Gender equality: Where are we on this?

 

Convincing society to believe that getting pregnant out of wedlock is a fault of women (and girls) is just one more in a long line of misogyny constructs meant to hinder progress in women's rights and gender equality.

There is a serious need to recognise, acknowledge and derive transformational solutions to gender-based violence against women that begins from the time she is conceived and follows her throughout her childhood and into adulthood.

When a baby girl is born, many parts of our society already consider her lesser in human value compared to baby boys. Expectations towards her are measured and the world already decides what needs to be done to make her a suitable bride.

As she grows, many girls have prescribed gender roles. We tell her that she needs to learn to cook and clean while her brothers can play games. We tell her while her brothers can be outdoors until the wee hours, the outside world is simply too dangerous for girls.

In actuality, we are guilty of being creators of this dangerous world. We created predators by disrespecting women and girls. By treating them as lesser beings compared to men. By denying them their value as an equal part of the human race.

We tell girls that their bodies are sinful and that they will grow up wild, and therefore created the myth that they need to be tamed by the cruel means of circumcision.

We tell girls that they are the cause of rumours which in turn is a form of humiliation and shame to the family, and with that, force early marriages upon them leading to hundreds of child marriages registered - and many more performed via local customs beyond the law, every year in our country.

As a result, hundreds of girls drop out of the education system every year, only to face increased exposure to domestic slavery, abuse and traumatic consequences of early pregnancy.

When a woman is raped, society is quick to judge the circumstances of the assault - What was she wearing? Where was she going? What time was it? Was she intoxicated? - Building the case to point fingers at the woman, rather than squarely towards the perpetrator.

The same goes for survivors of domestic violence, with even certain politicians agreeing that women need to be disciplined and further prescribing methods to mete out these punishments. It seems that they have neglected to consider how men may be in need of some disciplining themselves.

Root of women’s issues

So, this brings us to the most recent turn of events, to punish women for becoming pregnant out of wedlock. What happens to the men in this situation? Nothing, obviously. But back to the women.

Imprisoning women upon pregnancy presumably into delivery and subsequently into the first two to three years of the infant's life would only reinforce the trauma of the woman. It cuts off her ability to work, thereby severely limiting her economic capacity.

Having a "criminal record" also puts a restraint on her earning opportunities. And what is the crime? Becoming pregnant?

In some states, efforts to break the many cycles of poverty are essential. Campaigns, comprehensive sex education and putting equal responsibility on men are therefore far more effective methods in spreading pregnancy-related awareness, without simultaneously damaging this socio-economic mobility.

Things such as female circumcision, child marriage, domestic violence and yes, even pregnancy out of wedlock - are not and should not be viewed as individual issues.

Instead, they form the full life cycle reality of women and girls in Malaysia. It grooms how they grow up, how they think, how they are perceived and what is expected of them.

It is high time that we realise that the root of women's issues goes back to the same systemic struggle - gender equality.

When we are able to look at the fabric of our society from these lenses, it is then that we can create a world where women are able to live their true selves. - Mkini

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MAJIDAH HASHIM is an old-school sustainability professional and a human rights activist.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.