Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Staff Movement 5
Xmas Party
6
Treasure Hunt
Myths of Femi-
7
nism
Politics or wres-
8
tling match?
Evaluation &
9-10
Hopes WWRP 6 participants, facilitators and guest speakers.
Photo credit: Maisarah Muhd Najib
Celebrating Dreams:
Creating Women’s Space
by Apsara Murale
Staff Movement:
Sayonara to Honey, Elaine & RK Boo~~~
Compiled by Maisarah letting go. She also added was able to combine her some volunteers make for
Muhd Najib. that, “I remember telling love for counseling and this cause,” said Su-Lyn.
Interviewed by Bernie, the staff often that we her passion for social jus- According to her, she
Su-Lyn & Maisarah. cannot save the world, tice. has learned quite a few
and that we can't According to Su-Lyn, things at AWAM.
Our team decided to track change others, only her most notable contribu- Firstly, she learned
down three very important how we re-act to their tion is in reviving the Anu- that embracing diversity is
figures who left AWAM actions.” gerah support group necessary to achieving
during the course of 2008 According to Honey, which consists of domes- equality and non-
– Honey Tan, Elaine Siew by keeping those tic violence survivors. discrimination on all levels
and Boo Su-Lyn and got thoughts in her head – it “With new members regardless of gender, race
them to give their take on has helped her cope with coming into the group, I or religion among others.
the experiences with AWAM better. hope that this group will Secondly, she's
AWAM. When asked what her continue to sustain itself, learned that building per-
Honey Tan, the previ- most notable contribution and maybe even spawn sonal relationships based
ous Executive Director, throughout her stint at off more support groups on trust is very important
singled AWAM, Elaine Siew, for- for women in general,” in any group that strives
out her mer Administrative Assis- she said. for a cause, “If members
success tant, said AWAM's passion in the are willing to embrace,
in in- that it fight for gender equality trust and accept each
creasing was defi- and commitment to collec- other despite differences
the num- nitely tivism is Su-Lyn's favour- in values and beliefs,
ber of AWAM's ite part about AWAM. achieving goals is that
partici- Treasure “Although collective much easier.”
pants Hunt in decision-making is very Lastly, Su-Lyn's last
who participated in the July and difficult in a practical words for us: "Though I'm
discussion sessions for AWAM's sense, I think that it is leaving AWAM, AWAM
the Working Collective 20th Anni- very good of AWAM to try will always remain in my
meetings as one of her versary celebration. and practise it nonethe- heart, and I wish her all
most memorable contri- She also shared that less. It is also amazing to the best in her ongoing
butions. In her words, her favourite part about see the intense commit- battle for gender equality".
“Participation not only by AWAM is the people and ment and sacrifices that
those who usually speak, the nature of AWAM as it
but by those who found it is. “AWAM has been an
more intimidating to essential platform for
speak out in these face-to women from all walks of
-face situations.” life. Here, they may seek
The innovative ways any sort of help or advice
in which AWAM deals that they need whenever
with issues is what Honey trouble arises”.
like best about AWAM. She also added that
According to her, out- she's learnt quite a lot to Sofia Lim Siu Ching (President of AWAM) &
standing ones include the from AWAM. But most Ben on the birth of their twins, Alex and Elsa,
WWRP and the White importantly, “Working in on 15 October 2008!
Ribbon Campaign involv- AWAM has instilled in me
ing MAN.V. Although the the confidence and self-
latter has received mixed esteem that I need when
reviews from AWAM-ites, faced with frontier is-
Honey still believes that sues.”
there is a need to work Su-Lyn the former
with men in dealing with Social Worker said that
violence against women before
and other issues relating joining
to equality. AWAM,
Therefore, she hopes she had
that it will be re-looked been a
into so that it can be run volunteer
more successfully. since
At AWAM, Honey said 2005 –
that she learnt more and later joined AWAM
about detachment and when she felt that she
6 WAVES Issue No 2, January 2009
By Farlina Said
Often when speaking of woman’s beauty. Still, the who are passionate about tempted to take strong
feminism, it is the hasher, items were not burned. something and more im- action against him. She
harder images of women Reports did mention that portantly you do some- did inform a lecturer of
engaging in activities that burning was suggested thing about it,” Su-Lyn her concerns, but the
are regarded as negative but shot down by local explained. lecturer’s reply was the
by society such as bra- authorities due to safety However, it is impossi- common occurrence of
burning and lesbianism reasons. ble to separate the per- such a case.
that comes to mind on top Now, perhaps forty sonal from the political, “She said it even oc-
of the shaking fists or the decades from the inci- Karen Lai, 31 mentions. curs in the office!” said
violent swing of rolling dent, Feminism is known She is currently in the Nina.
pins. as an ideology for the employment of Women’s It was a weakness she
As a matter of fact, emotional, the angry and Centre for Change, said she felt. The pres-
despite knowing the exis- the anarchist. Penang. sure of being victimised
tence of different forms of “Well, I don’t agree The very situation and held helpless. In ad-
feminism –women who that feminism was based seems to be true for Nina dition to that would be the
simply wish to preserve on emotions,” said Su- (real name withheld upon misconception that
their bit of sovereignty – Lyn, member of AWAM. request). women are forever seek-
most would be content to “It really depends on how It seemed a simple ing attention, as she men-
impose judgment on the you look at it. Essentially, situation. The attention of tioned the reactions from
whole population of femi- based on history, femi- a guy that seemed to her friends.
nists as the above men- nism began not based on border on unwelcome. They would aid her,
tioned actions. Actions emotions but it was really They were friends. How- she assured but, she did
that are, as a matter of based on rights… [I] think ever, who was to explain not want to appear over-
fact, stretches and exag- people mistake it for be- the unease she felt when paranoid. What if it is all
gerations of the truth. ing based on emotions she received the seem- only in her head?
