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?
Research and publications
Being gay in Malaysia: The myths and realities
In a class I was teaching recently about transgender identities in Indonesian films, I explained that Upi Avianto’s 2006 film Realita Cinta dan Rock n Roll broke the mould of many earlier Indonesian films depicting trans* people, as it featured a transwoman character who was a mother (played by action actor Barry Prima), who was… Continue reading Being gay in Malaysia: The myths and realities
Ada apa dengan bendera?
Disiarkan di Merdeka Review, tanggal 22 Desember 2011. Sejak usia remaja, saya pernah dinasihatkan oleh orang tua supaya jangan masuk campur dengan arena politik apabila dewasa kelak. Mengikut mereka, politik hanyalah “permainan kotor” yang menguntungkan politikus sahaja, lantas kepentingan rakyat sejagat jarang dipertimbangkan secara ikhlas. Setiap satu yang diberikan kepada rakyat diragut satu yang lain,… Continue reading Ada apa dengan bendera?
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
‘Love’ mail I get
In this day and age, when you’re an academic it is always good to have information about your research interests published online. Who knows, you’ll get asked by the media to give your expert opinion on topics you know intimately about, prospective students become inspired by similar research and seek your consult, and then there’s… Continue reading ‘Love’ mail I get
Seksualiti Merdeka dan pengaruh homofobia Melayu
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
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
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 