BY ARIANA FIDELIA
“WOMEN, no matter how much they study, will still end up in the kitchen and at home to take care of household chores.”
Those are the words that have been heard from ancient times until now, the nett effect of which is that it seems to hinder women’s desire to learn and seek high positions.
Francisca Sandra Andrew, Assistant Education Officer of Bau District, who holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) degree in History and Gender Studies, wants to change the public’s perception of the role and abilities of women, which are often underestimated by certain segments of society.
Suara Sarawak, a sister paper of New Sarawak Tribune, met up with Francisca for a better understanding.
SUARA SARAWAK: Can you discuss the importance of women having a high level of education in today’s society?
Francisca: In the current era of globalisation, it is essential for women to have a high level of education. We need to start from the bottom and then progress accordingly to advance ourselves.
Women are a strong gender in society, and gender equality is crucial. This means that the roles of women and men are equal. Unlike in the past when women were traditionally seen as a gender that only stayed in the kitchen. But now, we can see that most women are able to stand as high as men and even higher.
It cannot be denied that education provides many benefits to society, especially for women, in terms of social and economic aspects. In terms of social hierarchy, women who have a high level of education are automatically free from discrimination and can determine their own life path without the need for others’ opinions or help.
In terms of the economy, men in the past were often referred to as the breadwinners, but now that term is no longer applicable for some people.
This is because most women now have their own careers. Inadvertently, they are free in both social and economic aspects.
Furthermore, they have the ability to generate their own income without having to rely entirely on men.
This has indirectly helped to place women at the same level as men or at a higher level, but that depends on our own perspective on how we view it.
SS: So, is having a family not an obstacle for women to succeed in education?
We often hear complaints from some women that they have to sacrifice their desire to continue their studies because they are already married and busy taking care of their husbands and children.
However, I believe that this is not an obstacle for me, and it even serves as motivation for me to become the best example for my children someday.
As a mother, I definitely hope for my children’s success and hope they can become useful individuals in society.
Women should always strive to improve their lives as best as possible to ensure a good future.
Commitment to family is not a reason for a woman to give up her desire to continue her education, but they should be wise in finding a solution to the problem.
Currently, there are many childcare centres and agencies that provide childcare services. Women who are working or still studying can send their children to these centres.
In addition, I would like to advise women out there, especially young women, that education is important because it can also affect their future family lives.
Women who are called mothers are usually bound by various responsibilities as homemakers, to the point that some women think they don’t need to pursue higher education.
However, these great responsibilities and commitments to the family are the main factors that make them in dire need of higher education.
This is because the ability to manage and plan for the future of children requires experience, knowledge and good thinking skills.
If a woman succeeds in obtaining a higher education, it will make it easier for her to manage and educate her children.
SS: What about the ability to keep up with technological advances?
We are aware that we are currently living in a digital world. Therefore, our thinking should also progress in line with technological developments in this era.
Technology is the most important foundation in our lives today, as it helps to simplify our tasks and jobs.
Women who are homemakers certainly need technological equipment in their lives. This is because it helps facilitate their daily tasks, such as using a computer, communicating using smartphones and washing clothes using washing machines.
Educated homemakers will not have difficulty handling the existing technological equipment.
SS: Do women with higher levels of education have the ability to influence the family institution? What do you think?
In my opinion, women with higher levels of education are indeed capable of influencing the family institution, and their roles are more flexible. By this, I mean that in terms of decision-making, they can think carefully and consider the pros and cons of a matter before making a decision based on logical reasoning and facts rather than being influenced by emotions.
Furthermore, highly educated women can also serve as role models for their children. This means that when children see a woman who is a successful mother, they are more likely to be positively influenced by her and strive to be just as successful as their mother, or even more so.
Additionally, influential women or those with high levels of education within the family institution can elevate the status of their family through their achievements, which means that society will view them with higher regard.
SS: Are there any challenges that women face in achieving their goal of attaining higher education levels?
A major challenge that women often encounter in achieving their life goals is traditional thinking and societal stigma that place women as a secondary group.
As someone experienced in gender issues, I believe this is one form of gender discrimination in terms of thinking. Therefore, we need to curb such thinking and empower women’s roles.
Furthermore, we need to raise awareness in society. Such awareness should begin at home. As parents, we need to provide educational opportunities for girls just as we do for boys.
In terms of education, it is undeniable that many fields are monopolised by men, especially in engineering, defence and politics.
In our country, there are several women leaders who have successfully held positions as ministers, such as Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah, who holds the position of Women, Early Childhood and Community Well-being Development Minister, as well as Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, who serves as Minister of Women, Family and Community Development.
Both female ministerial figures have played their respective roles, including advocating for women’s rights and providing platforms for women to advance themselves, including single mothers.
With women holding high positions in fields that are monopolised by men, I acknowledge that it is gratifying.
Therefore, as parents, we should not hinder the interests of our children, especially girls, as they are the only ones who are aware of their own abilities or potential.
SS: How do you evaluate the role of highly educated women in contributing to the field of education?
As someone who works in the field of education, it is a source of pride for me that the Minister of Education is a woman, Fadhlina Sidek, who has focused on interventions to bring about happy students, happy teachers, excellent schools and a prosperous nation.
Personally, I see her focus as leaning towards the importance of family values, displaying a motherly nature as a minister leading an educational institution.
She strives not to burden the students, and her natural empathy is one of the qualities of a woman that should be celebrated, as it is very much needed in dealing with the diverse behaviour of students.
SS: What are the positive impacts of greater involvement of women in academic and professional fields for the country?
Firstly, the involvement of women in academic and professional fields can contribute to the country’s economy and reduce unemployment.
In terms of academics, the presence of gender studies, for example, is more focused on exploring the role of women, gender balance and women’s equality in a male-dominated society.
Universiti Malaya (UM) is one of the institutions that has a Gender Studies Department, and now we can see that almost all universities in Malaysia have one, which is a significant achievement.
We owe it to Dr. Shanti Thambiah from the UM, who was one of the pioneers of gender studies and who successfully raised public awareness about gender discrimination through her research, particularly about the role of women in society.
This has created an awareness that women’s success and abilities have no limits.
Furthermore, we can see that there are now many women who are venturing into academic and professional fields. Like myself, even though I was originally a primary school teacher, I always had the desire to succeed in the field I pursued.
Therefore, I continued my education at a higher level, which has led me to my current position.
However, my journey does not stop there. I have the desire to continue my struggle in the field of education by pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).
This is because I want to raise awareness among the community to not see women as only physical beings but to elevate their status to that of men.
SS: What are your hopes for women who have dreams of obtaining higher education in the future?
Always remember this pearl of wisdom: “Women Can.” If we have a desire to succeed, we must strive to improve ourselves without paying attention to negative perceptions from society around us.
We often hear sayings that suggest, “Women should pursue higher education, but in the end, they will still end up in the kitchen and at home managing household affairs.”
Honestly, this statement cannot be denied, but we must remember that with education, the management of the kitchen and household will become more organised and neat.
