More than half of M’sian women sexually harassed in public: survey

KUALA LUMPUR – More than half of Malaysian women say they are sexually harassed verbally on a regular basis while out in public, a survey has revealed.

The survey conducted by the Centre for Governance and Political Studies (Cent-GPS) and All Women’s Action Society (Awam) found that 57% of 1,056 women respondents said sexual harassment is a regular occurrence while they are in public.

Another 22% said they have experienced verbal sexual harassment at least once, while 14% said they have never had such an encounter while another 7% said they did not know.

The respondents were all Malaysians aged between 18 and 29, and selected through random sampling according to state, ethnicity and income levels.

Cent-GPS and Awam said that 79% of the respondents were Malay, while the remaining 21% are non-Malay.

For their income levels, 78% earned below RM2,000, 15% earned between RM2001 and 4,000, 4% earned between RM4,001-6000, and 3% earned more than RM6,000.

“Every question in this quick preliminary survey is vital. Often, we take for granted the kind of difficulties half our population faces daily,” the survey report released today read.

“For many (men), it is incomprehensible that women would have to change their daily routines or routes to work for fear of being sexually harassed.”

Cent-GPS in collaboration with @AWAMMalaysia launched a nationwide study for women aged 18- 30 on their experience with sexual harassment.

Do they feel safe driving alone at night? Or watching movies alone in the cinema? Or with a male doctor or male family member?

Thread ? pic.twitter.com/WRgfKVcqPh

— Centre for Governance and Political Studies (@CentGPS) September 21, 2021

On whether women felt safe driving home at night, 68% said they did not, 17% said they did not know, while only 15% felt safe.

Asked whether they have experienced or witnessed a teacher making sexually provocative jokes, 44% said yes, 45% said no, while 11% were uncertain.

On unwanted touching, such as the placing of the hand on the lower back or knee, 57% said they have experienced such moments, 40% said no, while 3% said they do not know.

Over half (52%) of the respondents said they did not feel safe watching movies alone in cinemas, 37% said yes, and 11% said no.

A resounding 71% said they had to switch their travel routes or routines due to fear of being sexually harassed, 26% said they did not, while only 3% said they did not know.

As for online harassment, 41% said they have received unwanted sexual messages on social media once, 30% said they receive them regularly, 25% said they never, while 4% did not know.

On whether they felt unsafe being treated by a male doctor, 52% said no, 37% said yes, while 11% said they were uncertain.

“It is incomprehensible that a simple thing such as watching a movie alone in the cinema is an unobtainable privilege.

“We hope, if anything, this quick preliminary survey will help open the eyes of many Malaysians, especially parents whose children are of the age of 18-30 as well as our male-dominant leaders.” – The Vibes, September 21, 2021