good evening everyone so I’d like to begin my talk with a disclaimer and a
begin my talk with a disclaimer and a
begin my talk with a disclaimer and a very sincere apology I will be using the
very sincere apology I will be using the
very sincere apology I will be using the f-word a lot throughout my speech and I
f-word a lot throughout my speech and I
f-word a lot throughout my speech and I am extremely sorry
am extremely sorry
am extremely sorry therefore I kindly ask you to brace
therefore I kindly ask you to brace
therefore I kindly ask you to brace yourselves
yourselves
yourselves if you feel free to take out your
if you feel free to take out your
if you feel free to take out your headphones your earplugs whatever you
headphones your earplugs whatever you
headphones your earplugs whatever you need to do before I begin okay so
feminism you know that movement of angry
feminism you know that movement of angry aggressive man hating women who do not
aggressive man hating women who do not
aggressive man hating women who do not believe in marriage support only strong
believe in marriage support only strong
believe in marriage support only strong career woman and scrutinize all
career woman and scrutinize all
career woman and scrutinize all stay-at-home moms you know those
stay-at-home moms you know those
stay-at-home moms you know those feminists I identify as a feminist and
feminists I identify as a feminist and
feminists I identify as a feminist and unfortunately I do not represent any of
unfortunately I do not represent any of
unfortunately I do not represent any of those after mentioned qualities pink is
those after mentioned qualities pink is
those after mentioned qualities pink is my favorite color
my favorite color
my favorite color I love weekend shopping trips to the
I love weekend shopping trips to the
I love weekend shopping trips to the mall with my mom and I think chivalry is
mall with my mom and I think chivalry is
mall with my mom and I think chivalry is adorable I identify as a feminist
adorable I identify as a feminist
adorable I identify as a feminist because I genuinely believe in the
because I genuinely believe in the
because I genuinely believe in the equality between men and women I believe
equality between men and women I believe
equality between men and women I believe that everyone deserves the right to
that everyone deserves the right to
that everyone deserves the right to individualistic and liberating choices
individualistic and liberating choices
individualistic and liberating choices and I believe that this patriarchal
and I believe that this patriarchal
and I believe that this patriarchal society that we live in is unhealthy for
society that we live in is unhealthy for
society that we live in is unhealthy for both men and women alike the feminist
both men and women alike the feminist
both men and women alike the feminist world that I envision is a world where
world that I envision is a world where
world that I envision is a world where young girls in Pakistan and Afghanistan
young girls in Pakistan and Afghanistan
young girls in Pakistan and Afghanistan can walk to school every morning with
can walk to school every morning with
can walk to school every morning with their heads held up high the world I
their heads held up high the world I
their heads held up high the world I want to see is a world where women fact
want to see is a world where women fact
want to see is a world where women fact workers in Bangladesh work in clean safe
workers in Bangladesh work in clean safe
workers in Bangladesh work in clean safe and regulated conditions and as they
and regulated conditions and as they
and regulated conditions and as they walk back home each evening they walk
walk back home each evening they walk
walk back home each evening they walk confidently without the fear of being
confidently without the fear of being
confidently without the fear of being sexually harassed I asked to see a world
sexually harassed I asked to see a world
sexually harassed I asked to see a world where countries like Cameroon stopped
where countries like Cameroon stopped
where countries like Cameroon stopped the practice of ironing their young
the practice of ironing their young
the practice of ironing their young females breasts that will cause them the
females breasts that will cause them the
females breasts that will cause them the pain of breast cancer and tissue damage
pain of breast cancer and tissue damage
pain of breast cancer and tissue damage in the future feminism to me and its
in the future feminism to me and its
in the future feminism to me and its most raw and purest form is simply the
most raw and purest form is simply the
most raw and purest form is simply the belief in the social political and
belief in the social political and
belief in the social political and economic equality of the sexes that
economic equality of the sexes that
economic equality of the sexes that basic human rights are equally and
basic human rights are equally and
basic human rights are equally and easily accessible to every single
easily accessible to every single
easily accessible to every single individual on this planet and this is
individual on this planet and this is
individual on this planet and this is the only definition I want us to bear in
the only definition I want us to bear in
the only definition I want us to bear in mind today now I am aware that some of
mind today now I am aware that some of
mind today now I am aware that some of you sitting here are probably completely
you sitting here are probably completely
you sitting here are probably completely unconvinced by what I just said and I
