Angry Malay Woman

Film Review: The Mosque in Morgantown

First published at Feminist Review. Muslimah Media Watch has also the goods. Reading the official synopsis of The Mosque in Morgantown, I quickly got the impression that it was a documentary film that revolved around the battle between journalist-activist Asra Nomani and “the extremists” in her hometown Morgantown, West Virginia. It is the kind of… Continue reading Film Review: The Mosque in Morgantown

Burqas and the British Police Farce

First published at Muslimah Media Watch Oh, this is just hilarious. Three female police officers were ordered to dress up as Muslim women for the day just to see what it felt like. They wore traditional burkhas as part of a scheme designed to help police interact better with the Islamic community. It’s like going… Continue reading Burqas and the British Police Farce

Oh, by the way…

Cycads is now one year old!

Notes on interracial and (post)colonial traveling

Some interracial couples may have some misgivings about traveling abroad together, particularly to places that are reputed to be intolerant – Saudi Arabia, Dubai and a host of other predominantly Muslim countries are quick to come up as examples. I can kind of understand why. The ghost of anti-miscegenation laws, racism, and the effects of… Continue reading Notes on interracial and (post)colonial traveling

Book review: Race, Space, and the Law

First published at Feminist Review Institutional racism: we all know it exists, yet many deny it does. In this book, Sherene Razack, author of Looking White People in the Eye, edits a set of deeply disturbing accounts of racially-motivated public policies and resultant public consciousness in North America. Beginning with the premise “Race is Space,”… Continue reading Book review: Race, Space, and the Law

Why do I find this so disconcerting?

Meeting Nicole Kidman up close, I realised that she looks like a beautiful doll. I have never met any woman as tall as her. I thought all the women from my slum would be so small in front of her. But her skin, lips and hands, they were all perfect. I thought if I touched… Continue reading Why do I find this so disconcerting?

Mother of all sins: the caning of Kartika Sari Dewi

They say that money is the root of all evil. At times, I couldn’t agree more. But now I hear that alcohol consumption is the “mother of all sins”. I’m not going into detail about which sins are worse, but more on the earthly consequences of such sins as defined by the male religious elite.… Continue reading Mother of all sins: the caning of Kartika Sari Dewi

The blogging continues!

I’m back! But looks like I’ve lost many fans of Cycads along the way 😦 Anyhoo, the posts are still rolling. Give me a shout if you’re still with me.

Away

It’s that time again, dear readers – I’m disappearing yet again! Though I’m far from happy to say that; writing conditions here have not been conducive or ideal. So there have been fewer posts this month and Cycads is starting gather cobwebs. A new, temporary research job at University of Malaya has taken up much… Continue reading Away

Photo of the day: Wall of Shame

Titillating, attention-grabbing headlines of sexual violence against women and children both desensitises crimes against the weak and fuel society with the fear of the rapist-stranger despite the fact that the majority of rapists are known to victims.