comment Women’s participation in politics is fraught with many challenges such as cultural, social and economic systems as well as political structures.

Women’s representative participation therefore, is low globally and nationally, averaging at 18 percent, according to the International Parliamentary Union.

In Malaysia’s Lower House, only 24 out of 222 elected representatives are women, a mere 10.4 percent. At the global level, Malaysia ranks 101 out of 189 national parliaments for women’s participation in the legislature.

Former US president Bill Clinton recently said, "It is difficult to convince people that women should be in higher executive positions in government". He should know as he campaigned for his wife, Hillary, in the US presidential campaign last year.

There is therefore, a dearth of women in government in Malaysia. We have never had a woman prime minister and perhaps never will for a long time. There are no women chief ministers. The cabinet, Parliament and state legislatures are all dominated by men.

In Malaysia, women politicians face the politics of race, religion and sexism, in addition to the traditional barriers of socio-economic factors that impede their rise in political leadership.

jag anti sexist parliament protest 150507 mca women Remarks with sexual innuendos have grabbed the headlines for the Malaysian parliament rather than the passing of progressive legislation to protect women and children. Crude remarks about a female opposition MP’s menstrual cycle drew international attention to the goings on in Malaysia’s august house.

The changing values in society pose new challenges to women in politics in Malaysia. Personal choices and recognition of sexuality are important elements in contemporary life.

While these aspects of modern life have been embraced by the urban population, these are still contentious issues among certain segments of society.

For women in politics, personal choices and sexuality create greater challenges in multi-ethnic and multi-religious Malaysia.

Women judged differently

The social and political conditions make it difficult for women to make personal choices unlike in the western world. For example, France’s Justice Minister Racida Dati, recently had a baby but refused to name the father of the child. France accepted her right to privacy. Here, unwed mothers are punished and ostracised, much like victims of rape.

Babies are abandoned and rapists get away scot-free.

Icelandic Prime Minister, Johanna Sigurdardottir, is a lesbian and mother of two. She is well known for her concerns for the disabled, elderly and domestic violence.

Being gay did not disqualify her from the highest office in the land. In Malaysia, it will not be possible for a woman politician to openly declare she is gay. Her lesbian tendencies will be exploited by all sides for political currency.

Here, private behaviour seems to be a predictor of public morality, particularly for women in political leadership. We seem to be a puritanical society, less tolerant of the rights of women politicians to make individual choices on matters such as relationships.

Women politicians have to be impeccable and squeaky clean. Male politicians seem to get away with corruption, adultery, abuse of power and a litany of actions that are issues of public morality.

Morality is an incendiary and potent tool in the hands of politicians without morality to bring down opponents.

elizabeth wong press conference on her offer of resignation from selangor exco post 170209 15 Look at who is preaching morality following the controversy surrounding Elizabeth Wong and the distribution of nude photographs of her, taken without her consent. The former menteri besar of Selangor, Khir Toyo commented that it is immoral for a single woman to allow a man into her room when they are unmarried.

Didn’t Julius Caesar say, "Those who speak passionately on the subject of morality are the least moral of all?"

With advances in technology, women politicians also face the challenges of tabloid journalism and mobile journalism that unethically bring private lives into public scrutiny. Agencies such as the Multi Media Commission must act to enforce ethical behaviour in mobile journalism.

Women’s political activism and leadership are critical for a sustainable, tolerant, economically vibrant and peaceful Malaysia. Let us support our women politicians in confronting the many challenges of serving in the political arena.

JOSIE FERNANDEZ is an independent researcher, social activist and an Asian Public Intellectual Fellow.