The Malaysian government released a series of infographics advising women on how to maintain a happy home during the country’s coronavirus lockdown.

The posts told women to take on the playful tone of a cartoon character, wear makeup and dress up at home, and avoid nagging their partners, among other advice.

Many were outraged by the infographics, slamming them as “sexist.” Others called it a poor response to concerns of spiking domestic violence cases as more people are forced indoors with their abusers.

The government issued an apology following the backlash.

Controversial Advice

Malaysia’s government has apologized after receiving backlash for advising women to dress nicely and avoid nagging their spouses in order to maintain a happy home as the coronavirus prompted a nation-wide lockdown.

The advice came from online posters that were released across social media by the country’s Ministry for Women, Family, and Community Development and accompanied by the hashtag #WomenPreventCOVID19.

“If you see your partner doing something wrong, avoid nagging – use ‘humorous’ words like saying: ‘This is how you hang clothes my dear,’” the ministry wrote in a now-removed infographic.

This piece of advice was paired with another seemingly-bizarre nugget: use a high-pitched, squeaky voice instead, specifically imitating the popular Japanese cartoon character Doraemon, and follow your statement with a giggle.

Doraemon.

The Ministry also encouraged women to avoid the use of sarcasm, and to continue to wear makeup and dress up even if working from home.

As domestic violence cases surge the world over during #Covid19 #stayathome measures, Malaysia’s Women, Family & Community Development Ministry shares guidelines on avoiding arguments at home including

• don’t nag

• be “humorous”

• mimic the tone of cartoon character Doraemon pic.twitter.com/GUJZji1ct8 — Sumisha Naidu (@sumishanaidu) March 31, 2020

Backlash

After the posters’ release earlier this week, the Ministry and its advice faced a slew of backlash, ranging from mockery to anger.

“[It] is extremely condescending both to women and men,” Nisha Sabanayagam, a manager at the Malaysian advocacy group All Women’s Action Society, told Reuters.

“These posters promote the concept of gender inequality and perpetuate the concept of patriarchy,” she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation over the phone.

Sabanayagam’s frustration was matched by many online.

“This is violently sexist,” one person tweeted. “Makes me angry even thinking about this.”

This is violently sexist. Makes me angry even thinking about this. Malaysia isn’t a theocratic state like Saudi but appareny treats its women the same. — Aditya Jain (@adityajain98) April 1, 2020

malaysia’s ministry for women giving out sexist views and degrading women. Please go to hell — Bal🤷🏻‍♀️ (@BalzureenS) March 31, 2020

In one poster, Malaysia’s gender equality movement regresses five decades. Dah la illegitimate govt, incompetent pulak tu. @KPWKM — Lee Lian Kong (@leelian_kong) March 31, 2020

Some mocked the more ridiculous elements of the advice, like the hashtag’s message that somehow women can prevent the virus itself.

“How will dressing up and putting on makeup at home [prevent] Covid-19? Pray, tell?” one person wrote online.

Another piece of advice that was largely ridiculed was the suggestion to imitate the cartoon character Doraemon.

“I think my husband should speak to me in a Doraemon like voice. That will amuse me to bits and put me in a good mood,” a Twitter user said.

I think my husband should speak to me in a Doraemon like voice. That will amuse me to bits and put me in a good mood. — Wee Su Lin (@sulinwee) March 31, 2020

"So, Rina Harun and her Women’s Ministry wants us wives to perpetuate patriarchy and toxic masculinity by stroking the fragile male ego of our husbands. In order to do this, we ought to sound like Doraemon."



Macam ni ke, Cik Rina Harun? pic.twitter.com/NlowGylYF7 — Liga Rakyat Demokratik (@LigaRakyatLRD) March 31, 2020

Others were outraged that these were the solutions to a happy home in the Ministry’s eyes, especially as more serious problems stem from stay-at-home orders, like a rise in domestic violence.

“How did we go from preventing baby dumping, fighting domestic violence to some sad variant of the Obedient Wives Club?” one person asked online.

How did we go from preventing baby dumping, fighting domestic violence to some sad variant of the Obedient Wives Club? https://t.co/1SrVYp0e5d — Yin Shao Loong (@yinshaoloong) March 31, 2020

Ministry Apologizes

After being scraped over the coals, the Ministry addressed the controversial advice and issued an apology Tuesday night.

It said its intentions were aimed at “maintaining positive relationships among family members during the period they are working from home.”

“We apologize if some of the tips we shared were inappropriate and touched on the sensitivities of some parties,” the Ministry said in a statement, adding that they will take caution in the future.

See what others are saying: (NPR) (Reuters) (Guardian)