Netizens were left in uproar this week, after one individual’s tweet of an infographic in a Year Three (nine to ten-year-olds) Physical and Health Education government school textbook went viral.
The images in the tweet pertained to how a girl could “preserve her dignity,” ie, avoid unwanted sexual advances.
From a Darjah 3 textbook. Victim-blaming is not acceptable. Not only does this put the responsibility of preventing sexual harrassment solely on the shoulders of a girl, it also implies that she had it coming! Shaming kids is not acceptable. @hannahyeoh @maszlee @KemPelajaran pic.twitter.com/qORfLu9ZTj
— Azrul Mohd Khalib (@azrulmohdkhalib) January 14, 2019
Implying that such actions were in the control of the child, and not the aggressor victimizing them, the textbook suggested that to thwart sexual harassment, the child should first wear “proper clothes.” The inforgraphic then suggests that the child avoid dark places, and also close door behind her.
Alluding to the consequences of not following such guidelines, the text then says that the victim could potentially endure emotional suffering [Ed. Note: You don’t say?!], be alienated by her friends, banished by her family for “losing honor.”
After a resounding backlash, including from the deputy Women’s Minister herself, Hannah Yeoh, the Education Ministry today informed concerned citizens that they would be removing the passage in the book, published by Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) in the form of a printable sticker that would offer a “correction” to the previous text and images. Authorities added that this will be distributed to all schools.
“The ministry received feedback about the infographics last night and has taken immediate steps to rectify it,” they wrote.
Well, done citizens. People power, but like you know — for the important things.
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