United by the pursuit of gender equality

Three Monash University researchers have joined forces to challenge the unconscious, invisible and pervasive bias of gender discrimination.

Dr Juliana French, Dr Sharon Koh Geok May and Dr Grace Lee Hooi Yean may be on different research paths, but their work shares a common destination: gender equality.

“We work tirelessly as a team, supporting each other through the ups and downs of the research process,” Dr Lee said.

“Our synergy and collaboration allow us to cooperate and share resources and information, improving research results.”

Together, this body of research has earned the trio a Dean’s Award for Equity, Diversity and Social Inclusion Research Excellence.

“We’re thrilled and humbled by this award and grateful for the recognition from Monash,” Dr French said.

Dr Lee said growing up in Malaysia she witnessed first-hand the influence of cultural norms and gender inequity on the lives of women.

“In Malaysia, approximately one-fourth of working women fall under the category of vulnerable employment, where they are either self-employed, informal workers, or unpaid family workers,” she said.

“As a researcher, I’m inspired by the possibility of positive change, and my work strives to empower women via entrepreneurship and to address the bigger structural concerns that perpetuate economic disparities and social exclusion.”

Dr French’s research explores the complexities surrounding race and religion in Malaysia through the lens of the gendered ideals of fashion and beauty.

“I uncover how women’s fashion and beauty magazines express different problematic and ideological constructions of beauty and femininity, requiring women to negotiate and navigate acceptable behaviour,” she said.

“I’m passionate about this work because women tend to downplay their own worth and accomplishments - often we define ourselves based on the expectations of society and culture.”

Development economist Dr Koh is inspired by the desire to improve economic and social conditions for communities in developing countries.

“Around the world, vulnerable communities face many barriers and inequities that often stop them from living better lives and realising their full potential,” she said.

“My research seeks to address the root causes of discrimination and inequality, including poverty and gender inequality, focussing on various aspects of development, from poverty to entrepreneurship and health.”

Buoyed by the success of their collaboration, the trio has been inspired to establish Monash Experimental Lab (MEXLab) - a world-class research hub expected to open at Monash University’s Malaysia campus by the end of the year.

“We’re more motivated than ever to keep doing research that advances knowledge and benefits society,” Dr Lee said.