unconvinced by what I just said and I
unconvinced by what I just said and I only have one thing to respond to you
only have one thing to respond to you
only have one thing to respond to you and that is I completely understand me
and that is I completely understand me
and that is I completely understand me as a feminist in no way am I saying that
as a feminist in no way am I saying that
as a feminist in no way am I saying that I represent everything that’s done in
I represent everything that’s done in
I represent everything that’s done in the name of feminism for example a
the name of feminism for example a
the name of feminism for example a couple days ago I came across the most
couple days ago I came across the most
couple days ago I came across the most interesting article on the Telegraph
interesting article on the Telegraph
interesting article on the Telegraph about sexist air conditioning yes
about sexist air conditioning yes
about sexist air conditioning yes sexist – air conditioning and just as
sexist – air conditioning and just as
sexist – air conditioning and just as the peculiar title suggests the story is
the peculiar title suggests the story is
the peculiar title suggests the story is also a rather obnoxious one the article
also a rather obnoxious one the article
also a rather obnoxious one the article was about a research conducted where it
was about a research conducted where it
was about a research conducted where it was found that their standard office
was found that their standard office
was found that their standard office temperature was in Riyadh reality most
temperature was in Riyadh reality most
temperature was in Riyadh reality most accommodating for men and biologically
accommodating for men and biologically
accommodating for men and biologically too cold for women now the feminist
too cold for women now the feminist
too cold for women now the feminist concern that arose from this information
concern that arose from this information
concern that arose from this information was that this case of air conditioning
was that this case of air conditioning
was that this case of air conditioning was preventing women from dressing
was preventing women from dressing
was preventing women from dressing fashion
fashion
fashion to work because now they were obligated
to work because now they were obligated
to work because now they were obligated to cover up their skin and work hard
to cover up their skin and work hard
to cover up their skin and work hard again to protect themselves from the
again to protect themselves from the
again to protect themselves from the cold I’m not sure if you’re thinking
cold I’m not sure if you’re thinking
cold I’m not sure if you’re thinking what I’m thinking here but it’s a shame
what I’m thinking here but it’s a shame
what I’m thinking here but it’s a shame what feminism has been molded into right
what feminism has been molded into right
what feminism has been molded into right feminism has been taken too far where
feminism has been taken too far where
feminism has been taken too far where every petty issue is debated in the name
every petty issue is debated in the name
every petty issue is debated in the name of feminism it’s a bit similar to the
of feminism it’s a bit similar to the
of feminism it’s a bit similar to the story of the boy who cried wolf right
story of the boy who cried wolf right
story of the boy who cried wolf right where the more feminism is debated in a
where the more feminism is debated in a
where the more feminism is debated in a petty context the less meaningful the
petty context the less meaningful the
petty context the less meaningful the word becomes for example instead of the
word becomes for example instead of the
word becomes for example instead of the discussion being about the feminization
discussion being about the feminization
discussion being about the feminization of poverty or women’s limited access to
of poverty or women’s limited access to
of poverty or women’s limited access to health care and education an
health care and education an
health care and education an unreasonable proportion of attention is
unreasonable proportion of attention is
unreasonable proportion of attention is diverted to extremely first world and
diverted to extremely first world and
diverted to extremely first world and whitewashed feminism that does not
whitewashed feminism that does not
whitewashed feminism that does not necessarily encompass the feminist
necessarily encompass the feminist
necessarily encompass the feminist ideology as a whole I mean as much as
ideology as a whole I mean as much as
ideology as a whole I mean as much as many women would love air-conditioning
many women would love air-conditioning
many women would love air-conditioning to be a legitimate problem first world
to be a legitimate problem first world
to be a legitimate problem first world issues like these are not only insulting
issues like these are not only insulting
issues like these are not only insulting to even more pressing issues but they
to even more pressing issues but they
to even more pressing issues but they are also very damaging to the feminist
are also very damaging to the feminist
are also very damaging to the feminist movements overall image because when
movements overall image because when
movements overall image because when incidents like these arise that provide
incidents like these arise that provide
incidents like these arise that provide a rather false and narrow representation
a rather false and narrow representation
a rather false and narrow representation and what the feminist movement is truly
