Isma has once again proven to be an organization that clearly discriminates women and demeans every single effort Malaysians have made in attempts to create a more gender balanced environment that can help bolster Malaysia’s faltering image. Gender inequality has been cited to be one of the major concerns faced in developing nations, where women are still perceived as inferior, therefore, are not bestowed equal opportunities as men.
Echoing the thoughts fellow Isma activist Dr Nur Farrah Nadia, Dr Fatimah Zaharah Rosli maintained that women were better suited taking on roles as mothers and home-makers simply because women possess ‘domesticated hormones”. Though I cannot emphasis enough on how important mothers and home-makers are in society and the awe-inspiring roles they have within a family unit, Dr Fatimah Zaharah’s claim that women are genetically engineered to assume pre-supposed gender roles is shockingly irrational and unfounded.
Researchers have proven that some women may experience internalize sexist attitudes towards other women as a result of hostile sexism prevalent in male dominated communities. Consequently, these women may adapt such attitudes as a protective mechanism stemming from rigid gender roles that further reiterate gender discrimination. Unfortunately, Dr Fatimah Zaharah is a regrettable product of extreme patriarchal social structures that continuously reinforces rigid gender roles on Malaysian Malay women.
Further criticism hurled at Sisters in Islam (SIS) and branding them as “hypocrital for condemning the right of women to be home-makers” is unnecessary. SIS is an established organization that has helped countless Malaysian women fight against tyrannical misogyny. Until today, SIS continues to be one of the most prominent organizations advocating for womens’ rights in Malaysia and has highlighted many valid issues worthy of debates and thorough discussions.
Dr Fatimah Zaharah further argued that many of the “social problems faced by today’s youth – including accidental pregnancies, early marriages and drug addiction were due to the lack of parental care and guidance, in particular from the absence of a mother figure at home”. Though, there might be some truth in her statement, simply deducing these problems as a result of parental neglect are rather brash. There are various contributing factors that lead to such incidences. While specific causes that lead to drug addiction are still not entirely known, elements such as genetic, psychological, environmental factors, trauma, family problems, sexual or physical abuse have all been identified (by researchers) as causes that lead to addiction. Other leading factors are mental illness, depression and poor stress coping skills.
Early pregnancies, on the other hand, also stem from a barrage of other issues such as unintended pregnancy as a result of poor or non-existent sex education. Teens and sometimes, children, do not fully understand biological and emotional aspects involved in copulation. Some become pregnant as a result of sexual abuse, rape or even incest.
The hostility this organization has shown towards Malaysian women is sexism in its lowest form, perpetrated by women aimed to demean other women. Preventing women and girls from attaining skills or even allowing them to realize their full potential is irresponsible. Additionally, blocking any attempts for Malaysian women to participate in our country’s workforce is damaging to the social structure and more so to the nation’s economic development. I can empathize with Dr Fatimah Zaharah, juggling a career and motherhood is no easy task; my mother went through the same uphill battles as most Malaysian women –taking on several roles at once; wife, mother, daughter and an academician. But the women in Isma should try to take a step back and reflect on how hurtful and damaging such remarks can be. To further reiterate, no one is devaluing the roles of home makers or mothers but to simply state that women have the DNA hormones which makes us more incline to take on such roles is simply a bad move.