Oueen Bee Syndrome – Letting down the Feminine Side
Perak BN Exco Dato’ Hamidah Osman announced recently that a female politician could not become Menteri Besar, in Perak, or any other Malaysian state, because of ‘royal protocol and meeting with religious department officials’.
Her short-sighted remarks are irresponsible and damaging. She may have considered that with one brush stroke she could extinguish the dreams of many women who aspire to be future Malaysian leaders. She won’t succeed though because women are too smart for that. Inadvertently, she exposed herself as someone lacking vision, clarity and ambition and certainly no role model for Malaysian women.
Law Says Yes
Renowned constitutional law expert Abdul Aziz Bari claimed that women, or even non-Malays and non-Muslims, could legally become MBs. The Sultan, or head of state, could dispense with the prerequisites for the position of MB and invoke a particular constitutional proviso, if it transpires that only unsuitable Malays are available, no Malay-Muslim assembly persons exist or no suitable males are available.
When one reads publications like Fortune or Time, women shun leadership and power mainly because of motherhood. But in our Exco’s case, it is from contact and meetings with Sultans or religious department officials. This is ridiculous. We have achieved much in educating women, equipped them with physical and mental tools and empowered them. Hamidah’s proposal stops them dead in their tracks. It’s pointless telling them to work hard if they can’t qualify for the top prize. Where is the incentive or encouragement?
Educating Women
Malay girls were given access to formal education in 1885. The Chinese had already established community schools from the early 19th century. Indian children in the estates progressed when the 1923 Labour Code compelled employers to build schools. These are important milestones in the history of Malaya (and Malaysia). Education was the catalyst for social and political change.
I need only to talk to my elderly women relatives, who register extreme regret and sadness at being denied the opportunities that we take for granted today, like education and job openings. Most of them went to school up to ‘darjah 5’, in a sekolah agama. These women are bright, hard-working and ambitious. They did not lack ability. They lacked opportunities and funding. Otherwise they would have lifted themselves out of depressing poverty. It would have altered the social landscape, for women can and do, make a huge difference.
For generations, women in modern Malaysia struggled to reach the peak of their professions, their paths usually obstructed by prejudice or tradition. Assuredly, they will dominate in the workplace, this decade. They possess several skills and achieve better academic qualifications. They excel at teamwork, leadership skills, communication and emotional intelligence. They also exhibit better resilience and integrity.
Our Own Worst Enemies?
Inexplicably, the notable rise in the professions fails to explain the dearth of women in top positions in politics, the professional bodies or armed forces. Is it the work-life balance issue? Or is it because, as in Perak, other women become our own worst enemies?
This Exco member has given lame excuses why women are ineligible to become MB. We are not privy to communications within her political circle. But are we witnessing adept political manoeuvring and sinister manipulations at work? Now that she has worked her way up, is she simply protecting her exalted position? Is she preventing other women from rising up the ranks and in essence, stifle their aspirations? Could she be suffering from the Queen Bee Syndrome in that she refuses to be surrounded by competitors of the same sex?
For ages, women blamed men for hindering their careers, and for the difficulties in achieving gender equality.
Hamidah’s remarks symbolise the waste of a golden opportunity. What happened to motivation, sound judgement and vision? Who can we depend on to provide a good role model? Hers is a spectacular failure of leadership.
MARIAM MOKHTAR
Ipoh Echo provides a forum for views and opinions of the Perak community. Publishing this article does not mean we endorse or share the views of this columnist.
Category: Headlines, Thinking Aloud
Subscribe
If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to receive more just like it.
that is the reason why BN and their component are getting all mix up.they are too old in their ideas for change.after 50+ years of ruling mentality,they have become sterile.nothing bothers them anymore.
unfortunately,the rakyat still gives them hope.
the press gave them hope.
to much hope and thety become hopeless.
i sympathise with the girls,women and the ladies.
somebody had just shoot them down!