and what the feminist movement is truly
and what the feminist movement is truly about it gives opportunity for people to
about it gives opportunity for people to
about it gives opportunity for people to shame and discredit the works of
shame and discredit the works of
shame and discredit the works of feminists who have worked tirelessly to
feminists who have worked tirelessly to
feminists who have worked tirelessly to better the lives of other women it
better the lives of other women it
better the lives of other women it subjects these brave and commendable
subjects these brave and commendable
subjects these brave and commendable women to negative portrayals such as
women to negative portrayals such as
women to negative portrayals such as man-hating lesbians as to numatic to
man-hating lesbians as to numatic to
man-hating lesbians as to numatic to strident and too harsh we live in a
strident and too harsh we live in a
strident and too harsh we live in a complicated era of feminism where under
complicated era of feminism where under
complicated era of feminism where under the status quo feminism has become
the status quo feminism has become
the status quo feminism has become extremely ambiguous in a world of free
extremely ambiguous in a world of free
extremely ambiguous in a world of free speech and social networking
speech and social networking
speech and social networking feminism has evolved beyond its western
feminism has evolved beyond its western
feminism has evolved beyond its western borders to transform into a global
borders to transform into a global
borders to transform into a global matter that deals with more complex and
matter that deals with more complex and
matter that deals with more complex and diverse issues however as it evolves it
diverse issues however as it evolves it
diverse issues however as it evolves it seems that people become more and more
seems that people become more and more
seems that people become more and more desensitized to why feminism is
desensitized to why feminism is
desensitized to why feminism is important but only follow this label to
important but only follow this label to
important but only follow this label to remain free of criticism and be
remain free of criticism and be
remain free of criticism and be politically correct this lack of
politically correct this lack of
politically correct this lack of understanding has led to a very
understanding has led to a very
understanding has led to a very mainstream version of feminism that has
mainstream version of feminism that has
mainstream version of feminism that has not only cost the reputation of the
not only cost the reputation of the
not only cost the reputation of the feminist movement but has also caused
feminist movement but has also caused
feminist movement but has also caused widespread skepticism and disbelief
widespread skepticism and disbelief
widespread skepticism and disbelief amongst many people this mainstream
amongst many people this mainstream
amongst many people this mainstream feminism that I speak of is one that
feminism that I speak of is one that
feminism that I speak of is one that contains very warped concepts and
contains very warped concepts and
contains very warped concepts and ideologies it is one that ignores many
ideologies it is one that ignores many
ideologies it is one that ignores many dimensions of our society but focuses in
dimensions of our society but focuses in
dimensions of our society but focuses in on issues that seem trendy rather than
on issues that seem trendy rather than
on issues that seem trendy rather than issues that truly require focus many
issues that truly require focus many
issues that truly require focus many issues such as equal rights for
issues such as equal rights for
issues such as equal rights for transgender women whether or not women
transgender women whether or not women
transgender women whether or not women have the right to wear a hijab because
have the right to wear a hijab because
have the right to wear a hijab because she sees it as a symbol of faith and not
she sees it as a symbol of faith and not
she sees it as a symbol of faith and not one of oppression or not wear one if she
one of oppression or not wear one if she
one of oppression or not wear one if she feels the opposite are issues that are
feels the opposite are issues that are
feels the opposite are issues that are neglected in this realm of feminism
neglected in this realm of feminism
neglected in this realm of feminism alternatively people who complain about
alternatively people who complain about
alternatively people who complain about air conditioning being sexist earn much
air conditioning being sexist earn much
air conditioning being sexist earn much more coverage from the media and
more coverage from the media and
more coverage from the media and multiple social platforms to express
multiple social platforms to express
multiple social platforms to express that concern but despite all this why do
that concern but despite all this why do
that concern but despite all this why do I still stand so friendly with my belief
I still stand so friendly with my belief
I still stand so friendly with my belief because I believe in the feminist
because I believe in the feminist
because I believe in the feminist ideology I genuinely believe that there
ideology I genuinely believe that there
ideology I genuinely believe that there is a problem with our system and I don’t
is a problem with our system and I don’t
is a problem with our system and I don’t think it’s controversial for me to say
think it’s controversial for me to say
