Written for the LSE equality and diversity blog For a country keen on displaying its hyper-modernity, Malaysian law and social attitudes on sexual morality in general have always had a conservative bent. While there are pockets of change, much of the public discourse on sex and morality are dominated by sexist and homophobic language. A… Continue reading Two steps forward, one step back: On Dalam Botol, Malaysia’s first ‘gay’ film
Category: Malaysia
A Kakak Killjoy reflects on the ‘burqa’ ban in France
First published on Kakak Killjoy As we all know, the “burqa” ban has taken effect in France on Monday as a political and nationalistic expression to preserve the French cultural identity and end the “oppressive” practices of face-covering among Muslim women. Two women have already been arrested. We should know that such invasive intervention done… Continue reading A Kakak Killjoy reflects on the ‘burqa’ ban in France
The complicated politics of being First Lady
Sensitivity and compassion are apparently not Rosmah Mansor’s, the Malaysian “First Lady”, best suits. In a recent press appearance, Rosmah intended to buck the trend of the silent and exceedingly proper politician’s wife, by making self-righteous remarks about the recent Japanese tragedy as a well-deserved lesson for all. In the spirit of freedom of expression,… Continue reading The complicated politics of being First Lady
Feminism in Malaysia is dead, long live feminism
It takes not knowing enough (or choosing to ignore) about the ways of the world to make a foolish optimist. This is the lesson I learned about sisterhood, in which the ways of the world happens to be ‘just how people are’ in Malaysia – too busy for activism, frustrated, idealist non-doers, too scared to… Continue reading Feminism in Malaysia is dead, long live feminism
Dahulukala – Sebuah manifesta berangkap
Dahulu kala saya pernah percaya tudung itu bukan sahaja harus bagi wanita solehah tapi juga bagi awek lelaki soleh dan yang memejam sebelah mata. Dahulu kala saya pernah dituduh kurang ajar dan lemah pedoman jika mencabar kepimpinan lelaki yang tidak berbeza rupa dan sifat kepimpinan seorang perempuan. Dahulu kala saya pernah percaya kewanitaan itu lumrah… Continue reading Dahulukala – Sebuah manifesta berangkap
A feminist’s take on love
First published at Loyar Burok as part of #LoyarBerkasih’s Valentine edition. When one cares enough to wonder about the moment a woman becomes a feminist, their overheated imagination conjures a woman done wrong by a male lover or wronged by simply being overweight and unattractive by society’s arbitrary standards, or imagined as a homosexual misandrist… Continue reading A feminist’s take on love
Judge a book by its cover?: Women and sex on retro Malay book covers
They say you can’t judge a book by its cover. But you might well be able to sell a book based on its cover. The world of Malay book jackets of the past (circa 1960’s to mid 1970’s) was a different place then, where nude women as decorative elements were apparently no big deal. Nowadays,… Continue reading Judge a book by its cover?: Women and sex on retro Malay book covers
Introducing Privilege-denying Malay guy. Patriarchy-apologists be damned!
UPDATE: PDMG has moved to a more inclusive space – Privilege-denying Malaysian guy In the spirit of the hugely popular Privilege-denying Dude meme that’s been circulating the feminist blogosphere, my fellow feminist compadres Tariq and Munira, have started the long overdue Privilege-denying Malay guy. Of course there is no denying that Malay privilege is enshrined… Continue reading Introducing Privilege-denying Malay guy. Patriarchy-apologists be damned!
Maryam & Manan: What Underage Marriages Say About Our Society
My first piece on the Malaysian legal blog, Loyar Burok: Underage marriages are not simply perversions of marital norms but an index of our unequal society. The news concerning the marriage of a 14-year old girl and 23-year old man reveals a thing or two about what can be expected of young women and of… Continue reading Maryam & Manan: What Underage Marriages Say About Our Society
2010 – the year in rape reports [Trigger warning]
Most annual retrospectives look at “big” stories that grabbed the year’s headlines: war, natural and environmental disasters, celebrity “news”, famous deaths, the busting of confidential US diplomatic cables, to name a few. Few however would chart both the shock and banality of sexual violence committed by men against women and girls in the year gone… Continue reading 2010 – the year in rape reports [Trigger warning]
Alicia Izharuddin 