Bila bincangkan tentang masalah sakit mental di Malaysia, ramai yang ingat beban ini hanyalah beban individu disebabkan masalah peribadi. Apa yang orang ramai tak sedar ialah kebanyakkan masalah yang dihadapi disebabkan oleh sistem sedia ada yang meletakkan tekanan terhadap individu.
Sebagai contoh, selepas bersalin, perempuan perlu jaga bayi, susukan bayi tanpa “support system” walaupun badan sendiri masih penat dan tak cukup tidur.
Suami pula perlu bekerja sebab tak diberikan cuti lama untuk bantu isteri di rumah.
Bila seseorang wanita itu mula menunjukkan tanda-tanda tekanan mental sebab tak dapat bantuan yang diperlukan dalam tempoh bersalin, senang-senang je wanita dipanggil “hilang akal”.
Dari sini, kita boleh nampak sistem sedia ada yang tidak rahmah sehingga boleh menyebabkan seseorang itu sakit mental.
Nak tahu lebih lagi tentang perbincangan ni?
Jom GOSSIP bersama Christine 🐝🎧
Daripada mempelajari cara mengawal emosi mereka, ramai remaja lelaki kini lebih cenderung mengambil nasihat "self-improvement" daripada influencers seperti Andrew Tate, Jordan Peterson, Adin Ross dan DMA Islam.Sesetengah orang mungkin menganggap perkara ini biasa je, tapi benda ini membimbangkan apabila “nasihat” yang diberikan sebenarnya disaluti dengan fahaman misogini dan ideologi ekstrem yang dibungkuskan sebagai “self-improvement.” Ini boleh menyebabkan remaja lelaki mula percayai yang perbuatan mereka tidak salah, sebab mereka diajar untuk memandang wanita sebagai jantina yang lebih rendah daripada mereka.Dalam episod kali ini, kami menjemput Suyashaa dari Pocket of Pink (POP) untuk berkongsi pengalamannya berdepan dengan misogini daripada rakan-rakan sebaya sebagai seorang remaja.
Daripada khabar angin palsu sampailah ke imej yang dimanipulasikan, maklumat salah yang mengancam jantina seseorang memberi impak kepada penyertaan politik wanita dan juga sistem demokrasi itu sendiri.
Terma “Gendered Disinformation” mungkin masih baru bagi ramai orang, tetapi tindakan itu sendiri bukan sesuatu yang asing.
Bila tentera siber, atau lebih dikenali sebagai “cyber troopers” melancarkan kempen ancaman atau fitnah untuk menyasarkan ahli politik wanita dengan tujuan merosakkan reputasi mereka, ia akan menolak wanita daripada penyertaan awam akibat takut dengan ancaman atau fitnah tersebut.
Dalam episod kali ini, Teacher Thanusha kongsikan pengalamannya sendiri sebagai wanita muda di dalam bidang politik dan jenis-jenis kecaman yang dihadapinya, terutamanya ketika musim pilihan raya dan acara politik yang penting.
Nak tahu lebih lanjut tentang isu ini?
Jom GOSSIP bersama Teacher Thanusha! 🎧🐝
Kalau anda pernah tengok atau dengar perbualan tentang penggunaan kontraseptif, memang dah jadi satu kebiasaan yang selalunya, wanita yang aktif secara seksual yang kena ambil pil perancang atau Plan B untuk elak kehamilan.
Tapi macam mana pula dengan lelaki? Selain kondom, ada tak alternatif lain untuk mereka?
Dalam perkahwinan pula, siapa yang patut bertanggungjawab dalam hal perancangan keluarga? Nak ada berapa orang anak, jarak umur antara anak-anak, kesihatan isteri semasa dan selepas mengandung.
Semua ini perlukan perbincangan dan keputusan bersama. Jadi, macam mana nak mulakan perbincangan ni?
Kalau pasangan yang mempunyai tiga orang anak dan mereka tak nak tambah zuriat lagi, siapa yang patut jalankan “prosedur” tersebut?
Dalam episod kali ini, bersama Dr Subatra Jayaraj, seorang doktor yang berpengalaman dalam bidang kesihatan seksual dan reproduktif di Malaysia serta hos baru GOSSIP, Takahara Suiko, kami kupas topik perancangan keluarga dan penggunaan kontraseptif.Siapa sebenarnya yang bertanggungjawab?
Lelaki atau wanita?