think it’s controversial for me to say that philosophically feminism is
that philosophically feminism is
that philosophically feminism is completely right that we should all be
completely right that we should all be
completely right that we should all be fighting for social political and
fighting for social political and
fighting for social political and economic equality all people regardless
economic equality all people regardless
economic equality all people regardless of gender
of gender
of gender should be afforded the same rights and
should be afforded the same rights and
should be afforded the same rights and respect this to me seems intuitive for
respect this to me seems intuitive for
respect this to me seems intuitive for any decent human being alive today in
any decent human being alive today in
any decent human being alive today in addition it is something that has
addition it is something that has
addition it is something that has affected me and those around me for the
affected me and those around me for the
affected me and those around me for the past 15 years so this is a picture of me
past 15 years so this is a picture of me
past 15 years so this is a picture of me at the age of four I know you can say it
at the age of four I know you can say it
at the age of four I know you can say it wasn’t I adorable but the main reason I
wasn’t I adorable but the main reason I
wasn’t I adorable but the main reason I brought up this picture was because I
brought up this picture was because I
brought up this picture was because I want you to notice that I had slightly
want you to notice that I had slightly
want you to notice that I had slightly tenner skin when I was younger and
tenner skin when I was younger and
tenner skin when I was younger and growing up in a conservative Thai
growing up in a conservative Thai
growing up in a conservative Thai Chinese background and growing up around
Chinese background and growing up around
Chinese background and growing up around very old and traditional ideologies
very old and traditional ideologies
very old and traditional ideologies having this tan skin wasn’t very
having this tan skin wasn’t very
having this tan skin wasn’t very acceptable and often my elders would
acceptable and often my elders would
acceptable and often my elders would call me the little black role and the
call me the little black role and the
call me the little black role and the would often kindly advised me to stay
would often kindly advised me to stay
would often kindly advised me to stay out of the Sun to use more sunscreen or
out of the Sun to use more sunscreen or
out of the Sun to use more sunscreen or else I would not grow up to be a pretty
else I would not grow up to be a pretty
else I would not grow up to be a pretty girl now fast-forward three years later
girl now fast-forward three years later
girl now fast-forward three years later at the age of seven I was the tallest
at the age of seven I was the tallest
at the age of seven I was the tallest person in my class this included being
person in my class this included being
person in my class this included being tall taller than all the boys and my
tall taller than all the boys and my
tall taller than all the boys and my relatives told me to stop growing or
relatives told me to stop growing or
relatives told me to stop growing or else I would grow up to not be able to
else I would grow up to not be able to
else I would grow up to not be able to find a boyfriend or husband and if that
find a boyfriend or husband and if that
find a boyfriend or husband and if that was the most important thing a
was the most important thing a
was the most important thing a seven-year-old should be worrying about
yet on the other hand my male class me
yet on the other hand my male class me who was shorter than everyone else was
who was shorter than everyone else was
who was shorter than everyone else was often taunted by his family members to
often taunted by his family members to
often taunted by his family members to grow taller and he eventually succumbed
grow taller and he eventually succumbed
grow taller and he eventually succumbed to that pressure by finding every humane
to that pressure by finding every humane
to that pressure by finding every humane possibility to make sure that he did
possibility to make sure that he did
possibility to make sure that he did girls holler
girls holler
girls holler now as I grew older and my outspoken and
now as I grew older and my outspoken and
now as I grew older and my outspoken and straightforward personality began to
straightforward personality began to
straightforward personality began to shine through this started to annoy some
shine through this started to annoy some
shine through this started to annoy some of my relatives who can descended my
of my relatives who can descended my
of my relatives who can descended my behavior they said that this
behavior they said that this
behavior they said that this characteristic was unattractive for a
characteristic was unattractive for a
characteristic was unattractive for a girl to have
girl to have
girl to have yet very hypocritically my male cousin
yet very hypocritically my male cousin
yet very hypocritically my male cousin who was kind of shy was often told by
who was kind of shy was often told by
who was kind of shy was often told by his parents to speak up more to express
his parents to speak up more to express
his parents to speak up more to express his opinions because they did not want
his opinions because they did not want
his opinions because they did not want him to end up like other shy girls in a
him to end up like other shy girls in a
