Berhenti bertekak soal istilah, mari selesaikan nasib wanita Malaysia

Malaysia's society often debates the term "feminism," with some seeing it as a struggle for equal rights while others fear it may introduce foreign ideas that contradict traditional family values. Regardless of one's stance, denying the issue serves no purpose. More pressing is the fate of Malaysian women, who face challenges such as managing household responsibilities, family care, and financial struggles in today's Malaysia.

The Global Gender Gap Report 2026 ranks Malaysia 104th out of 145 economies in measuring the gap between men and women. The country's reality can be observed through statistics, with women's labor force participation rate at 57.3% as of mid-2026, compared to men's 82.9%. The reason for this disparity, despite many women having higher education levels, lies in the continued influence of family responsibilities and household duties, which disproportionately affect women.

On average, women spend more than five hours a day working at home and taking care of family members without pay, compared to men's four hours and twenty minutes. When children fall ill, schools close, or parents become more demanding, someone must sacrifice work time. This is not to blame anyone but to open our eyes to the reality that workplaces and society in Malaysia still need to do more to help couples share responsibilities more equitably.

Understanding the lives of professional women in Malaysia's far-away capital differs significantly from that of single mothers in rural villages. Their life paths are shaped by income, religion, social background, and traditional customs. In our nation, religion and family are not just personal matters but the backbone of the collective society.

Any effort to support women's fate must be rooted in values of fairness, trust, and mutual benefit, closely tied to our community life, rather than simply borrowing opinions from abroad. Fair services also mean not having a war between men and women; men can also be fathers, children, husbands, and colleagues. Encouraging men to equally care for children and do household chores is not just to alleviate the mother's burden but to help form a more responsible family.

Healthy discussions do not seek enemies; they seek solutions. Ultimately, we face the opportunities, work, family responsibilities, and compassionate services every day. We can explore perspectives from outside to understand the situation, but the path to solutions must align with local standards. Most importantly, it's not about winning the term "feminism," but our courage to build a fair society for men and women.

This article is the opinion of the writer, a PhD candidate in leadership studies, who studies responsive, fair, and balanced leadership between men and women, and does not necessarily represent FMT.