Wash your hands, don’t go out unless necessary, stay at home: these guidelines have also been given to the Malaysian population to prevent the COVID-19 virus from spreading. But wait, there’s more. The government also released a rather special message specifically for women who are currently being quarantined with their husbands, and outrage followed.
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Tight-fitting clothes, makeup and a soft voice
So that men stay happy during the current quarantine period, the Ministry of Women, Family and Development in Malaysia (KPWKM) decided to give some additional advice to Malaysian wives through a Facebook post that has since been deleted.
In their post, they said that women shouldn’t just let themselves go and trade in their makeup for loose, comfortable clothes. Quite the contrary, in fact. They have actually been advised to wear tight-fitting clothes and continue to doll themselves up every morning. And if, when they ask their husbands to help out with the housework, they refuse, they should avoid being sarcastic and harassing them. Thanks for the advice!
Their advice sparked outrage
And as you can imagine, it didn’t take long for internet users to react to these completely sexist and inappropriate comments on social media, given the seriousness of the situation. And as a result, the women’s department director Datuk Saidatu Akhma Hassan has since published a statement online in response:
Our team shares daily tips and positive messages on social media (…) We would like to apologise if several tips were inappropriate or if they touched on the sensitivities of certain groups. We will be more careful in the future.
This message was received very negatively by the public and for obvious reasons. And their comments are only made worse by the fact that the number of calls to domestic abuse helplines have increased by 50% since the confinement period began.
When will women finally be treated fairly?
