In The News
This piece was originally published in
Malaysiakini-Rentakini on 25 June 2007 .
Feminista Fiesta weekend
Ooi Kelly
FEMINISM is a word that I've encountered countless times but never really fathom it. Therefore, when I first came to know of the Feminista Fiesta, I was drawn to it like a moth to light.
Was I, the 10.30pm Cinderella going to learn how to demand for her rights to stay out late at night as her younger brother? Will I have the luxury of indulging in male bashing sessions? Perhaps, I'll see a historical move from bra burning days to boxers burning rituals?
It was all none of the above. Instead, at the inaugural event titled "Embracing Diversity" held last weekend at Universiti Malaya, voices were heard, ideas were exchanged and perspectives were challenged among some 500 people from all walks of life who have gathered for the two-and-a-half-day festivities.
At the morning plenary sessions, the person who drew a lot of reaction from the crowd was People's Service Organisation (PSO) president Paul Sinnappan who gave a talk on Saturday.
He spoke about the difficulty of questioning traditional ideas and giving up the "power, privilege and freedom of a man" in the process of becoming a better husband.
"Before that my mum and wife used to serve me. Now, I've to make my own coffee.
"It took me three years to put my heart into housework," he said drawing laughter from the crowd.
Paul pointed out that transformed men can develop gender responsive families, reduce gender bias policies and plans and improve the decision making process.
"Bocor" incident skit
Lunch breaks were not only the time to fill my growling stomach. It was an opportunity to visit the various booths that have been set up, get my hand or face with the fiesta's trademark butterfly and watch presentations.
During Saturday lunch hour, the issue of the recent remarks on menstruation by two male parliamentarians was brought up in the form of a skit.
Wearing a black coat with a pompous corsage pinned to it, Women's Aid Organisation executive director Ivy Josiah acted as the accused member of parliament who is trying to valiantly defend "himself" by stating that it was merely a joke, blaming the media for their exaggerated reports, the opposition's hidden agenda in making a big issue out of it.
At the end of the mock trial, the crowd enthusiastically sentenced the defendant to six months of suspension from parliament without allowances and benefits, six months of community service with a women NGO as well as apologise to the affected women parliamentarian and all Malaysian women.
For the later part of afternoons, participants were spoilt for choice with numerous discussions and workshops ranging from basic to advance levels which touched on a variety of issues such as feminism, women's rights, development, and democracy.
On Sunday, I stepped into the "Women with disabilities" discussion where several languages were used including sign language.
One of the speakers, Eng Foong Mei who is currently pursuing a two year diploma program on Disability Studies in Canada highlighted the discriminations faced by deaf women in Malaysia
Speaking to some 30 people, she said that "most parents of deaf girls make them lead a kampung (village) life.
"Parents are over protective and don't let them have their own opinions," signed Eng.
The qualified sign language instructor who has very supportive parents concluded that deaf women in Malaysia need to be given training so that they can stand on their own two feet.
Not confined to one race only
After that, I attended the "Let's talk! Race, ethnicity and bangsa in Malaysia" workshop organised by Komas (Community Communications Center of Malaysia). Of all the activities that were done, the racist anonymous exercise drew the most interest and made some 30 participants looked hard into the stereotyping of race.
During this activity, Komas director Jerald Joseph first asked the participants to think and write down words that they know of which are usually associated with a particular race.
Among the slogans written are "Malays are lazy", "Chinese are greedy" and "Indians smell". After that, a switch was done and participants agreed that these labels are not necessarily confined to a certain race only.
After the festivities had ended, the word "feminism" brought a whole new meaning to me. The movers and shakers of this event showed that feminism is not and should not be only confined to women.
Women's fight for equality does indeed have interconnections with the larger social justice in life and women organisations do work with other civil societies group as well as male individuals in pursuing what they believe in.
