Editorial
A word on Recognising Resilience
For International Women’s Day 2020, we are devoting a week of content to stories that change the narrative and exhibit the strength and solidarity of the women of Southeast Asia. Read More
POWERED BY
Recognising Resilience
A week devoted to exploring women’s stories from across Southeast Asia
This week-long campaign may be tied to International Women’s Day, but it is so much more than that. After much debate and discussion, we settled on the theme of “Recognising Resilience,” because it demonstrates a quality that all of the subjects of this week’s stories have in common.
To us, resilience means covering stories not solely related to violence and helplessness — we see enough of that in the daily news. Instead, we went looking for pieces that changed the narrative and showed people going beyond the expectations they are so often burdened with, exhibiting their strength and solidarity.
Throughout Southeast Asia, sexual violence survivors, women of colour, disabled women, trans women, non-binary folks, and queer women all exemplify the strength and empowerment that we believe captures the lifeblood of a changing region.
- 1 A word on Recognising Resilience
- 2 Colouring outside the lines
- 3 Up in arms
- 4 Crumbling walls
- 5 The power of the persecuted
Art
Colouring outside the lines
Two Malaysian artists, both of them women, are making their voices heard amid the din of conservatism and patriarchy through cartoons that challenge the status quo. Read More
Labour rights
Up in arms
Cambodia has bid a (partial) farewell to Everything But Arms — but what is next for the union women left fighting on the front line of the fallout? Read More
Tradition
Crumbling walls
With their past hardly accounted for in history, the future of the once-hidden traditional Binukot women remains challenged in the face of resistance and progressivism in the Philippines Read More
Rohingya crisis
The power of the persecuted
Young Canada-based Rohingya activist Yasmin Ullah has helped take the plight of the persecuted ethnic minority group in Myanmar to the world’s largest court, yet her fight for justice has only just begun Read More
Meet the women behind this project:
Julija Veljkovic
As the Editorial Channel Manager at the Southeast Asia Globe, I have a longstanding passion for social justice and women’s rights. To me, Recognising Resilience is about smashing stereotypes, challenging mainstream perceptions of what women are and aren’t, as well as celebrating women, not victimising them. The media has a powerful role to play in shaping public perceptions, so ultimately, the responsibility lies with us journalists to represent women justly and capture their resilience, strength, and solidarity. As a woman myself, I recognise how nuanced and complex our experiences are, so I wanted to work on a project with my co-worker Sam that ultimately honours women and highlights how far we’ve come.
Samantha McCabe
I’m a journalist based in Phnom Penh with the Southeast Asia Globe. From Canada to Cambodia, I have long been passionate about covering issues of health, environment and gender inequity, all topics that were deeply embedded in my political science degree. When Julija and I hatched the idea for this weeklong editorial project, we knew we wanted to honour the women of the region with a set of content that would inspire and empower. Media no longer has the option of covering intersectional gender issues — it is an absolute necessity and a responsibility.
Sabina Lawreniuk
I’m a Leverhulme Early Career Fellow at Royal Holloway, University of London, researching the intimate geopolitics of gender, work and activism in global fast fashion production. I’ve spent more than a decade now learning about the domestic and working lives of women in Cambodia’s garment industry: lives that are hidden from view of consumers in places like the UK, US and EU, – on the other end of the supply chain.
Although worldwide the fashion industry is worth US$1.8 trillion annually and company profits are often huge, the workers who make our clothes and shoes – mostly women in developing countries – still don’t receive a living wage for work undertaken in hazardous conditions. For me, journalism is one way to get the stories and demands of working women and union activists to reach a broader audience. I hope that by making visible the overlooked aspects of life and work in fast fashion supply chains, the support of the public and policy-makers for a more just and sustainable global industry can be galvanised to transformative effect.
Najua Ismail
I’m a freelance writer in Malaysia with over 12 years of experience and publication credits in national newspapers, magazines and trade publications. If I could have my way, I’d dedicate a huge chunk of my writing life to journalism as it gives me the opportunity to investigate and write about topics that matter to me. I find it impossible to separate and disengage from women’s issues as a woman myself who is affected by unfair laws and social norms that favour men. Women’s issues also have far-reaching consequences that shape the kind of communities and society we live in. I think it’s great to have special projects and coverage on International Women’s Day like this one, but it also needs to be emphasised that women’s rights is a universal issue that affects everybody and it deserves regular attention to become widely accepted.
Marielle Lucenio
As a freelance journalist based in Manila, I write to make sense of the world and bring to light stories that deserve to be told. Women issues are important because society often overlooks their perspectives. Writing about gender issues helps pave the way to empowering women, giving justice to the work, sacrifices and experiences of women.
Today, the media is the best medium to shift our gaze to women who play an integral role in contributing to our society and way of life. Every word, byline, story and issue published by the media can serve as a call to action for the public to learn something new.
Navet Tab
As an illustrator at Southeast Asia Globe, I really enjoy being part of the creative team and interactive process to design our newsletter to visually promote more about women’s rights issues. In addition, as a designer, I hope to see women enjoy equal rights and follow their heart in whatever they want to achieve.
Anna McCready
Illustrator commissioned by Southeast Asia Globe, based in Ho Chi Minh City.