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Real men speak up against sexist remarks

YOURSAY ‘God gave us 'free will', that doesn’t disappear at the sight of a woman.’

 

A woman's letter to the men of Malaysia

AnakJohor: It shouldn't always be for women and women's groups to speak up and defend themselves. Real men who loves and honour their mothers, daughters, sisters and lovers, must speak up daily against demeaning and sexist remarks they encounter.

 

I am a man and I think it's despicable for these men who rape, abuse, suppress, and use women for their own gratification.

 

David Dass: From a young age, we were taught to respect women. There were five girls in the family. And my father had the expectation that boys who came a-calling must first meet him and pass the test.

 

Good families were important. Because from good families came good manners. Class was not about social status. It was about good values and good manners.

 

Of course, all parents are concerned about how their daughters dress. That skirt is too short. That dress is too revealing. Where is the rest of your dress, we ask our teenage daughters?

 

But they do not have to cover themselves so that they cease to look like women. They are not required to hide their femininity to protect themselves from the predatory instincts of man. Girls want to look attractive and within certain limits that is fine by parents.

 

Boys dress like peacocks. They also want to look attractive. But men should not be allowed to use the way women dress as an excuse for rape. Or as an explanation. It is not a defence in law.

 

Men must be taught to respect women. To place a value on them. They must respect their wives, their mothers, their daughters, their stepdaughters. And men must be taught to see other women as the wives, daughters and mothers of other men.

 

Society must protect women from the rapacious instincts of demented men. The law must protect women. Men must learn discipline in the home, in the classroom, at university and at work.

 

Society must impose on men the responsibility of self-restraint and good behaviour. Girls should dress modestly. Only because we are a conservative society.

 

No court however should ever suggest that the cause for rape is the way a girl dressed. Ask yourself the simple question: Would you commit rape in any circumstance?

 

Keturunan Malaysia: Thank you Aidila Razak for this article of yours and allowing good time and space for readers and subscribers alike to express their thoughts, too.

 

ONG: Where Malaysia is concerned, it is the Muslim males who want their females to cover their 'aurat' because otherwise they cannot control their 'gatal-ness'. Aidila should therefore address her letter to 'Dear Muslim men of Malaysia'.

 

If there are Muslim males who take issue with my opinion, there is no need to contradict me here. They should tell off their Taliban ulama who keep harping on the issue of females covering their 'aurat'.

 

Retnam: I cannot disagree with the writer. Nevertheless it cannot be denied that there are animals out there. So just be careful to avoid mishaps. Taking precautions is not a bad thing.

 

JD Lovrenciear: When you dictate to women how she should dress so as not invite rape, you have already revealed that you have no moral fibre and your sense of morality and sin is completely disgraceful.

 

When will Malaysian male authorities transform into being matured, honourable gentlemen like their exemplary forefathers?

 

Think: If men don't want something to be sexualised, then don't sexualise it. Sexualisation happens in one's own mind.

 

If men can't control their sexualisation of women to the point they lose control of themselves to either ridicule or rape, then the problem lies in the level of civility - making women a source of both excuse and blame for the mental weakness for which men refuse to take responsibility.

 

Sugus: A well written article by Aidila Razak. We men are taught and brought up to respect women and uplift women's dignity no matter how she wears and dresses. Men are created to look after and protect women.

 

We men, in normal circumstances, are called to respect and honour women. We do not have a choice.

 

Liew Lean Kut: I have always maintained that the women in our society have a very powerful weapon in their hands - their vote at the ballot box.

 

They can use this vote collectively to kick out those people in the government who discriminate against women. Please use your weapon in the next state and federal elections.

 

Myop101: I agree wholeheartedly. This is no different from blaming jewellers for being robbed for displaying their wares in their shops, or sundry shops deserve their wares to be stolen because they don't lock up their goods in closets.

 

Only idiots will say rape victims asked for it.

 

Smer: Yes, God gave us all 'free will' and that does not magically or conveniently disappear at the sight of a woman.


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