him to end up like other shy girls in a recent examination when I lost one mark
recent examination when I lost one mark
recent examination when I lost one mark to a male classmate one of my relatives
to a male classmate one of my relatives
to a male classmate one of my relatives idea of comforting me wants to tell me
idea of comforting me wants to tell me
idea of comforting me wants to tell me that it’s okay you know boys are
that it’s okay you know boys are
that it’s okay you know boys are naturally smarter so I might as well
naturally smarter so I might as well
naturally smarter so I might as well have to live with that reality what is
have to live with that reality what is
have to live with that reality what is even more heartbreaking it’s to hear
even more heartbreaking it’s to hear
even more heartbreaking it’s to hear that my best friend’s dream of becoming
that my best friend’s dream of becoming
that my best friend’s dream of becoming an engineer has been hindered because
an engineer has been hindered because
an engineer has been hindered because her parents did not believe that
her parents did not believe that
her parents did not believe that becoming an engineer is a fit occupation
becoming an engineer is a fit occupation
becoming an engineer is a fit occupation for a girl like her these are the things
for a girl like her these are the things
for a girl like her these are the things I have tolerated with these are the
I have tolerated with these are the
I have tolerated with these are the things I have turned a blind eye towards
things I have turned a blind eye towards
things I have turned a blind eye towards despite the discomfort I felt this
despite the discomfort I felt this
despite the discomfort I felt this patriarchal society has been woven
patriarchal society has been woven
patriarchal society has been woven interrupt unconsciousness and can often
interrupt unconsciousness and can often
interrupt unconsciousness and can often become overwhelming causing us to turn a
become overwhelming causing us to turn a
become overwhelming causing us to turn a blind eye to worth certain issues even
blind eye to worth certain issues even
blind eye to worth certain issues even if it means that we impede on our
if it means that we impede on our
if it means that we impede on our sovereignty as women how staying silent
sovereignty as women how staying silent
sovereignty as women how staying silent and dismissing degrading and
and dismissing degrading and
and dismissing degrading and disrespectful jokes about women is a
disrespectful jokes about women is a
disrespectful jokes about women is a sign of coolness while showing our dis
sign of coolness while showing our dis
sign of coolness while showing our dis content was a sign of being too whiny
content was a sign of being too whiny
content was a sign of being too whiny and too difficult however what I have
and too difficult however what I have
and too difficult however what I have told you are stories coming out of a
told you are stories coming out of a
told you are stories coming out of a considerably privileged person who has
considerably privileged person who has
considerably privileged person who has been extremely lucky enough to only have
been extremely lucky enough to only have
been extremely lucky enough to only have experiences that can easily be brushed
experiences that can easily be brushed
experiences that can easily be brushed off for look past however growing up in
off for look past however growing up in
off for look past however growing up in Thailand it is unsettling for me to have
Thailand it is unsettling for me to have
Thailand it is unsettling for me to have to face with the fact that many women
to face with the fact that many women
to face with the fact that many women are beyond a point where they’re just
are beyond a point where they’re just
are beyond a point where they’re just facing with a passing sexist common but
facing with a passing sexist common but
facing with a passing sexist common but actually have to deal with extremely
actually have to deal with extremely
actually have to deal with extremely detrimental
detrimental
detrimental winces that are both physically
winces that are both physically
winces that are both physically immensely damaging to them Thailand for
immensely damaging to them Thailand for
immensely damaging to them Thailand for example is extremely notorious for its
example is extremely notorious for its
example is extremely notorious for its violence against women whether it’s a
violence against women whether it’s a
violence against women whether it’s a problem of rape domestic violence or sex
problem of rape domestic violence or sex
problem of rape domestic violence or sex trafficking in a recent Bangkok Post
trafficking in a recent Bangkok Post
trafficking in a recent Bangkok Post survey out of 1608 respondents it was
survey out of 1608 respondents it was
survey out of 1608 respondents it was found that a staggering forty two point
found that a staggering forty two point
found that a staggering forty two point two percent of these women admitted to
two percent of these women admitted to
two percent of these women admitted to being forced into sexual acts with their
being forced into sexual acts with their
being forced into sexual acts with their boyfriends and husbands
boyfriends and husbands
boyfriends and husbands while another forty one point one
while another forty one point one
while another forty one point one percent were forced to have an abortion
percent were forced to have an abortion
percent were forced to have an abortion there is something undeniably wrong with