Jom dengar dan bincangkan 🤨🎧
Moral policing refers to the actions of individuals or institutions forcing others to conform to the dominant culture or beliefs of a society. In Malaysia, this practice has increasingly been carried out by religious authorities.
We’ve seen incidents like women being denied entry to police stations for wearing short skirts or religious officers raiding homes to catch couples engaging in “inappropriate” situation. As Malaysia leans toward becoming more conservative, these practices have even extended into schools, where Muslim students may feel pressured to wear the hijab to avoid alienation.
In this episode of GOSSIP, we are joined by Takahara Suiko, a singer, performer, and content creator to talk about her experiences with moral policing. Being visibly active online, Taka has faced countless attacks targeting her gender, beliefs, and moral choices.
Curious about how moral policing impacts individuals and society as a whole?
Tune in as we spill the tea on this topic! ☕
*NOTE: Views presented by the speakers are their own personal opinions and do not necessarily represent the views of KRYSS Network, or the organizations or institutions they are affiliated with.
Cyberbullying has become common in today’s digital age that almost everyone has experienced it in some form—even students. It can start with being “cancelled” in a classroom to facing hate on WhatsApp groups, Instagram stories, and other social media platforms.
According to UNICEF, cyberbullying can take many forms, including spreading lies, posting embarrassing photos or videos on social media, sending hurtful or threatening messages, and even impersonating someone to damage their reputation.
In this episode of GOSSIP, we sit down with Chef Dave, a Malaysian vegan chef and content creator, who opens up about his personal experiences with cyberbullying. He also shares valuable advice on navigating these challenges as a public figure.
Curious to learn more about cyberbullying and how to protect yourself online?
Tune in to hear our discussion!
*NOTE: Views presented by the speakers are their own personal opinions and do not necessarily represent the views of KRYSS Network, or the organizations or institutions they are affiliated with.
Caregiving or unpaid care work has often been taken for granted. To some extent, there is now a growing recognition of its value, as seen in initiatives like setting up EPF accounts for homemakers. However, with Malaysia becoming an ageing society, unpaid care work is increasingly carried out by older people for other older people, and by young people for their parents or grandparents. In the case of the latter, this group is referred to as the "sandwich generation.” The sandwich generation refers to young or middle-aged adults who care for both their aging parents and their own children.
We recognise that women are often expected to shoulder the burden of caregiving and unpaid care work while also managing full-time jobs. This raises important questions: how do they find time to care for themselves, and what are the long-term impacts on their well-being?
In this episode of GOSSIP, we invited Lee Min Hui, Senior Analyst in the Social Policy and National Integration Division at the Institute of Strategic & International Studies (ISIS).
While discussing the importance of valuing unpaid care work, Lee Min Hui shared a notable insight: “If the unpaid care work produced in Malaysian homes every day could be valued in GDP figures, it would create about RM379 billion in 2022 alone.” This leaves us with a new perspective on how profitable the industry of care work could be.
Want to learn more about unpaid care work?
Tune in to this episode to find out what we discussed.
*NOTE: Views presented by the speakers are their own personal opinions and do not necessarily represent the views of KRYSS Network, or the organizations or institutions they are affiliated with.
For most of us, public interest means the welfare or well-being of the general public and society. However, oftentimes in ensuring that collective needs and values are upheld, the human rights of the individual end up taking a backseat.
To serve the broader community effectively and equitably, shouldn't we shift our focus from public interest vs private interest and really give more attention to balancing public interest vs individual or private gains?
In this episode of GOSSIP, we invited Dr. Kamal Kenny, Chairperson from the Federation of Reproductive Health Associations Malaysia to unpack these issues.
With over a decade of experience in the field of reproductive health, Dr. Kamal answers some of the questions:
i) How do we determine what is and what is not a public interest issue?
ii) When should sexual and reproductive health issues be a public interest issue and when should they not?
And many others.
Listen to this episode to find out more about Public Interest Issues!
*NOTE: Views presented by the speakers are their own personal opinions and do not necessarily represent the views of KRYSS Network, or the organizations or institutions they are affiliated with.
We acknowledge that the youth are our future but... are we considering their best interests when planning new initiatives and programs? How can we empower our youth effectively?
To ensure inclusivity, especially from a gender perspective, we must consider those who are less outspoken and those outside of our usual circles, not just those who are already empowered. This brings us to another question: How do we identify empowered youth?
By addressing these questions, we can create programs that genuinely serve all young people and foster a safer and inclusive environment.
