Closing the gender gap

If the Government is serious about turning Malaysia into a developed country by 2020, it must provide political leadership to change mindsets that still regard women as inferior to men. THE Malaysian Government has made endless promises to improve the status of women in this country: From signing several international agreements since the 1990s to approving a constitutional amendment to prohibit any form of gender discrimination in 2001, and from the Sixth Malaysia Plan promise to integrate women as equal partners in nation-building to the Ninth Malaysia Plan pledge to provide an enabling environment to ensure more effective participation of women in national development. But progress remains slow. In fact, in the latest Global Gender Gap report, Malaysia has fallen from its overall ranking of 72 in 2006 (when the report was first produced by the World Economic Forum) to 98 among 134 countries in 2010.

In a simulation study, the ESCAP survey showed that if Malaysias FLFP rate was increased to the United States level of 86% (the highest among Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries), then Malaysias GDP would grow by 2.88% and its growth rate would rise by 0.77%. This widening gender gap in economic participation and opportunities saw Malaysia drop from its 68th position in the 2006 Gender Gap Index to 99 last year in this category. In terms of political participation, it is ranked even lower an embarrassing 110th spot, a drop from the unenviable 90 in 2006. This is no surprise. There are only 23 women Members of Parliament out of 222 (10.4%). It is worse in the state assemblies 46 out of 576 (7.9%). Its better in the appointed Senate with 19 out of 66 (28.8%), but still a drop from 2004 figure of 33.3%. It is the worst at Cabinet level. Since independence, the number of women Cabinet ministers has never exceeded three, even though the number of minist! ers has increased. Today, there are only two women ministers (6.9%) in the Cabinet line-up of 29 ministers while there are eight women out of a total of 40 Deputy Ministers (20%). At the state level, Selangor performs best with 40% women in the state exco line-up, while most other states have the token one or two women exco members. In Terengganu and Perlis, there isnt even a woman state assembly member to choose from! The arguments for a countrys progress and prosperity, the realities of women and mens lives in the 21st century, the evidence-based research on the impact of womens education, work, and leadership on the well-being of families, communities and companies are there for all to evaluate and shape policy. So whats holding back the patriarchs who still rule our lives? Just fear of the unknown? How do you transform an economy to be more globally competitive when government and private sector policies drive talent away or fail to even unearth the potential among the women already in employment? The Gender Gap report presents a litany of evidence-based research that shows the clear correlation between gender equality and the level of a countrys competitiveness and GDP per capita. That women in decision-making positions have led to better outcomes to companies and communities is a fact. One survey of companies in Fortune 500 revealed that those with the highest representation of women on their top management teams experienced better financial performance than companies with the lowest womens representation. Return on Equity is 35% higher, and Total Return to Shareholders is 34% higher. In Malaysia, women in decision-making positions stand at 14%, while those on the boards of government-linked and private companies remain in single digit. In India, which adopts a 50% quota for women in village councils, research shows that women make decisions with better outcomes for communities when charged with budget decisions. They also appear to be more competent representatives than men, obtaining more resources for t! heir con stituencies despite having significantly lower education and relevant labour market experience. In the United States, women rank as the most effective law makers in the land. Women in Congress won their home districts an average of US$49mil more per year than their male counterparts and the cash was for projects across the spectrum, not just womens issues. Women sponsored and co-sponsored more bills than their male colleagues and these new laws driven by women were not only enacted they were popular. Research shows that bills sponsored by women survived deeper into the legislative process, garnered more press attention, and were more likely to be deemed important overall. Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Jalil has in recent months been speaking out on the need for more women in leadership positions. A study, with support from the United Nations Development Programme, was commissioned to develop a national action plan to achieve the Ninth Malaysia Plan target of 30% women in decision-making positions. Its been four years now and the policy paper on this matter is yet to be approved by the Cabinet. If the Government is serious about achieving this goal by 2015 and turning Malaysia into a developed country by 2020, it must show the political will to turn rhetoric into action. It has little time left to introduce policies and incentives to make marriage and motherhood compatible with the economic and political participation of women. It must provide political leadership to change traditional mindsets that still regard women as inferior to men. This is after all the 21st century. To be developed and modern means decisions and policies that impact the well-being of society must be made on the basis of evidence, not emotions and personal prejudices.