Wanita MCA moots gender sensitivity studies to combat stereotypes

 

Wanita MCA has proposed that a syllabus on gender sensitisation be taught in schools and made mandatory during the training of civil servants.

Its chief Heng Seai Kie said the course will serve to inculcate mutual respect among genders, in addition to removing archaic stereotypes that degrade women.

Specifically, she cited the Women, Family, and Community Development Ministry’s latest promotional video which featured minister Rina Mohd Harun and actor Rosyam Nor.

The latter was accused of making remarks that were disrespectful to women.

“Rosyam needs to ‘wake up’ to the seriousness his typecast had reinforced or the condonement of physically assaulting women.

“Whilst promoting the entrepreneurship programme, did he perceive his sputter as light-hearted humour – kopitiam (coffee shop) talk?” Heng asked.

Actor Rosyam Nor (left) with Women, Family, and Community Development Minister Rina Mohd Harun

She said Rina, as a minister, should have immediately stopped the “KL Gangster 2” actor from his “nonsensical talk” and instead insisted such misogyny is unacceptable.

She also brushed off the possible explanation that the actor was joking, saying that such jokes still served to put women down.

“While viewing a full recording of his words uttered would aid to comprehend the angle which he might have assumed was jest, nevertheless, his jokes are crass and only affirm long-held condescending gender profiling of women.

“If he had been aware of the inner strength that women hold, the challenges that mothers, daughters need to overcome during the long hours balancing household chores, family responsibilities, and work demands, he may not have railed in that manner.

“Not only have such portrayals tarnished the ministry, they completely defeat the initiatives to empower women which the ministry and its staff have long laboured at,” Heng said.

The video shared on Rina’s TikTok account showed Rosyam speaking in a gangster-like manner, believed to be mimicking his characters in various local thug movies, for what seemed to be promotional content for an entrepreneurship programme by the ministry.

While Heng referred to the gaffe as a possible oversight, other women politicians across the political divide were more vocal in expressing their displeasure at both the minister and actor. - Mkini