In this episode of GOSSIP, we invited Qistina Johari, Campaigner at Amnesty International Malaysia, where she leads the development, implementation, and monitoring of the organisation’s campaign strategies, and Abdullah Nishad, our very own Advocacy and Outreach Officer at KRYSS Network.
Listen to this episode to find out what they have to say!
*NOTE: Views presented by the speakers are their own personal opinions and do not necessarily represent the views of KRYSS Network, or the organizations or institutions they are affiliated with.
There have been numerous bullying incidents among students, both within and outside learning environments. More often than not, students receive little to no support in dealing with these cases, leading to unfortunate consequences such as students quitting school, particularly those in boarding schools in which many of them come from marginalised communities and challenging family backgrounds.
The Ministry of Education has shown a commitment to addressing bullying in schools, but what is lacking? Are there gaps between the Ministry's commitment to addressing bullying and the actual implementation on the ground?
In this episode of GOSSIP, we invited Adibah Khalil, a filmmaker from Kualitea Productions and a former boarding school student, along with Eeyeng Lim, a former Senior Programmes Associate from Architects of Diversity, to dig deeper into the questions surrounding safe and inclusive learning environments.
Our main question is: what are we not doing enough, and most importantly, can there be safety without inclusivity?
*NOTE: Views presented by the speakers are their own personal opinions and do not necessarily represent the views of KRYSS Network, or the organizations or institutions they are affiliated with.
Many of us consider internet access as a utility we consume rather than a human right. Yet, only a fraction understand that our human rights should extend into digital spaces, intercepting into the design and application of digital technology. As our lives, both online and offline intertwine, it becomes crucial to recognise our digital rights as inseparable from our broader human rights framework.
However, when having discussions on digital rights, we often overlook the rights of persons with disabilities. How do we ensure their access to information when it's not tailored to their needs? Who advocates for their rights when their personal struggles are documented in the digital sphere without their consent?
In this episode of GOSSIP, we invited Beatrice Leong, an Autistic Rights Activist and Filmmaker, and Mediha Mahmood, Chief Executive Officer at Content Forum Malaysia to understand into their works to champion the rights of persons with disabilities in digital spaces and explore what governments and other stakeholders can do to support this.
*NOTE: Views presented by the speakers are their own personal opinions and do not necessarily represent the views of KRYSS Network, or the organizations or institutions they are affiliated with.
Misogyny is often used as a weapon against women and those who are gender non-conforming, leading to detrimental effects including instances of gender-based violence, both in the real world and in digital spaces. There are often no consequences for such actions, as misogyny is not criminalised in Malaysia and is not recognised as hate speech. In our podcast, we delve into the roots of misogyny, primarily stemming from sexism, to better understand this pervasive issue. In the Malaysian context, there have been several incidents where public figures use misogyny to dehumanise women. This is especially evident in the political arena, where representatives across parties don’t hesitate to employ misogyny, even within the parliament and state legislative assemblies, to undermine women.
In this episode, we invited Nalini Elumalai from Article 19 and Barathi Selvam, Senior Researcher at Women’s Aids Organisation, to unpack the ways in which sexism and misogyny contribute to violence against women with a number of global examples highlighting the prevalence of sexism worldwide.
*NOTE: Views presented by the speakers are their own personal opinions and do not necessarily represent the views of KRYSS Network, or the organisations or institutions they are affiliated with.
Late last year, Malaysia had its 15th General Elections after a series of government changes since the pandemic. The stakes were high and the battle for voters was intense. This led to the use of propaganda by various parties to pursue voters, including the propagation of gendered disinformation.
There is growing research that shows that women in politics are disproportionately targeted by gendered disinformation. It is aimed at delegitimising, depersonalising and ultimately dissuading them from being politically active. Gendered disinformation aggravates harmful stereotyping of women as “weak” and “domestic” and harmful sexualisation of women as “available” or “slutty”. Gendered disinformation is also a form of online gender-based violence that has the effect of silencing their voices.
In this episode, we unpack the concept of gendered disinformation within the Malaysian context, its impact on women's public and political participation during the 15th General election, and the recommendations for addressing the issues.
Featuring guest speakers: YB Amira Aisya, the State Assemblyperson for Puteri Wangsa, Johor & Cynthia Sylvia, the Media and Communications Officer at the Centre for Independent Journalism.
*NOTE: Views presented by the speakers are their own personal opinions and do not necessarily represent the views of KRYSS Network, or the organizations or institutions they are affiliated with.
