In light of the recent furore over the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party’s (PAS) iron-fisted decision to ban the Muslim feminist non-governmental organisation, Sisters In Islam, and to severely punish its members if found to conduct “un-Islamic” activities, a joint statement on behalf of a democratic Malaysian society has been released for the consideration of PAS members… Continue reading Joint statement by civil Malaysian society on PAS resolution to ban Sisters In Islam
Research and publications
Mild toxic waste: Malaysian Women's TV Programmes
Cross-posted from Muslimah Media Watch As I count the hours to the day I return to Malaysia, I’m compiling my notes and thoughts for a small research project on media images of women in the capital. But I’ve already started collecting preliminary data; my immense curiosity in the representation of Muslim Malay women in the… Continue reading Mild toxic waste: Malaysian Women's TV Programmes
Pink is for tween Muslimahs
Update: An extended version of this post can be found at Muslimah Media Watch It had to happen sooner or later. With Barbie and now Hannah Montana merchandise dominating the tween to early teenage market in Malaysia, products for young Muslim women in hijab are starting to appear, particularly on the bookshelves. And they look… Continue reading Pink is for tween Muslimahs
See you in Malaysia!
Hi everybody, Apologies for the long silence. Things have been rather hectic following my film workshop (which I’ve long been meaning to write about). Further, I’ve been spending a lot of time with friends and my boyfriend, to catch up and compensate for the loneliness when I’m back in Malaysia. I’m flying tomorrow, so my… Continue reading See you in Malaysia!
Latter day Victoriana: Drawing similarities between Compulsion and Bride and Prejudice
Crossposted on Feminist Review. The repressive, corseted Victorian culture of the novel found a perfect foil in the rigid caste strictures of Indian society. (The Times, 27 April 2009) Nesrine Malik’s scathing review of the ITV drama Compulsion got me thinking a lot more about modern day adaptations of pre-20th century literary works featuring ethnic… Continue reading Latter day Victoriana: Drawing similarities between Compulsion and Bride and Prejudice
Links, odds and ends, etc
I’m still busy juggling article assignments and editing videos for my film workshop next week. In the meantime, here are some great links, videos, music, stuff. Feminist literary critic Elaine Sholwater talks about her new book on American women writers, much maligned as ‘not important and canonical enough’ as the big boys of American fiction.… Continue reading Links, odds and ends, etc
The astonishing case of the shrinking Muslim woman
First published at Muslimah Media Watch It’s become common belief that Muslim women, particularly those who wear the hijab, are liberated from the media-driven standards of beauty that values the thin and the willowy. But it’s a belief that couches on the idea that head-coverings and modest clothes provide little incentive for showing off a… Continue reading The astonishing case of the shrinking Muslim woman
It's been quiet here, hasn't it?
Good grief. It’s been pretty quiet here, hasn’t it? My own fault really. It has been a busy week consisting of a friend’s PhD viva picnic party, another friend’s massive choir performance, my college dinner recital, video-editing lessons and late night chocolate chip cookie baking. I should still be in one piece to write something… Continue reading It's been quiet here, hasn't it?
Review: Walking the precipice: Witness to the rise of the Taliban in Afghanistan
Crossposted at Feminist Review: A deluge of books on Islamic fundamentalism had swamped the world’s bookshelves following the wake of the 9/11 attacks. Some 100 books and 5,600 articles were written on the subject, many focussing on the lives of Afghan women under Taliban rule. I chose to review Barbara Bick’s Walking the Precipice: Witness… Continue reading Review: Walking the precipice: Witness to the rise of the Taliban in Afghanistan
My daughter's keeper: Nahid Persson's Prostitution behind the veil
Crossposted at Muslimah Media Watch For a relatively high-brow TV channel, BBC4 is known for providing top quality programs and dramas. So when the BBC commemorated the 30th anniversary of Islamic Revolution in Iran, I became glued to the channel’s string of intriguing documentaries on all things Iranian, post-1979. There were plenty on Iran-US nuclear… Continue reading My daughter's keeper: Nahid Persson's Prostitution behind the veil
Alicia Izharuddin 