In The News
This piece was originally published in the Sun on 24 May 2007.
Questioning the status quo
Gan Shuxian
"Does feminist mean large unpleasant person who'll shout at you or someone who believes women are human beings. To me it's the latter, so I sign up."
-Margaret Atwood-
I have been a feminist for as long as I can remember. When I was 8 years old, the class teacher elected me as the assistant class monitor. The class monitor was a boy, one whom I quite disliked. I asked the teacher, "why do I have to be the assistant?", to which she answered, "because he is a boy and you are a girl". I can't remember what happened subsequently, but I remember that by the end of that day, there were 2 class monitors, and no assistants.
What is feminism?
My answer came while having breakfast with a group of friends. Ironically, none of these girls would ever openly admit to being a feminist.
The group of us was waiting for our flight to Cambodia, and we somehow, started talking about our grandparents- how single actions from them became turning points in our parents' lives.
Susan told the story of her grandmother's rebellion when her grandfather wanted to send Susan's mother off to work at the tender age of 14. "I will eat sand if I have to, but my daughters are staying in school." As a result of that act of rebellion, all the girls in the family completed their tertiary education.
Janice's grandmother was one of Ipoh's richest women in her days. She defied opposition from her sons and other male members of the family to include her daughters' names in her will. At that time, such a thing was never heard of. "They are my children too, and it makes no sense not to include them in my will just because they are not sons." I guess it is possible that other people followed suit.
Alex told us about her grandfather sending her aunt to England to work as a nurse, so that the aunt could avoid an arranged marriage Alex's grandmother had planned. In the 1970s, it was very bold to let one's daughter go to a foreign land (where all the bad mat sallehs live). Yet, that incident became the turning point in the family. That was the last (attempted) forced marriage in her family.
Feminism is precisely that; men and women who question the status quo. If rules don't make sense, they don't make sense! Feminism is not always seen in big, bold statements. Most of the time, it creeps up as small seemingly insignificant decisions.
Feminism is an ideology, a belief that women are no less capable, no less deserving and no less worthy than men. It also questions oppressive systems of all forms, be it of race, status or background. Feminists believe that every person should be viewed as an individual--and not just as a gender, a race, a profession or a social class.
Feminism challenges our ethics, it makes us question why things are the way they are. It is a philosophy and a way of life. Most of the feminists I know choose to consciously question, challenge, educate, learn and understand.
On top of that, feminism becomes a political movement when people gather and take action over mutual concerns. The right to vote, protection from the law against rape, flexi-hours and minimum wages are all results of the feminist political movement.
More importantly, feminism is an identity; it is part of our very existence. The things that were so difficult years ago, are now rights that we have by default--going to work, getting an education, choosing to have only 2 children (and not 8!). The same applies to men too. It is not uncommon now to acknowledge intelligent wives that can run businesses, or expect wives to share financial responsibilities. Instead of mere providers, men can now be nurturers too.
Men and women, freed from the narrow traditional roles as men/women, are now empowered and able to do more for ourselves. We now have choices, and that leads to more diversity and increasing acceptance to things that are different. In challenging women and men to be all that they can be, feminism has created and continues to create space for us to be whoever and whatever we want to be.
I am a woman, a feminist, and an individual that grows and grows. The feminists before me and around me showed me how.
*Gan Shuxian is looking forward to Fiesta Feminista, a gathering that welcomes the participation of all interested in feminism and activism in Malaysia. This event will take place in Kuala Lumpur from June 15-17. For details, contact info@fiestafeminista-malaysia.org or call 03-77844977/6979