More than just access to government services, every citizens ought to have the right to vote, right to freedom of opinion and expression, right to hold public office, to own land, to public education and to be free from violence and hate. All citizen are equal but is that true for everyone?
The LGBTQ+ community in Malaysia continues to face significant challenges, enduring targeted persecution and discrimination. The situation was exemplified by a distressing incident last year when a Halloween party, meant to be a safe place for the community, was unexpectedly raided by the police. These discriminatory actions and laws not only violate the human rights of LGBTQ+ individuals but also deprive them of their right to feel safe and secure in their own country.
In this episode, we explore the meaning of citizenship beyond just having a nationality and the constitutional guarantee of equality before the law. We also discuss how we can move forward to create a Malaysia where equal right to citizenry is a reality.
(Featuring guest speakers: Numan Afifi, Founder of JEJAKA and Larissa Ann Louis, Partner and Head of Pro Bono Unit of Messrs Azri, Lee Swee Seng & Co, Advocates and Solicitors)
*NOTE: Views presented by the speakers are their own personal opinions and do not necessarily represent the views of KRYSS Network, or the organizations or institutions they are affiliated with.
Earlier this year, Malaysia's Cabinet took a significant step by agreeing to amend the Federal Constitution, aiming to grant automatic citizenship to children born overseas to Malaysian mothers married to foreigners. However, this announcement does not mark the finalisation of the process. There are still multiple stages that must be completed before Malaysian mothers can confer citizenship to their overseas-born children.
The proposed constitutional amendment is scheduled to be tabled in September, leaving impacted mothers anxiously hoping for recognition as equal citizens and for their children to bear the Malaysian nationality, just like them.
In this episode, we explore the broader context of citizenship rights in Malaysia, shed light on the struggles faced by the mothers, and examine the significance of achieving equality in conferring citizenship to all Malaysians, regardless of their place of birth.
(Featuring guest speakers: Shamila Unnikrishnan, a Malaysian mother who has had to fight for her equal right to confer citizenship to her children born abroad and Sarah Czarina Mashanis, Programme Coordinator from Family Frontiers)
*NOTE: Views presented by the speakers are their own personal opinions and do not necessarily represent the views of KRYSS Network, or the organizations or institutions they are affiliated with.
“Cancel culture” is notably one of the most contentious phenomena, and more people are trying to define and understand it. The act of publicly denouncing misconduct or problematic opinions, especially from those who wield power or authority, has long been practiced by society. However, social media has changed how people are able to network and mobilise others to act in solidarity.
Many construed the #MeToo movement as cancel culture and compared it to mob rule or a short-lived sense of justice that punishes and shames the accused summarily without a fair trial. The lack of nuanced conversations on social media further adds to polarising the discourse, and often does not address the structural problems of sexual harassment.
The criticism towards the #MeToo movement assumes that everyone has equal access to freedom of opinion and expression. For a long time, the public and political spaces were insulated by the norms of acceptable sexual behaviours from perpetrators. The #MeToo movement gave people the collective power and strength to tear down the wall of silence and demand for accountability as their last attempt for justice. To describe cancel culture as either good or bad is not helpful and may risk obscuring the power dynamics in which it operates.
In this episode, "Fighting Sexual Harassment - Call Out or Cancel Culture", we interrogate cancel culture against the history, context and power relations in which it is defined, and its effectiveness to bring about the necessary discourse and social change beyond call-outs towards community-supported but survivor-centric solutions
(Featuring guest speakers: Fadiah Nadwa Fikri, a lawyer by training and currently doing her PhD in Southeast Asian Studies at the National University of Singapore and Daniella Zulkifli, Vice President of the Association of Women Lawyers and is part of the team that drafted the Anti-Sexual Harassment Bill.) ⠀
*NOTE: Views presented by the speakers are their own personal opinions and do not necessarily represent the views of KRYSS Network, or the organizations or institutions they are affiliated with.
This episode contains content that might be distressing to some listeners as we delve into the topic of sexual harassment. GOSSIP has always been about having difficult conversations and exploring the nuances of the issues with a gender lens. Questions are deliberately designed to provoke in order to help deepen reflections from guest speakers. It is in no way an attempt to diminish or discredit the struggles of survivors of sexual harassment but an attempt to initiate a conversation on how we should move forward in a way that addresses the issue and provides survivor-centric redress with the full support of the surrounding/affected community.
As a virtual public space, social media has been harnessed by activists to call out patriarchal norms, share rights-based gender content, and build movements for change. It has been regarded as an empowering space for feminist activism.
