Blog 6 Seeking the Right to be female in Malaysia

          Male to Female transgenders in Malaysia are facing increased discrimination from prosecution.  Shariah also known as Islamic Law bans a male dressing as a female. The penalties for dressing as a female very from state to state in Malaysia; they can face jail time, fined a fee and even worse.  Males dressing as females are often prosecuted more then females who dress as males. Shariah judges often use the three strikes rule in which people are given jail sentences after being arrested three times. Currently there is a group of four transgendered females that have filled motions in secular court contending that the law violates the Malaysian Constitution. This group are tired of living in fear of being prosecuted and sent to jail or have heavy fines placed on them. The verdict in their case should be reached by the end of next week.  These females are looking for freedom in their verdict, to be able to be like everybody else and to be able to dress how they feel comfortable.

            Transgendered women face discrimination and harassment around the world.  Though our textbook has not covered the issues facing transgendered women they are equally as important as those that were born female.  Mohammad Ashraf Hafiz Abdul Aziz had his application rejected to be recognized as a woman because he was not born with a womb.  Last week we were discussing in class that gender is not just male or female but actually a sliding continuum.  Should a person’s gender identity be based on what the government or religion of choice defines it or should it be up to the individual to decide. In countries around the world socially constructed ideas of gender affect policies and individual experiences. Informal and formal policing of social constructs such as gender by means of dirty looks, snickers, jail time, and denial of basic rights help perpetuate the humans fall into male or female categories.

            Transgendered males and females can be found in many different societies around the globe. Here in American gay and transgender rights have been at the front of political debates. Our media has even begun to address and show the discrimination and hardships this group has to face. Documentaries such as “ American Transgendered” and “ Red Without Blue” are just two examples of the struggles that male to female transgenders have to face.  Women’s rights should be applied to anyone who identifies as a female.

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/06/world/asia/seeking-the-right-to-be-female-in-malaysia.html?pagewanted=2&ref=world