KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian women, aged between 18 and 30-years-old, regularly face sexual harassment, with 44 per cent encountering teachers making sexually provocative jokes.
A preliminary survey by the Centre for Governance and Political Studies (Cent-GPS) in collaboration with the All Women's Action Society (Awam), found that 45 per cent of respondents never faced sexual harassment from teachers, while 11 per cent were uncertain if they did.
The survey which involved 1,056 women nationwide also found that 57 per cent of respondents experienced verbal sexual harassment on a regular basis when walking on the streets.
The survey which ran from Aug 24 to Sept 15, found that 22 per cent of respondents had been harassed at least once, 14 per cent never, and seven per cent said they did not know.
"It was found that 68 per cent of the respondents did not feel safe driving alone at night followed by 17 per cent who said they did not know and 15 per cent who felt safe driving alone at night," it said.
Whether they experienced unwanted touching on the knee or lower back, 57 per cent respondents said yes while 40 per cent said no and three per cent said they did not know.
A total 52 per cent of women also do not feel safe alone in cinemas while 37 per cent said yes they do and 11 per cent said they did not know.
The survey also found that 71 per cent of respondents said they had to change their travel routes or routines due to fear of being sexually harassed.
"Three per cent said they did not know while the remaining 26 per cent said they were never forced to change their travel routes or routines.
"A total 21 per cent said they had been followed to their cars at least, once, while 15 per cent said they did not know.
"Three per cent said they have experienced being followed to the car regularly, while 61 per cent said they have never been followed to the car," it said.
Similarly, asked if they have been followed home, 25 per cent of respondents said they experienced it before, while three per cent said they were followed home more than once.
A total 60 per cent of respondents said they have never been followed home while 13 per cent did not know.
On unwanted sexual messages on social media, 30 per cent have received it regularly followed by 41 per cent who have received it once.
"Another 25 per cent claimed to have never received such messages and four per cent were uncertain.
The survey also found that 37 per cent have felt unsafe while being treated by a male doctor while 11 per cent were uncertain, and 52 per cent said they felt fine.
A total 18 per cent of respondents also admitted to be victims of unwanted touching or sexual provocation from a family member, three per cent did not know and 79 per cent said they never fell victim.
"Another 10 per cent reportedly said yes to being sexually harassed in elevators, four per cent said they were uncertain, and 86 per cent never experienced it.
"While this is only a preliminary survey, every question should be an eye-opener for our leaders and male population. A majority 71 per cent of women cannot even travel to school or work in peace without changing their routes to avoid being sexually harassed.
"Regrettably, many men will never relate to the fear of watching a movie alone or having to drive alone at night. We live in two separate worlds, where normal activities of half the population become a privilege for the other half," it said.
Respondents were surveyed through a computer-assisted personalised interview method (CAPI) in a language of their preference involving 79 per cent Malay respondents and 21 per cent non-Malays.
"A total 78 per cent of respondents earned a monthly income below RM2,000, 15 per cent earned between RM2,001- RM4,000, four per cent earned between RM4,001 -RM6,000 and three per cent earned more than RM6,001,"it said.
The full results of the survey are available at www.centgps.com.my