#IFJBlog: How journalists can help break barriers for women in Malaysian politics

Women who enter politics in Malaysia face numerous barriers to achieving fair and equal political representation. Media coverage, restrictive party apparatuses, and public perceptions all impact the careers and legacies available for women striving for political change. Strong and more equitable journalism is crucial in changing how women leaders are represented, writes Abdul Rahman bin Khairuddin.

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In March, a report by Utusan Malaysia revealed that only 17 per cent of Malaysia's parliamentarians are women, holding just 30 out of 222 in the Dewan Rakyat (House of Representatives). The Dewan Negara (Senate) shows similarly low representation, with only 8 of its 70 members being women. Despite Malaysia being home to many trailblazing female leaders, this stark gender inequality persists in all levels of politics. So, what can be done by journalists and media workers in particular to change the dynamic in this heavily male-dominated arena?

Building from work by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the University of Padova, and the Permanent Conference of the Mediterranean Audiovisual Operators (COPEAM), the IFJ Asia-Pacific and the National Union of Journalists Peninsular Malaysia (NUJM) are set to implement a Malaysia-specific training program, 'Rewriting the Story: Tackling Media Gender Stereotypes in Political and Public Life', to help challenge the dominant narratives that exclude women from public discourse and address gender inequality in media and political life.

A Gender Gap in Global Rankings

In the 2024 World Economic Forum's (WEF) Gender Gap Index, Malaysia ranked 114th out of 146 countries, a drop of 12 places from the previous year. Despite Malaysia sharing the number one place for women's educational attainment (alongside 28 other countries globally), it ranked 102nd for economic participation and opportunity, with notable gender gaps in senior leadership roles. Despite women occupying nearly half of the entry-level positions, only 21 per cent make it to board-level seats. The situation is even more dire in political empowerment metrics, where Malaysia ranks 134th, reflecting the severe underrepresentation of women in parliament and ministerial positions.

Among 16 countries in the East Asia and Pacific region, Malaysia ranked 14th, ahead of Japan and Fiji but far behind leaders like New Zealand and Australia. But this was brought down significantly by the reality of women's representation in governance, ranking 122nd for women in parliament and 129th for women in ministerial positions. To promote a more equitable society, and a government that reflects the lived realities of Malaysia's women and gender-diverse communities, the need for systematic reforms is critical to close the gender gap, particularly in politics and leadership.

Why Are Women Still Underrepresented in Politics?

The question of why women remain underrepresented in politics is multifaceted. Societal expectations, structural barriers, and cultural norms all play significant roles. Even though Malaysia has seen some prominent female politicians rise to power, the general landscape remains male-dominated.

According to Teh Athira, General Secretary of the National Union of Journalists Malaysia (NUJM) and a journalist with The Star, successive governments have failed to achieve the needed 30 per cent quota for women in political leadership roles, despite more women entering politics than ever before in history. Despite efforts to field more women, such as in the case of Pang Sock Tao, who won in the Kuala Kubu Bahru election, there remains limited visibility of their contributions post-election in media reporting and coverage. Teh also noted that despite women driving political campaigns at the grassroots level, they are too often sidelined when it comes to more central leadership positions within political parties, with male candidates being heavily prioritised.

Bucking the trend in leadership and decision-making roles, the national journalist union has two women at its helm - both are working to change the story, not only for women in unions but more broadly. Farah Marshita, President of NUJM and journalist with Berita Harian, echoes Athira's sentiment. She points out that women regularly face an imbalance in representation in politics and need to consistently campaign for their inclusion. Even in cases where female incumbents hold positions, such as in the Mahkota state assembly, currently, they are often replaced by a male candidate from BN youth wings.

One of the significant barriers to female participation in politics is overcoming entrenched patriarchal mindsets in Malaysia. As Teh Athira explains, women politicians often face difficulties in being recognised as candidates for central leadership roles, despite having significant qualifications and capability compared to their male counterparts. Marshita also emphasises that women contend with both societal and political patriarchy, making their journey into politics even more challenging.

Media's Role in Shaping Perceptions

Media coverage plays a critical role in shaping public perceptions of women in politics.

Speaking on the representation of women through recent European Union elections, the IFJ's gender expert, Pamela Mornière said "The way that some media represent women involved in politics seems to be more about their gender than the policies for which they stand. Too many news reports featuring women politicians will concentrate on issues that have nothing to do with politics such as their looks, family status, sexual orientation, or their emotional behaviour."

Gender bias continues to pervade Malaysian media, where women politicians are often judged based on their appearance, personal lives, or even emotional behaviour rather than their policies and leadership style. Male-dominated leadership in newsrooms across Malaysia cements these patriarchal beliefs and narratives which can distort voters' perceptions but can also discourage other women from considering taking on political ambitions or a career in politics.

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), in collaboration with the National Union of Journalists (NUJM) Malaysia, is tackling the issue in the country along with a number of women CSO and gender activists in launching its "Rewriting the Story" program for political journalists and gender activists from the media sector in early October 2024.

There is a need for more "political will" to introduce other capable women into leadership roles, says Teh Athira, adding that too often it is the same familiar faces dominating party leadership. From her career reporting on politics in the country, Farah Marshita says women are typically given roles that are perceived as less aggressive or less challenging, which only reinforces the notion that women are not suited for the most demanding leadership positions.

But social media has emerged as a powerful tool for women politicians, providing them with direct access to the public. Both female and male opposition members have effectively used these platforms to raise important issues, further breaking the barriers of traditional media representation.

Political Will and Progress

Malaysian journalists at the forefront of women's advancement underscore the need for stronger political will to elevate women into more prominent roles in politics. In the recent state elections, a prominent female politician fought for more local candidates who had a demonstrated involvement in politics, but her party denied the request, choosing male candidates instead, even though the women had strong qualifications.

In the 15th General Election (GE15) in November 2022, 127 women contested parliamentary seats, and 60 vied for state seats. Despite the encouraging numbers, women still made less than 13% of the total candidates in the six state elections in 2023, far below the 30% target. So while the involvement of women in politics is growing, structural challenges and the slow pace of reform continue to hamper genuine progress.

Addressing gender disparities in Malaysian politics requires action across multiple sectors. Political parties need to create more inclusive environments, and the media must play a pivotal role in reframing how female politicians are perceived.

Through "Rewriting the Story", women and men working in media will gain the skills and knowledge to report on political issues more fairly and comprehensively. It is clear that journalists trained in gender-sensitive reporting can help break down stereotypes, offer voters more balanced insights into women politicians' work and policies, and better represent the important work of female leaders in Malaysian society.

A Collective Effort

But to see a significant transformation in Malaysia's media requires meaningful action. The IFJ media, gender, and politics training will work with journalists to reform narratives around female leaders, and echo some of the successes of the IFJ program which has already achieved significant outcomes in countries across Europe, in Spain, Croatia, Greece, Germany, and across the European Union,

This blog serves as a call to action: all journalists in Malaysia with a keen interest in this issue are encouraged to apply as Malaysia gender delegates for the "Rewriting the Story: Tackling Media Gender Stereotypes in Political & Public Life" program. The two-day training will run in Kuala Lumpur in the first week of October and media houses are encouraged to support their staff to apply. Journalists can also self-nominate for the program. Applications are now open - find out more and apply here.

Published

20 September 2024

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