User talk:U0600159

MS2210 tutorial presentation.

Scene: At a coffee break, Malay female and Male colleagues argue about proper behavior of "the Malay woman".

Male: Hello Hello? Why are you stoning? What are you thinking about?

Female: Farid, I was just wondering what do you think is the proper behavior of "the malay woman"? I mean, there has been endless discussions about it and I can't seem to decide which side to take. Male: What do you mean you don't know which side to take? Aren't all malay women supposed to behave according to Qur'anic standards?

Female: But what exactly is the Qur'anic standard? I mean just look at the verses in the Qur'an [And] stay quietly in your houses, and make not a dazzling display, like that of the former times of ignorance: and establish regular prayer, and give regular charity; and obey Allah and his Messenger.

I understand the part about regular prayer, charity and obeying Allah and his Messenger but what about staying quietly in the house and not making a dazzling display like that of former times of ignorance? Times have changed women cannot afford to be ignorant these days and besides what about women rights?

Male:OKay okay let's go through it slowly. Are you referring to the issue of 'indecent dressing' by the 3 beauty queens specifically? According to what I know, Muslim women are required to cover themselves and to be protected, or to practice varying degrees of seclusion from public spaces as modest behavior. Moreover, wearing the tudong referred to sometimes as mini-telekung or head-covering is increasingly defined as an integral aspect of Islam in Malaysia. So if you follow those standards, the beauty queens should be arrested.

Female: I am not referring specifically to the issue of the beauty queens but lets talk about it anyway. Don't you think the legislation of women's modesty not only controls and disciplines women but also impedes their freedom in terms of expression and individuality? Why can't they wear what they like? Why are there double standards in terms of dressing for men and women? Does dressing up in contemporary clothing make muslim women lesser muslims?

Male:

Female: I also notice that the women fined for indecent dressing are often those from the lower income bracket. Interestingly all members of the royal family in Kelantan and some of the elite do not conform to the dress code but they have never been arrested or charged. Has this become a social status or class issue as well?

Male:

Female: Also, notice that not many women actually take on important leadership roles and most of the time decisions with regards to laws and policies are made by men. I think women should be included in committees set up to review the country's Islamic laws, as their representation would provide a balanced perspective.

Male:

Female: Another issue I think should be clarified is the discrepancy of women rights in Islam. Firstly, policies and laws vary in different societies or states. Secondly, there is the existence of the obscurantist view that men and women are inherently unequal in Islam. Don't you think there should be a universal law?

 You can talk about the Shariah Criminal Code, Domestic Violence Act, Amendments to Islamic Family Law, etc. Or whatever you feel should be included?

Male: Female: Male: Female: Male: Female: Male: Female: Male:

Readings:

(1) Martinez, Patricia (2002). From Discourse to Dissent? Theorizing and Construction of Women in Postcolonial Islam: Malaysia. Ann Arbour: UMI Microform. Chapter 9 - Modesty, Tudong, and Disciplining Women.

(2) Zainah, Anwar (2001). What Islam, Whose Islam? Sisters in Islam and the Struggle for Women's Rights. In Robert Hefner W. (ed.) The Politics of Multiculturalism,Pluralism and Citizenship in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia. University of Hawaiian Press:Honolulu.