On Pointe: Women In M’sia: Somewhat Empowered

By: Natalie Shobana Ambrose

theSun, Malaysia (pg 12)

June 14th, 2012

http://www.thesundaily.my/news/406975

In the old Broadway musical Annie Get Your Gun, Betty Hutton and Howard Keel sing the ultimate battle of the sexes song Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better. This age old anthem ends with both actors simultaneously asserting their abilities and disputing their opponent, with Betty adamantly shout-singing “yes I can, can, can” and Howard forcefully insisting “no you can’t”.

Amusing as it is, there is an exasperated Betty in many women that has flourished the seeds of empowerment around the world. There are various organisations, civil society and individuals who have worked hard to balance the scales heavily tipped against equality. The enumerated list includes international agreements assuring access to medical care, property ownership, training, credit, employment and the right to control one’s own fertility.

Governments then restructure laws to ensure that they are on track to achieve Millennium Development Goal 3 to “promote gender equality and empower women”. This is all done in the belief that women will then have the “freedom to participate more fully and equally in society” (United Nations Population Fund).

All positive initiatives, but what has been glazed over is the escalating number of crimes against women, especially in developed or developing countries such as ours.

Imagine a woman empowered by her society, community and government to be the best she can possibly be – education: check, opportunity: check, access to the same infrastructure and services: check, yet is unable to walk in a car park in broad daylight without fearing for her safety – how empowered is she then?

What we have in Malaysia are women who are somewhat empowered in the boardroom but don’t have the same basic freedoms outside the office because they are seen as an easy target. So now, we double tint our car windows as a deterrent, so that it’s just a little bit harder to steal our handbags and personal belongings that are already tucked away under the passenger seat – and if they do smash the window, don’t put up a fight because the potential harm from a knife is far worse than losing your personal effects and that handbag you saved up for and love. If someone hits your car, don’t stop, don’t get out – just drive to the nearest police station and make a report. You do not want to be the victim of a car-jacking-kidnapping-assault. Does this sound like empowerment?

Don’t go jogging alone, don’t stay out too late, make sure you’re covered up, eagle eyes as you enter your house, learn self-defence, have a personal alarm, car alarm, house alarm, clutch your handbag when on the street, don’t walk alone, don’t drive alone, don’t live alone – basically you’re not safe doing anything on your own, even if you just want to run to the store for some eggs at night – don’t do it.

If anything bad happens, it’s because you were not vigilant enough or you really need your man/ mother/ father/ sister/ brother/ friend/ fill in the blank – someone to be with you at all times. God forbid, that you should actually decide to go to an ATM alone past sunset.

Is that what empowerment is? No matter how independent women are, the level of crime against them in our country quickly zaps away all efforts to empower and instil a healthy self-esteem.

We can measure gender parity by tertiary level enrolment, the number of seats held in national parliament, literacy rates and employment in the non-agriculture sector, and churn out a glowing register; yet if empowered women are to adjust their daily lives to the real threat of crime against them, how well have we moved towards empowering women? This reflects badly on how our society views women and what the authorities are willing to spend their time on.

Sadly, the rising crime rate too has become a political pawn and leaders are more interested in perception than actually stopping the brutality. Beefing up security just before crime rates are measured does not give a true reflection of actual crime rates. What good is touting the achievement of national key indicators when the reality on the ground reflects otherwise?

If crimes against women are dealt with in a more serious and systematic manner and not filed under petty crime with a “oh, these things happen”, couldn’t-care-less mentality, maybe then we might just be empowering women in Malaysia to believe that they are capable of doing anything that a man can do – even if it’s just a supermarket run alone at 9pm after a long day in the office.

Natalie would like to see more serious and concerted action by the authorities in curbing crimes against women – and not silly public service announcements about having to be vigilant.

Comments: letters@thesundaily.com