Meet Khairin, a 20-year-old Mechanic That Is Breaking Gender Norms
In an ideal world, this wouldn’t even make it on the news, but here in Malaysia where gender norms are traditional, Khairin Qisstina has made the news.
Bernama recently shared a profile on the young lass highlighting the challenges she faces as a woman in a male-dominated industry.
The piece highlighted in particular her height of 165cm, which is ironic because that’s taller than average for a female as the average height of males in Malaysia is 165cm.
They also highlight the fact that people often question her abilities as a mechanic. “I’ve come to understand that being a mechanic requires resilience and the ability to stay calm when interacting with customers,” she told Bernama.
Khairin Qisstina is the only female mechanic at MTH Autohaus & Accessories in Taman Pengkalan Jaya here.
“It’s true that my physical strength doesn’t match that of men, but I don’t allow that to be an excuse to give up,” she said.
“Beyond my passion for this field, I’m also fulfilling the wish of my late older brother, who was deeply passionate about the automotive industry.”
“My passion began when I was nine, as I was often exposed to information about luxury cars by my late brother, who aspired to pursue a career in the automotive industry,” she shared.
Khairin Qisstina studied at Kolej Vokasional Lebuh Cator, where she earned her Malaysian Vocational Certificate before pursuing diploma-level studies.
The second of five siblings, she underwent industrial training at her current workplace before being offered a permanent position.
“It’s definitely challenging to prove that we are on par with men. However, I am grateful to have colleagues who have been very supportive and are always willing to guide me,” said Khairin Qisstina, who has been a full-time employee for the past two months.
In the report, the owner of the workshop was also interviewed and he revealed that Khairin’s tenacity led to him hiring her full time.
On a personal note, we’ve never met a female mechanic in the last 18 years of owning a car, this story did strike us as one worth noting.
