Ministry Slammed For Posting Sexist MCO Tips That Urge Women To Talk Like Doraemon
The post has since been deleted.
By Arisha Rozaidee — 31 Mar 2020, 05:54 PM
The Ministry of Women, Family, and Community Development (KPWKM) recently published several tips for women with regard to the Movement Control Order (MCO)
On Friday, 27 March, the government body shared a poster directed towards mothers working from home.
The caption read, "Here are a few tips to help you stay productive and focused while working from home. We would also like to remind you to not be so preoccupied while working until your family members are not monitored, which could lead to violations of the current Movement Control Order. Happy woman, happy family."
The infographic includes advice telling women to avoid wearing casual clothing, put on makeup, and dress up.
They also shared several other public service announcements with sexist undertones directed towards women facing marriage problems during MCO
The series of posters uploaded on Monday, 30 March, was dubbed 'The Happiness of a Household is Built Together, How to Avoid Fights at Home Between Husband and Wife'.
One of the images stated that a woman must not be sarcastic towards her partner if he does not help around the house. Instead, they should assign duties to their husbands so they will know exactly what to do.
In another poster that has since been deleted, KPWKM wrote that if a husband goes against a wife's request while carrying out tasks at home, the wife should use humorous words and copy Doraemon's tone of voice followed by giggling as opposed to nagging.
People took to social media to criticise the ministry for their misogynistic messages
As a reply, the All Women's Action Society (AWAM) wrote, "While dressing up to work is one way of maintaining discipline and a routine while working from home, the focus on looks, dress, and makeup is absolutely unnecessary."
"Stop this sexist messaging, KPWKM and focus on domestic violence survivors who are at higher risk now!"
"Folks this is the most sexist thing to come out of the Ministry of Women," wrote legal advisor and human rights activist Michelle Yesudas.
She added, "It infantalises women, men, provides unnecessary couples counselling advice steeped in misogyny and perpetuates harmful stereotypes. Name dropping Doraemon in this context is absolutely shameful."
Ex-minister Datuk Sri Azalina Othman Said also criticised KPWKM. She tweeted, "The memes are politically incorrect, promotes gender bias, and perpetuate misogyny. I'm disappointed that the ministry is condoning messages which goes against the empowerment of women and gender equality."
