BY NEVILLE TIMOTHY SANDERS and ABIDGAIL MERTA GANGGANG
KUCHING: The path for women in academia is rarely a simple and easy one, said Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah.
The Minister For Women, Early Childhood and Community Well-being Development said despite having come a long way in educational attainment, there are fewer women in senior academic positions.
“Gendered organisational practices at higher education institutions have long been held responsible for the glass ceiling faced by female academics,” she said.
Referring to the book titled “Woman Practising Resilience, Self-care and Well-being in Academia”, Fatimah said it sets out to empower women in academia and to unite in sharing their stories, inspiring and encouraging one another to better navigate the academic world.
“Providing international perspectives of success stories and practical advice from academic women at all levels, this book equips readers with strategies to navigate their careers and well-being in higher education.
“This intersection provides rife opportunities to showcase strategies for positive systemic change,” she said at the launching of the book at TEGAS Digital Village here on yesterday (May 2).
“Additionally, by including academics from different countries, it is hoped to reflect broader perspectives in terms of any gender-specific initiatives such as government legislation, regulatory frameworks, and university strategies, alongside implementation of gender equity strategies and awareness across various contexts (Malaysia, India, Japan, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Canada and Vietnam),” she added.
In the meantime, Fatimah added that prioritising self care and well-being is crucial to leading a happy and healthy life.
“By taking care of ourselves and making our well-being a priority, we can better manage stress, prevent burnout, and maintain a sense of balance and happiness in our lives.
“This is applicable not only for women in academia but also for women engaged in entrepreneurship, corporate bodies, and politics,” she added.
Also present during the launching was Deputy Premier Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian, speaker of the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Tan Sri Datuk Amar Asfia Awang Nasar and Deputy Minister for Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment Datuk Len Talif Salleh.