there is something undeniably wrong with
there is something undeniably wrong with the Thai system how the culture of
the Thai system how the culture of
the Thai system how the culture of teaching men how to perceive women and
teaching men how to perceive women and
teaching men how to perceive women and how women should behave in the society
how women should behave in the society
how women should behave in the society has ultimately led to many women’s
has ultimately led to many women’s
has ultimately led to many women’s demise how men are taught to be
demise how men are taught to be
demise how men are taught to be patronizing speed little leader of the
patronizing speed little leader of the
patronizing speed little leader of the family while females are taught to be
family while females are taught to be
family while females are taught to be prim and proper to be genteel to not
prim and proper to be genteel to not
prim and proper to be genteel to not complain to not express their opinion we
complain to not express their opinion we
complain to not express their opinion we are taught that sex is a taboo subject
are taught that sex is a taboo subject
are taught that sex is a taboo subject and that it should not be discussed in
and that it should not be discussed in
and that it should not be discussed in any kind of public public forum which is
any kind of public public forum which is
any kind of public public forum which is why many women despite being physically
why many women despite being physically
why many women despite being physically and mentally abused by their husbands at
and mentally abused by their husbands at
and mentally abused by their husbands at home every day despite being raped by a
home every day despite being raped by a
home every day despite being raped by a stranger on the way home are unwilling
stranger on the way home are unwilling
stranger on the way home are unwilling to step up and fend for themselves from
to step up and fend for themselves from
to step up and fend for themselves from the traumatic experiences that they face
the traumatic experiences that they face
the traumatic experiences that they face in conclusion we see that so many issues
in conclusion we see that so many issues
in conclusion we see that so many issues are happening around us and we see that
are happening around us and we see that
are happening around us and we see that so many women are unable to defend
so many women are unable to defend
so many women are unable to defend themselves from what they face which is
themselves from what they face which is
themselves from what they face which is why I turn to you instead I ask one
why I turn to you instead I ask one
why I turn to you instead I ask one thing of you please don’t say that I’m a
thing of you please don’t say that I’m a
thing of you please don’t say that I’m a supporter of human rights but I’m not a
supporter of human rights but I’m not a
supporter of human rights but I’m not a feminist if it was because of your
feminist if it was because of your
feminist if it was because of your passion is
passion is
passion is options of what a feminist truly is then
options of what a feminist truly is then
options of what a feminist truly is then please take something from today’s talk
please take something from today’s talk
please take something from today’s talk and reconsider your beliefs
and reconsider your beliefs
and reconsider your beliefs remember that identifying as a feminist
remember that identifying as a feminist
remember that identifying as a feminist means that we all share one common goal
means that we all share one common goal
means that we all share one common goal of achieving equality for all genders
of achieving equality for all genders
of achieving equality for all genders the only way we can accomplish genuine
the only way we can accomplish genuine
the only way we can accomplish genuine equality is we’re able to capture the
equality is we’re able to capture the
equality is we’re able to capture the different shades of patriarchal
different shades of patriarchal
different shades of patriarchal oppression faced by different women from
oppression faced by different women from
oppression faced by different women from different backgrounds I asked you to
different backgrounds I asked you to
different backgrounds I asked you to think of this not as a feminist issue
think of this not as a feminist issue
think of this not as a feminist issue but as one that’s under the context of
but as one that’s under the context of
but as one that’s under the context of human rights be considerate of those who
human rights be considerate of those who
human rights be considerate of those who are more vulnerable and less privileged
are more vulnerable and less privileged
are more vulnerable and less privileged than you are remember that the threats
than you are remember that the threats
than you are remember that the threats are real and are happening we all face
are real and are happening we all face
are real and are happening we all face problems with inequality as men and
problems with inequality as men and
problems with inequality as men and women and if we interweave our
women and if we interweave our
women and if we interweave our sufferings together then our solutions
sufferings together then our solutions
sufferings together then our solutions to these sufferings should be woven
to these sufferings should be woven
to these sufferings should be woven together – thank you
together – thank you
together – thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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