The first thing that would be useful when thinking about genders and sexualities in Malaysia is that the categories of ‘gender’ and ‘sexuality’ are far from native and natural in the national language, Bahasa Malaysia. What is meant by ‘native’ and ‘natural’ refers to the fact that gender and sexuality are relatively recent loanwords. And… Continue reading On the viability of ‘gender’ and ‘sexuality’ as categories in Malaysia
Category: Feminism
Sang Penari: the female body as a sexualised site of masculine struggle
At the time of writing, I was experiencing the warmth of critical acclaim bestowed on an Indonesian film that had just finished its all-too-brief exhibition at cinemas in Jakarta. The film, Sang Penari (The Dancer), is described by film critics as the apogee of Indonesian cinema 20111. Arguably the “best film” of last year, and… Continue reading Sang Penari: the female body as a sexualised site of masculine struggle
Advice for Valentine’s Day Lovers: Play Fair (for Loyar Berkasih)
First published for Loyar Burok, on 12th February 2012. Recently, PAS managed to let their guard down with a statement saying that Muslims can celebrate Valentine’s Day … but strictly according to a moral guideline painstakingly spelled out by the head of PAS Youth, Nasaruddin Ali. A celebration of love, albeit a kitsch and mercilessly… Continue reading Advice for Valentine’s Day Lovers: Play Fair (for Loyar Berkasih)
Menilai semula sikap rakyat terhadap ahli politik wanita
First published on Merdeka Review, 27 January 2012. Sudah menjadi tabiat sesetengah orang Malaysia menghina perempuan dengan kekerasan yang berbaur seksual dan kelucahan; ancaman rogol dan dikecam sebagai pelacur atau perempuan murahan. Lelaki yang dikritik dan dimaki hamun tidak akan menerima kecaman yang sebegitu. Ini adalah kerana orang perempuan dianggap sasaran yang lemah layu dan… Continue reading Menilai semula sikap rakyat terhadap ahli politik wanita
Laki-laki feminis, sila tampil ke hadapan
Dalam kolum saya di Merdeka Review baru-baru ini, saya membincangkan tentang tanggungjawab kita sebagai sebuah masyarakat dalam menangani isu misogyni (atau pembencian wanita di bawah dan atas sedar) di Malaysia. Hari ini, saya ingin menjemput pembaca untuk memikirkan tentang peranan lelaki dalam menangani seksisme dan penyertaan mereka dalam gerakan feminisme. Boleh dikatakan bahawa tanggungjawab yang… Continue reading Laki-laki feminis, sila tampil ke hadapan
Malaysian feminism in 2012?
As I write this in Jakarta, my thoughts are about what we can do to get feminism buzzing in the Malaysian public discourse this year. When I say getting feminism in the Malaysian public discourse, I mean getthing people talking about feminism and gender inequality, and hopefully do something about gender and intersectional injustice. In… Continue reading Malaysian feminism in 2012?
Why feminist blogging in Malaysia is important
One of the things I realised with great despair is that the vast majority of Malaysian feminists and supporters of gender equality are not interested in blogging and writing about their experiences within feminist and women’s rights movements in Malaysia, whether they’re coming from the inner sanctum of such movements or around its periphery. Why… Continue reading Why feminist blogging in Malaysia is important
Masculinity and sexual humiliation in Quickie Express
The following is a lecture about Indonesian masculinities and male sex work to accompany the film screening of Quickie Express by Dimas Djayadinigrat that I delivered for my class Sex and the City in Southeast Asian Cinema. Reading it through once again, I found to be rather scrappy and also, please pardon the occasional chatty… Continue reading Masculinity and sexual humiliation in Quickie Express
Unless we respect sex workers, we will never respect all women
First posted on Loyar Burok’s LoyarEqual Feminist Week on 17th to 21st October. Being called a “slut”, “thevadiya”, “sundal”, “whore”, or “jalang” are probably the worst forms of verbal abuse anyone, woman or man, can inflict on a woman or girl. But they needn’t be. One only needs to unpack the toxicity in the abusive… Continue reading Unless we respect sex workers, we will never respect all women
Ironi adalah …
Beberapa bulan yang lepas saya terserempak dengan sebuah kumpulan di laman Facebook yang bernama “Hentikan ganggguan seksual terhadap lelaki”. Kerana saya mengambil pendirian tegas tentang gangguan seksual terhadap sesiapa pun saya klik untuk maklumat lanjut. Saya kaget, terkejut besar, dengan apa yang saya lihat; pakaian Muslimah yang cukup menutup aurat selama ini mengganggu kaum lelaki… Continue reading Ironi adalah …
Alicia Izharuddin 