PETALING JAYA: The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry has received brickbats on social media after its guide on how couples can avoid arguments was deemed to be misogynistic.
The guide in the form of an infographic comes in four parts, with the first one advising against ‘nagging’. The poster reads: “Avoid nagging tones, and instead incorporate humour or use a Doraemon-like voice when advising your partner.”
A commenter on social media said nagging is a ‘gender-biased’ word and ‘perpetuates sexist stereotypes’.
While the Ministry’s advise doesn’t seem to be explicitly aimed at a specific gender, certain parts of the infographic can be seen as being directed towards women.
In the second part of the infographic, the visuals depict a woman communicating with a man sitting on a couch. The message from the ministry says: “If you see your partner not helping out with the chores, don’t use sarcastic tones, but seek help kindly.”
In addition to that, the final and fourth part of the infographic tells women to wear make-up at home. The infographic says: “Avoid wearing home clothes. Use make-up and dress neatly.”
There have been reports of a widespread increase in domestic violence internationally since various forms of Movement Control Order (MCO) were introduced in different countries.
The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry had already come under criticism earlier when they decided to temporarily close a hotline dedicated to assisting victims of domestic violence when the MCO had just been enforced.
