Author: Angry Malay Woman

I like plants.

Men and feminism

One of the things anti-feminists find hard to swallow is the idea that patriarchy permeates the mechanics of our society. Okay, correction: far from existing as just an idea or theory as many would believe, the patriarchal problem is very real and it hurts men, too. Some would rather be persuaded to use another term… Continue reading Men and feminism

Polygamy: A woman's right?

While digging out the image library on my hard drive, I found some pictures taken of an Indonesian ‘edutainment tabloid’ called Poligami. I found the line, Hak dan Kebutuhan Perempuan (the rights and needs of women) across the cover of the magazine interesting – mainly because here polygamy is pitched as pro-women rather than the… Continue reading Polygamy: A woman's right?

Famous, female, and divorced? That's hot!

Crossposted at Muslimah Media Watch If you think that divorce brings shame and stigma squarely upon women only in conservative societies, think again. Because according to a ”news” report published in the Malaysian tabloid, Metro Ahad, celebrity divorcees are apparently the hottest thing on the market at the moment. I usually read the stuff on… Continue reading Famous, female, and divorced? That's hot!

Guest post: Redefining Malay womanhood in Yasmin Ahmad's films

The following was written by guest contributor and fellow Malaysian feminist, Mohani Niza. Writing on the “New Malaysian Femininity’ in the films of Yasmin Ahmad, she presents a Malay womanhood that contrasts squarely with the misogyny and whore/virgin stereotypes typically found in Malaysian cinema. In 2004, Yasmin Ahmad, famed for her Petronas advertisements depicting multi-racial… Continue reading Guest post: Redefining Malay womanhood in Yasmin Ahmad's films

The ideal Muslim man is… blond and blue-eyed.

Isn’t it depressing that according to Nesrine Malik the so-called ideal Muslim man is blond and looks suspiciously white? Apparently, this beautiful mythical creature can be found in the popular Turkish soap opera, Noor, where he can be seen observing Islamic customs like a good Muslim son-in-law (*half-hearted sarcasm*). She writes: […] the male protagonists… Continue reading The ideal Muslim man is… blond and blue-eyed.

Cinema of sexism: Misogyny in Malay films

Because woman did not fight back, man quickly took over the advantage and made her the scapegoat for all his vices and fears. […] He was intimidated by woman’s sexual desire, and so he invented the mutually exclusive virgin and whore. […] He was ashamed of growing old and ugly, and even more ashamed of… Continue reading Cinema of sexism: Misogyny in Malay films

The first Asian Women Blog Carnival!

This is a delayed therefore somewhat unnecessary announcement, but the first Asian Women Blog Carnival has been launched. Hosted by ciderpress, the carnival covers themes of racism, identity and cultural appropriation – all great stuff. My featured post “Foreign Bodies as Sexual Playgrounds” has been getting crazy amounts of attention in the last few days… Continue reading The first Asian Women Blog Carnival!

Published
Categorized as Feminism

Migration: Belonging and displacement

In an early sequence of a 1991 Channel Four television feature, Northern Crescent (a film about the white-Asian conflicts in Britain following the Rushdie affair), shows a new primary school headmaster, Mr. West, who introduces himself at assembly to his students, most of whom are of Pakistani ancestry. Mr. West asks the students to name… Continue reading Migration: Belonging and displacement

Retro pop orientalism: Dissecting Alison Moyet's 'Love Resurrection'

Written for and (soon to be) cross-posted at Muslimah Media Watch As we all know, pop culture can’t get enough of ‘the mysterious Orient’ and its ubiquitous exotic women. The 80s New Romanticism movement is a case in point. Known for its exaggerated and often outrageous attitudes to fashion and music, the movement inspired pop… Continue reading Retro pop orientalism: Dissecting Alison Moyet's 'Love Resurrection'