But we see how our online world mirrors the physical world. Women’s visibility and expression on social media are often burdened by the risks of hate and harassment. From the dominance of misogynistic content to the experiences of shadowbanning or abuse towards women online, we have seen how online spaces are fertile ground for harmful political ideologies and activity.
In this episode, we unpick if the design of social media is really neutral, if the infrastructure of social media shapes gender norms and plays a part in the online gender-based violence women faced.
Are social media algorithms tools of marketing or a mirror of patriarchy? Do algorithms interfere with our freedom of expression, especially when we post content that is 'objectionable' in the general public eyes (ex. human rights issues)? Do they reinforce existing disparities and discriminatory practices in our day-to-day lives? How do we then navigate them? These are just some of the questions we unpack in this latest episode.
(Featuring guest speakers: Ratna, Fat Liberationist and Syar S. Alia, activist and writer)
*NOTE: Views presented by the speakers are their own personal opinions and do not necessarily represent the views of KRYSS Network, or the organizations or institutions they are affiliated with.
There’s no denying that access to the internet has become essential in our daily lives. Thanks to technology, we are now able to work, shop, communicate and acquire important services remotely and conveniently. Not to mention, technology has also become a crucial enabler for the exercise and enjoyment of many of our human rights, especially our freedom of expression and right to information.
When the pandemic struck, we have seen how a lack of meaningful access to the internet significantly impacted people’s lives. With social distancing and having to live under quarantine conditions, we had to depend on technology to help us in a number of our daily activities, ranging from communication and work to accessing health services, education, information, and income-generating activities. While some of us may take having access to the internet for granted, for the communities without it, internet access is a matter of life and death.
In this episode, we discuss what internet access should look like and unpack the gender digital divide. We also explored how we can move from internet access being a public good to a human right to be equally enjoyed by all.
(Featuring guest speakers: Freeda Jane Madius, Research Manager from WISDOM Foundation, and Mastura M. Rashid, Strategist from Impact Malaysia)
*NOTE: Views presented by the speakers are their own personal opinions and do not necessarily represent the views of KRYSS Network, or the organizations or institutions they are affiliated with.
The national budget, every year, is a contentious topic for some citizens, primarily the discriminatory allocation of funds in certain departments. But beyond that, it is alarming that many might not know the importance of the national budget as well as its purpose. After all, the budget defines how public funds are raised, how they are utilized, and who benefits from them by tracking where it comes and goes.
Just last year, the Malaysian Parliament approved the country's largest budget with a total of RM332.1 billion. However, the lack of gender-focused policies and insufficient gender analysis across various sectors and ministries is concerning as it once again shows that gender equality is not at the forefront of Malaysia's fiscal policy.
In this episode, we talk about the need for gender-responsive budgeting (GRB) in fighting for gender and fiscal justice, what GRB really means, and how can we analyze the national budget from a gender lens.
(Featuring guest speakers: Omna Sreeni-Ong, Founder & Principal Consultant from ENGENDER Consultancy, and Sri Murniati Yusuf, Deputy Research Director from IDEAS Malaysia)
**NOTE: Views presented by the speakers are their own personal opinions and do not necessarily represent the views of KRYSS Network, or the organizations or institutions they are affiliated with.
Year by year, we have seen an increased need to jump onto the digital economy bandwagon in order for businesses to survive and for people to continue their bread and butter lives. This is shown beyond doubt during the pandemic where many businesses were forced to shut down or significantly curtail their operations. The majority of businesses that transitioned to online platforms such as food vendors that provide online delivery services were able to survive by the skin of their teeth. But is the digital economy all good?
Have online giants such as Grab and Facebook irrevocably made changes to our economy and job market in ways that benefit the richest 10%? Do crowd workers get to reap the same benefits they sow? What about the communities that do not have access to the same information and opportunities? What impacts would the digital economy have on labour, the constant widening of our country’s wealth inequality and how can the State do better in ensuring the livelihoods of everyone will be protected?
In the second part of our conversation on ‘Future of Work’, we dive deeper into the world of the digital economy and question the lasting impacts it would have on the people's livelihoods, the country’s economic structures, the welfare of labour, and so on.
(Featuring guest speakers: Rachel Gong and Siti Aiysyah Tumin, researchers with Khazanah Research Institute)
**NOTE: Views presented by the speakers are their own personal opinions and do not necessarily represent the views of KRYSS Network, or the organizations or institutions they are affiliated with.
