Part 1 — Women’s Stories

17

Malaysia

New economics and old customs: women suffer double discrimination

Helen Percival

This story is based on Helen Percival's experiences of staying with and talking to an Indian family in a small rubber estate town in Malaysia. The names are fictitious, but the facts of the story are true.

Letchmi lives in a small town on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur. The town is in the centre of a large rubber plantation in which Letchmi's husband, Singam, works.

Letchmi has eight children, ranging in age from twelve months to 17 years. Because of the family's economic difficulties, she has to work at a nearby brick factory to supplement her husband's inadequate income, leaving the three youngest children to fend for themselves at home each day. Letchmi works breaking finished bricks into mosaic-shaped pieces for decorative walls. She works, without protection, under the hot sun for about seven hours each day — for an income of about $M30Q¹ per month. Her husband earns about half that amount. When she returns home she has no time to rest; she must do her household chores and prepare dinner for the family. Her work is finished only after the youngest child has been fed and put to sleep. Next day, she will wake at 5 a.m. to prepare breakfast and lunch for her husband before he leaves.

When both parents are at work. Rani, the third daughter, has total responsibility for feeding and taking care of the two youngest boys. Rani is twelve. She stopped going to school two years ago so that she could be at home to look after her siblings. For a child of her age, she has remarkable competence and maturity — no doubt the result of the responsibility forced upon her. Her older sister, Ramani, left school two years ago at the age of fourteen to work as a domestic helper in the city, in order to supplement the family income. When asked, Singam replies that it is all right for the girls to leave school early and go to work to help the family. Only one daughter remains in school now; she is nine years of age. If the situation at home does not improve, she will have to follow in the footsteps of her sisters.

Singam suggests one night that he would like to marry again. We point out to him that he should first see to the well-being of his present family before thinking of taking on added responsibilities. Singam is not convinced.

18

Earlier, despite his children's obvious lack of proper food and education, he said that, according to Indian custom, it was good to have many children. We also ask Letchmi whether she has considered using a birth control method. She admits that the nurse at the town clinic advised her to do so, but she was afraid of "the operation" they would have to perform on her. Besides, she could not possibly take leave for such an operation — it would mean loss of income and a great deal of embarrassment to her. Letchmi's family means a lot to her; she would like to see them healthy and happy but, given the economic and cultural difficulties that persist, it will be a long, long time before Letchmi or her daughters enjoy a truly happy life.

Notes

1. The Malaysian ringgit (or dollar) is worth about $ US 0.39. Thus, Letchmi's monthly wage is $ US 47.