Empowering mothers against a Malaysian societal convention: an Islamic perspective

Hassan @ Mohamed, Nor Jana (2023) Empowering mothers against a Malaysian societal convention: an Islamic perspective. Al-Burhan: Journal of Qur'an and Sunnah Studies, 7 (Special Issue 2). pp. 60-72. E-ISSN 2600-8386

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Abstract

A significant way-forward to Malaysia’s development is to increase economic opportunities for women. Having greater women participations in the workforce potentially enhances the country’s prospects for growth. Various agencies work towards increasing women’s participations in the labour force. Malaysian society has also grown to expect that women ‘work’ to contribute to the family’s economy, and to the nation’s—the belief that has somewhat become a convention. However, it is observed that the race to get women to ‘roll-up her sleeves’ economically, is not without worrying downside trends, even at the current rate of only 55.5% of Malaysian women in the labour force. Are we overlooking an important and crucial factor in the equation for Nation-building? This paperattempts to examine the fundamental aspects of motherhood, especially early motherhood, as an important and crucial factor that is under-emphasized. The paper will also deliberate on how the above has affected individuals’ and families’ well-beings, thus putting constrains and conflicts in the family, society, and the Nation at large. The paper employs analyses of relevant news and journal articles, observations of day-to-day realities and social media feeds to discover the situation at hand. Finally, it draws guidance from references in the Qur’an and Prophetic tradition to propose a more realistic, well-balanced approach. The demand to get women’s economic participation towards National growth is real. However, this must be in such ways as to not endanger and threaten personal, familial, and societal holistic well beings. The roles of motherhood, especially early motherhood must be included in the equation. Thus, the necessity to empower women to reconsider their priorities—be it against societal convention. Afterall, Nation-building requires far more than economic prosperity.

Item Type:	Article (Journal)
Additional Information:	This paper was originally presented at the International Conference on Women Empowerment, on December 10th, 2022, organised by the Dept. of Fundamental and Inter-Disciplinary Studies, AHAS-KIRKHS, IIUM. The expanded version of the paper was then presented at the KONVENSYEN SURI 2023 - Persidangan Suri Rumah Kebangsaan on October 28, 2023.
Uncontrolled Keywords:	women empowerment, motherhood, children upbringing, holistic wellbeing, Islamic perspective
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BJ Ethics > BJ1188 Religious ethics B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BJ Ethics > BJ1725 Ethics of social groups, classes, etc. Professional ethics B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BL Religion B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BP Islam. Bahaism. Theosophy, etc > BP1 Islam B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BP Islam. Bahaism. Theosophy, etc > BP1 Islam > BP173 Islamic sociology B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BP Islam. Bahaism. Theosophy, etc > BP173.44 Human Rights In Islam B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BP Islam. Bahaism. Theosophy, etc > BP1 Islam > BP173.77 Islam and work
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button):	Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences > Department of Fundamental and Inter-Disciplinary Studies (Effective: 5th Feb 2014) Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences
Depositing User:	Dr. Nur Jannah / N.J. Hassan
Date Deposited:	19 Dec 2023 13:56
Last Modified:	19 Dec 2023 13:57
URI:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/108852

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