Malaysia May Make ‘Emotional’ Abuse of Women Illegal
It had to happen.
There is soon to be a bill before the Malaysian Parliament that would amend the Domestic Violence Act in that country to criminalize emotional harm to women. As one supporter of that bill described it here, "It could be a case in which a husband tells his wife she is ugly or humiliates her until she feels emotionally pressured (Malaysia Star, 5/27/09)." I hope that's clear.
This article doesn't explain why women need protection from emotional slights. It doesn't explain why women do and men don't. It doesn't explain why a Muslim country, supposedly so anti-woman, would outlaw harms that many of us consider a natural, if unwanted, part of everyday life. It also doesn't explain what the penalties will be for a man's complaining once too often about his wife's cooking or attire.
And the article doesn't answer the question "if calling your wife ugly is illegal, can 'failing to give compliments and gifts' be far behind?"
I imagine misandrists in the West are green with envy. They surely never guessed that a Muslim country could outstrip us in our drive to privilege women. After all, we're the country whose Centers for Disease Control includes "angry looks" in it's definition of domestic abuse. I bet they thought no one could top that, but Malaysia may just do it.
It just goes to show that the price of privilege is eternal vigilance. (That is what Jefferson said, right?)
Fortunately, I know we'll soon hear from American feminists about what a travesty the Malaysian bill would be if passed. I can almost hear the soft clatter of their keyboards now as they urgently explain how gender equality doesn't permit such special treatment. They'll remind us about how women are strong and resilient, and don't need that type of protection from male-dominated institutions. This isn't Victorian England, after all.
I can hardly wait.
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