This is an article I wrote for Merdeka Review, published on 9th November 2011, commenting on the murkier aspects of the Malaysian public discourse surrounding the banning of Seksualiti Merdeka. Pengharaman Seksualiti Merdeka yang diumumkan secara tiba-tiba pada 3 November dan kecaman terhadap perasminya, Ambiga Sreenevasan, adalah satu lagi sejarah hitam dalam perjalanan Malaysia ke… Continue reading Seksualiti Merdeka dan pengaruh homofobia Melayu
Category: Malaysia
Reggae Mansion: Blatant discrimination and exclusivity in the worst possible taste
I wrote and published this piece for Loyar Burok on 1st November, generating in what was a considerably powerful response from the Malaysian public online that resulted in the public dressing-down of Reggae Mansion via The Star newspaper. Suffice to say, this is testament to the fact that a successful link between online blogging and… Continue reading Reggae Mansion: Blatant discrimination and exclusivity in the worst possible taste
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 …
Call for articles: #LoyarEqual – Feminist and women’s rights week on Loyar Burok
I am hosting Feminist and Women’s Rights week on Loyar Burok. Below is a copied and pasted info from Loyar Burok. p/s: SEND YOUR ARTICLES TO ME! Let’s flood (a subsection of) the Malaysian blogosphere with feminism! Why feminist and women’s rights week?! Because battling gender-based violence and discrimination is still relevant in Malaysia and… Continue reading Call for articles: #LoyarEqual – Feminist and women’s rights week on Loyar Burok
The lacuna: Where is the missing canon of Malaysian feminist fiction writing?
A version of this post was first published on Kakak Killjoy The question above may seem far ahead of its time, as the influence of feminism – in whatever form of feminism we as Malaysians can recognise – has yet to have an established place in our literature. Fiction-writing has long been central to Western… Continue reading The lacuna: Where is the missing canon of Malaysian feminist fiction writing?
Cute big bodies: Fashion for plus-size Muslim women in a Malaysian magazine
Malaysia is a fat-phobic country, and so it’s welcoming to see pockets of fat acceptance in the media. In this case, a rare fashion spread for “plus-sized” women in a local Muslim women’s lifestyle magazine, Nur. Reading the text above, the use of the word “comel” (cute) to mean larger body is interesting; while it… Continue reading Cute big bodies: Fashion for plus-size Muslim women in a Malaysian magazine
Fiesta Feminista 2011 is on 25 to 27th November in Kota Kinabalu
For those still not in the know, the second Fiesta Feminista is taking place on 25 to 27th November 2011 in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, in East Malaysia. From the website: Fiesta Feminista is an initiative by the Joint Action Group for Gender Equality (JAG) a regular event that happens once every 3-4 years a process… Continue reading Fiesta Feminista 2011 is on 25 to 27th November in Kota Kinabalu
Does Ustazah Pilihan have the X-factor?
On 1st October, Islamic lifestyle Astro channel, Oasis, is launching the first episode of Ustazah Pilihan (Ideal Ustazah). Similar in format to the reality talent show Imam Muda (Young Imam), a woman will have to jump through various hoops to prove that she’s the most qualified religious teacher of the land. Each contestant will be… Continue reading Does Ustazah Pilihan have the X-factor?
On the NGOisation of feminism in Malaysia and how it may exclude many Malaysians
There was an article in the Star online today about pressuring the government into making sexual harassment a crime in Malaysia. 11 NGOs stressed the urgency since the rising numbers of incidences are making public spaces not only unbearable but increasingly dangerous for women and girls. But the language in which harassment or any gender-related… Continue reading On the NGOisation of feminism in Malaysia and how it may exclude many Malaysians
Alicia Izharuddin 