By Ivy Kwek.
Note: WomenBizSENSE obtained permission from Ivy to re-post this article (which she wrote for The Malaysian Insider). Ivy is a Penang-based research officer interested in socio-political issues.
JUNE 29 — The move to set a boardroom quota for women should be lauded, if it is made with real political will. The call for more women representation has long been made and a response from government overdue.
Currently, women are clearly under-represented in Malaysia public and private decision-making field, with 11 per cent in parliament, eight per cent in state assemblies, 13 per cent as board members in Ministry of Finance Incorporated companies, and 7.6 per cent as board members in the 200 listed companies on Bursa Malaysia. Some form of effort need to be done to boost women’s participation.
First of all, is quota-setting a right way to boost women’s participation? I believe that an imposed quota will be helpful to achieve the threshold representation of women, but it should remain as a temporary measure with an ultimate aim to empower the women to be able to compete fairly with men.
It is not fair to throw women who have a slow start in the race into the deep waters without any aid given, nor is it fair to continue providing the advantage after they picked up, as a persisting favouritism would potentially lead to prejudice towards women with great achievement as if they would not be able to make it without help.
Secondly, is the 30 per cent quota an appropriate number? With the nation’s current lacklustre performance, isn’t the 30 per cent aim in five years’ time a bit of an ambitious dream? On the other hand, considering that the women’s population is slightly more than men in the country (1.01:1), wouldn’t the figure look too belittling? Can’t women do better than that?
Numbers do not necessarily speak the loudest. Beyond the number commitment, we need to look to the root problems. Why are women less represented in decision-making field?
Statistics has shown that female tertiary education graduates are on par with their male counterparts, but female employment rate dropped sharply with female labour participation rate at 46 per cent as compare to 80 per cent for male, not to mention female participation rate in high position.
The barrier could be cultural, as women are expected to stay at home and raise families in the Asian context. Can we break away from the traditional mentality and acknowledge that women, too, have the right to pursue their career dream and that the family is not the sole responsibility of women?
We should aim to implement policies that will create a more level playing field for women. Sexual harassment and reluctance of employer to grant maternity leave are rampant in the workplace. Despite NGOs’ tireless effort in fighting for an anti-sexual harassment Act, the response from government has amounted to no more than amending the existing employment act with light effect on offender.
Male chauvinism also persists in the society today. We hear sexist remarks being thrown around even among in the supposedly sacred House of Parliament, such as the classic “women leak every month” statement and the recent “women are dangerous drivers” fiasco. Could you blame women if they shy away from these hostile grounds?
Thirdly, why is the quota imposed only on the private sector? What about women representation in the political sector, which is the most crucial in policy-making? In politics, bureaucracy kills talent. Women who want to reach the top in the party structure often have to fight amongst women in the women’s wing (this situation is especially glaring in Umno). Women politicians, after making it to the higher level, are often confined to women-related or more junior portfolio as can be seen in the current Cabinet line-up.
Lastly, I would like to add, are we striving for women’s representation, or representation of women? While there’s nothing wrong with women championing women issue, it should not be our ultimate aim in involving women in decision-making, but to have real participation of women, whom opinion will be taken seriously just as the men’s, in all aspect of policy making.
Similarly, should women’s issues remain the concern of women? Just as how I believe that a Chinese can speak up for his or her fellow Malay or Indian and vice versa, I believe that men can champion women’s issues just as passionately. Women’s issues are not of sectarian interest, but are issues of social justice, of creating a freer and more equal society.
The 30 per cent quota system is as good as a short term goal, just as any affirmative action is as a temporary measure. Let’s strive for a more equal environment for both genders. Let’s not be contented with number commitment but pressure the government to start some concrete steps to ensure its success.
We, women, are not for window dressing; we can do better than that.