim. you also missing the point. She is advising based on her experience at home. Her hubby loved it so no harm giving advise to the rest of the nation

    Posted 4 years ago by . . · Reply