Category: Feminism

More on men and feminism

Men and feminism: the next frontier on feminism’s agenda. Underrated, under researched, but quite possibly one of the most important issues surrounding our engagement with the source of female oppression. Gareth at Ad Fontes has some thought-provoking views on this: Patriarchy forces men and women to play gender games that damage both of us. The… Continue reading More on men and feminism

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Categorized as Feminism

Big Love: Appropriating feminism in advocating polygamy

Originally posted at Muslimah Media Watch Stories about polygamy tend to surge and ebb in the media, but they never fail to intrigue people. Recently in South Africa, a Zulu man married four women–all at once–making the most popular story on the BBC news website (you can watch the clip here). In the video, a… Continue reading Big Love: Appropriating feminism in advocating polygamy

Reconstructing the deconstructed: some thoughts on transnational feminist activism

The genetic material that connects us people with pre-historic creatures are the hox genes; genes that determine the basic shape of the body – signalling where the front and back, top and bottom of the body of more complex organisms (this includes worms I’m afraid) would be, essentially. Now, the discovery of the hox genes… Continue reading Reconstructing the deconstructed: some thoughts on transnational feminist activism

Selamat Hari Raya! Maaf zahir dan batin

Cycads would like to wish you Eid Mubarak! Posts will resume shortly when I finally have internet connection in my new (but very empty) house. For the rest, a wonderful rest-of-the-weekend to you!

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Categorized as Feminism

Ramadhan book club: Our Stories, Our Lives

Originally published at Muslimah Media Watch, with thanks to The Policy Press. Our Stories, Our Lives is an anthology of a diverse group of women in Bradford, England, offering a glimpse into their lives and their issues with reconciling their Muslim identities with being British. With the media’s daily onslaught on the image of Muslims… Continue reading Ramadhan book club: Our Stories, Our Lives

Hegemonic masculinities can mess up your kids

Apologies for falling off the face of the blogosphere. I’ve been buried underneath research papers over the past week – reading and reviewing articles on masculinity and its influence on gender disparity in education – part of my slave work until the end of this month, thankfully. From reading so many of them I’ve been… Continue reading Hegemonic masculinities can mess up your kids

Open thread: Sex education. Why are we so afraid?

When I was growing up, sex was everywhere in the household, except that the word ‘sex’ was never mentioned. Books about violent crimes against women were littered around the house and I read every one of them, thinking to some degree that I was reading – and learning – about sex. Living with a single… Continue reading Open thread: Sex education. Why are we so afraid?

Book cover of the day: The Haunted Vagina by Carlton Mellick III

Apparently, this is the author’s best work: “It’s difficult to love a woman whose vagina is a gateway to the world of the dead . . .” Book description: Steve falls madly in love with Stacy, but it isn’t until they move in together that he hears voices coming from Stacy’s southern junction. When a… Continue reading Book cover of the day: The Haunted Vagina by Carlton Mellick III

Seksualiti Merdeka: Coming to terms with the love that dares not speak its name

This was originally published over at Muslimah Media Watch last Monday, on the 31st of August – Malaysia’s national day, popularly known as ‘Merdeka Day’. Who would have thought that sexuality rights were being celebrated in the historical and cultural heart of the Malaysian capital two weeks ago? Malaysia, like anywhere else (Muslim-majority or not)… Continue reading Seksualiti Merdeka: Coming to terms with the love that dares not speak its name