Women constitute 52% of tertiary education graduates yet face gender equality challenges in the workplace, an SDG 2030 goal

KUALA LUMPUR: In an engaging session hosted by leading self-serviced laundrette, dobiQueen with expert panellists on the topic, “Women’s Role in Society: Addressing Gender Bias, Double Burden & Mental Wellbeing in Malaysia", many key insights were shared.

Khazanah Research Institute (KRI) revealed that women’s educational attainment has improved and is on par with men, comprising 52% of those with tertiary education, yet they represent only 37.7% of the labour force. In terms of skilled jobs, women represent half of professionals (50.1%), but remain underrepresented in key leadership positions as managers (25.4%), technicians and associate professionals (29%).

“Social norms influence gender outcomes, including economic participation. Traditional gender roles persist where men are seen as the primary breadwinners and women are expected to be the caregivers which leads to gender inequality.

“These long-standing norms can limit women's career aspirations and opportunities. Of this, 62.1% of women outside the labour force cite household chores and family responsibilities as the primary reason for not working,” said Puteri Marjan Megat Muzafar, Research Associate of Khazanah Research Institute (KRI).

In addressing gender roles and bias, women are performing five times more unpaid household care work than men. From cleaning and caregiving to meal preparation and more, these “unseen” tasks are crucial to daily lives but remain excluded from traditional economic measures.

dobiQueen echoes this with a recent consumer survey revealing that 75% of laundromat users are women and the majority of its demographic consists of women with 50% in full-time employment and 50% being homemakers.

“With only 25% of the user demographic being men, this indicates that a majority of women take on a load of household chores such as laundry, cooking and others,” said Co-founder and Executive Director of dobiQueen, Nini Tan.

Despite their increasing contributions to the formal economy, women are still expected to manage household and caregiving responsibilities. Lack of support and flexibility in the workplace prevents many from fully participating in the labour force.

According to a survey on mental health and wellness conducted by Rakuten Insight in Malaysia in May 2022, 54% of the female respondents indicated that they had a higher level of stress or anxiety in the past 12 months.

“Women often bear significant caregiving responsibilities, which can result in caregiver fatigue and burnout, leaving little time for self-care. Persistent gender inequality in the workplace—marked by pay disparities, limited opportunities for advancement, and inadequate recognition—intensifies frustration and diminishes self-worth.

“In addition, societal expectations impose unrealistic standards on women regarding success, appearance, and behaviour can lead to feelings of inadequacy, anxiety, and depression,” said Puan Anita Abu Bakar, Founder and President of the Mental Illness Awareness & Support Association (MIASA).

Malaysia aims to become a high-income nation with resilient, self-determined families, aligning with the SDG 2030 goals of inclusiveness and gender equality. To achieve this, supporting women's physical and mental well-being is crucial, as nation-building starts at home.

KRI cited the importance of a support system in caring for children and empowering women. While the three-generation or extended family arrangement has been in decline these four decades, more alternative care arrangements can be made to support working mothers.

“In the interest of promoting and safeguarding the emotional well-being of women, MIASA further advocates for flexible work arrangements, which may include part-time positions, job sharing arrangements, compressed workweeks, on-site childcare and robust family leave policies to empower women to take necessary time off without fear of job loss and reinforce a supportive and high-trust workplace culture. These measures are also evidence-based, as numerous studies from around the world have highlighted associations between the imposition of firm family leave policies and increased wellbeing as well as job satisfaction among working women.” said Puan Anita.

When it comes to alleviating actual household burdens, dobiQueen advocates sharing household responsibilities more equitably. This redistribution of chores not only eases stress and prevents burnout but also fosters a more balanced lifestyle.

“We salute the majority of women who keep the household going. Our goal is to reduce household chores for working adults and give them back precious time for them to spend with family and friends.

“Customers can plan ahead with dobiQueen’s app and enjoy seamless laundromat experiences such as our Express Same Day Delivery which delivers clean and perfumed clothes back to our customers within six hours or with our Drop-off & Pickup service where our customers can have up to an hour or more leisure time while we handle their laundry.

“Our Outlet Supervisors are also at hand to handle everything for our customers from putting laundry into the washer, transferring them into the dryer, folding laundry, and finally delivering our customer’s clean laundry back to their homes as part of our 6-Hour Express Delivery initiative”, said Nini Tan.

To learn more about dobiQueen, visit its website at www.dobiqueen.my or follow them on its social media platforms, Facebook and Instagram (@dobiqueen) to stay tuned to its upcoming promotions and contest giveaways for all patrons to enjoy.

This upcoming 23rd and 24th of November, MIASA Malaysia will be organising the International Stigma Conference 2024. This conference is more than just an event—it's a platform for change, a space for dialogue, and a beacon of hope. dobiQueen is a proud supporter of this Conference. For inquiries, sponsorship opportunities and ticket packages, email MIASA at ISC2024.miasa@gmail.com or contact +60379321409 (HQ)

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The press statement is issued by dobiQueen.

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