The bra-burning inci- because we talk a lot ingly harmless Instant That is why, to her,
dent was objects symbol- about our experience and Messages? Or the place- she believes feminism to
ising female oppression what we go through so ment of her pictures be for women to stand up
such as high-heels, gir- people mistake it for an online without her permis- for their rights.
dles, curlers, bras and emotionally based move- sion? Or the soft jibes in “It’s about women not
tweezers being discarded ment which is not true,” class that caused her to needing to be afraid of
into trash cans. The inci- she continued. skip a week of class? speaking up. Feminists
dent had only occurred in “… [F]eminism isn’t “If I were to tell this can fight for themselves.
1968 to 1969 in reaction just about a bunch of an- guy, he’ll be like, ‘So? I They are not subjugated
to the way the Miss Amer- gry women… Feminism is didn’t break the law,” she when they are harassed,”
ica Beauty Pageant really about people, said, stating the reason
judged the value of a whether man or woman why she had not at- See page 8
8 WAVES Issue No 2, January 2009
...from previous page thought to take those of donned at the turn of the opportunity? You want
different races into con- weather. equal job opportunity?
Nina declared. sideration. “… [A] lot of it starts You want equal promo-
However, feminism, “I think the evolution of with being conscious, tion opportunity? And you
being an ideology, does feminism over time -- being aware of the is- think you’re not a femi-
not belong to a single through which we have sues. It’s just about hav- nist? Think again,’ Pei
school of thought. seen the many streams or ing that interest and if you Ling continued.
The history of femi- types of feminism emerge have that interest there, “Yeah, I want equal
nism was written with the -- is symbolic of how it is you’ll find the time. You’ll job opportunity. I want
first wave – an effort to fluid and reflective and find the energy somehow equal education opportu-
earn women the right to allows itself to change in to put the time into it,” nity. I don’t want to be
vote. Eventually, it was order to remain relevant said Karen. discriminated just be-
granted in the year 1928 to as many people as It is different tracks of cause I’m a girl, I don’t
in Britain. The second possible. I don't think it thought. Different ap- get promoted. I guess I’m
wave (beginning 1960s), will be very useful if it was proaches. Different ways a feminist in that way,”
seek to end discrimination stuck in form and it would of fighting for a cause that Pei Ling declared.
while the third wave, from quickly become irrelevant perhaps gave a spark There are some
the early 1990s, contin- if it does not address dif- somewhere deep within. strands of feminism that I
ued the goals of the sec- ferent issues that emerge “I’m not sure if I’m a do not agree with, said Su
ond wave only leaning over time,” said Vizla Ku- feminist,” Pei Ling, 21, -Lyn.
towards a more subjec- maresen, 29, member of student at Universiti “That doesn’t make
tive interpretation of femi- AWAM. Tunku Abdul Rahman me any less of a femi-
nism. Where the second Feminism, as any admitted. nist... I have my own
wave were essentialists, form of activism would, But there is this poster stand on how feminism
insisting on only one in- burns best with a fire that that says ‘You think you is.” Su-Lyn stated.
terpretation, the third suits. It is not a free-for- are not a feminist? But
wave called for feminist rent cloak that can be you want equal education
WAVES Issue No 2, January 2009 9
Public Education
by RK Boo
The Public Education However, Betty and tee includes the involve- trainer due to the limited
Committee has done tre- Yock Lin felt that there is ment of AWAM as mod- resources of AWAM
mendous work in inform- a need to assess the di- ule writers and trainers in members.
ing the public on gender rect impact of trainings on Women's Rights and CE- She gave an addi-
and human rights issues. youth. Betty suggested DAW (Convention on the tional suggestion of im-
It is led by Haslinah that one way of assessing Elimination of all forms of plementing a Training
Yaacob (Coordinator) and such impact is to plan Discrimination Against Roadmap to develop
Betty Yeoh (Public Edu- future trainings with Women) training in Su- trainers and AWAM mem-
cation, Events and Advo- school programmes over hakam, as well as in the bers. Also, trainings
cacy Manager). a two or three year span. Gender Module in LPPKN should be strategised –
At the time of writing, In terms of the com- (Women's Ministry) and some training can be
Haslinah Yaacob was not mittee’s work with alliance the National Service train- done to generate income
available for an interview. groups, alliance group ing program. while others are to create
Hence, comments on the members are enabled to These involvements change.
evaluation and hopes of carry out Young Person recognise AWAM’s spe- In terms of generating
the Public Education Take Charge (YPTC) cialty in the field of gen- income, corporations can
committee are taken from trainings at schools. der and women’s rights be targeted to provide
Betty Yeoh and Ho Yock The Chit-Chatters and based on the CEDAW sexual harassment train-
Lin, active members of Writers for Women’s framework. ings at a fee.
the committee. Rights Programme In terms of improving Examples of trainings
The Public Education (WWRP) have recently the Public Education that create change are
committee has run much been put under the pur- committee in 2009, Yock gender and rights training
training last year, mostly view of the Public Educa- Lin suggested initiating a in National Service, and
with students. tion committee. good action plan, groom- mobile outreach pro-
According to Betty, Betty suggested that ing a pool of trainers and grams co-organised with
schools have made re- in order to strengthen conducting quality train- Sisters in Islam (SIS)
peat requests from impact, the WWRP can ings with impact. where community mem-
AWAM for additional synergize with other train- Betty added that we bers are trained on laws
training, which indicates ers. should increase the num- affecting women.
that the schools must Betty noted that the ber of trainers who can
have found the training accomplishment of the train during working days,
useful. Public Education commit- or to hire an additional