Alicia Izharuddin

People and women, pronouns and hegemony

Ever wondered why people always say “he or she”, “man or woman”, and “his or her”, and not “she or he”, “woman or man”, or “her or his”. Does it roll of the tongue funny when people do? Does it sound unusual, somehow not right? People may argue that its sounds better to say “he… Continue reading People and women, pronouns and hegemony

Will be back very shortly!

It’s a been an experientially short week (you realise there are too few hours in a day when you have tons to do!): started my job lecturing sexuality in Southeast Asian cinema last week, insisted on having a social life however sad, and curating Feminist Week on Loyar Burok this week. I noticed that I… Continue reading Will be back very shortly!

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?

More thoughts on femininities in Indonesian Islamically-themed cinema

Empowered femininities? It is worth exploring the relationship between women and film religi in which female characters assume the role of boundary markers of nation and religion. The reference to women as markers of the boundaries of national ideology is a common theme in post-colonial nations-states, serving as symbolic representations in the rhetoric of inclusion… Continue reading More thoughts on femininities in Indonesian Islamically-themed cinema

Why I chose the path of academia despite sexist microaggressions and my own demons

First published on Kakak Killjoy If you’re a woman or girl and you have plenty of facts, ideas, and thoughts in your head it’s easier to keep them there. Once they come out, be prepared to be shot down in flames by people who think you’re showing off and trying to being pseudo-intellectual. Even comments… Continue reading Why I chose the path of academia despite sexist microaggressions and my own demons

This is an opportunity for you to delurk and say hello

Most times when I write I have an imaginary audience in mind, an audience whose intelligence I would hate to insult. But if I want to be really honest, I would say that blogging is actually one big lonely exercise of making oneself feel rather important and soliloquies – a kind of shrine to oneself… Continue reading This is an opportunity for you to delurk and say hello

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

Is there an emergence of new masculinities in Indonesia’s Islamic cinema?

When new femininities are introduced in the new wave of religious film-making, different strands of masculinities also emerge albeit in more implicit ways. Like heterosexuality, non-disability, and whiteness, masculinity is often referred to as ‘unmarked’ social category in which male dominance has been historically treated as the ‘norm’ while ‘gender’ is often taken to be… Continue reading Is there an emergence of new masculinities in Indonesia’s Islamic cinema?

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