GENDER DISCRIMINATION (WOMEN)

Gender discrimination is refers to beliefs and attitude in relation to the sex of a person. For example, for the Chinese culture, male is more significant than women. This is because the male can inherited the family name from generation to generation.

WOMEN, CULTURE AND RELIGION
The different religions and cultures of Malaysia have many outlook in women's lives. However, women are discriminated against by their religions and cultures, especially in the area of marriage and divorce.
After marriage, many women are expected to remain in the home, as a homemakers and mothers. If women are given the choice to work, many are forced to give their salaries to their husbands. Many women who work before marriage have been ordered to give up their jobs when they marry.
Several of the religions practice in Malaysia, including Islam, Catholicism, Buddhism and Hinduism, deny women access to interpreting and implementing their blessed texts. Such patriarchal structures and practices contribute to women's lack of representation in leadership positions. Women are also denied access to certain blessed places and rituals. For example, if they are in menstruation. Such practices encourage negative attitudes towards women, such as disrespect to men, and degrade the status of women.

WOMEN DISCRIMINATION IN PLACE OF WORK, SCHOOLS, MEDIA, GOVERNMENT, LAWS AND IN HOME
Gender roles, patriarchal attitudes in religion and culture permeate through society, and are reflected in the nation's schools, in places of work, in media, government, laws and in the home.
In school curriculum, religious teaching material and media images continue to stereotype women as homemakers when many women in Malaysia work and pursue careers.
Although the number of women members of political parties is high, representation of women in decision-making positions in the government and other statutory bodies is poor.
Even though the number of economically active women has increased, the largest growth in women's participation has been in middle and low-level jobs, such as clerical and production jobs. And while more women are entering professional sectors, this is largely restricted to nursing and teaching professions.

SUMMARY

Female and male are same in every aspects. However, female discrimination is occur against their culture, religions and beliefs. Elderly women may face double discrimination on the basis of both gender and age. Women tend to live longer than men, may lack control of family resources and can face discrimination from inheritance and property laws. Therefore, many organisation such as Women's Aid Organisation is organise to help to overcome this case.

COMMUNICATION

Communication is a process of transferring information from one person to another person. Communication can be perceived as a two-way process in which there is an exchange and progression of thoughts, feelings or ideas towards a mutually accepted goal or direction. Communication is not just a word. It also includes body languages, voice tonality and words. There are 55% of impact is determined by body language—postures, gestures, and eye contact, 38% by the tone of voice, and 7% by the content or the words used in the communication skills. Communication skills are asset to any person to make people trust, respect and like you. So we must have it to become more confident when talk to another people. Therefore, believe yourself also important in communication.

WHY COMMUNICATION FAIL??

What is mean by communication fail? Communication failure is loss of private and public communication systems with public people. This is difficult to person talk to you from understand about what are you says. Poor communication skills, disagreements and misunderstanding can be a source of anger and distance or a springboard to a stronger relationship and happier future.

THE REASON WHY COMMUNICATION FAIL

There are several reasons why communication can be fail. There is failure to listen,dishonest misleading communications, communication are confusing, different language,cultural and personal. The main reason why communication is fail is did not pay attention when communication is occur. Attention and focus is important in communication. If we did not focus during communicate with other peoples, we will not understand what did he or she say. That why focus and attention is need when communicate with other peoples.

HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR COMMUNICATION SKILLS??

Base on our research, there are some ways to improve our communication skills.Improving your communication skills will improve your productivity. The way to improve your communication skills are develop your voice, slow down the intonation, animate your voice, use appropriate volume, pronounce your words correctly, use the right words, make eye contact with the person you communicate with, use gestures and don't send mixed messages.

Gesture is important in communication. During communicate, make your whole body talk. Use smaller gestures for individuals and small groups. The gestures should get larger as the group that one is addressing increases in size. Beside that, if you speak too fast also will cause communication fail. Therefore, you must to slow down your intonation. However, he careful not to slow down to the point where people begin to finish your sentences just to help you finish.

TIPS TO UNDERSTANDING PEOPLE

There are some tips to understanding people. First, you must remember that the communication skills should be mutual understanding and finding a solution that pleases both parties. This does not work in every situation. But sometimes body language such as hold hands or stay physically connected as you talk can remind you that you still care about each other. Secondly is the respectful. Respectful is important during communication. Keep in mind that it's important to remain respectful of the other person, even you don't like their attitude and actions.

Beside that, you also must watch your language. Don't always say the rude words. This will make other peoples dislike you. When you are communicate with somebody, you must give them respond and feedback. So that they know that you are listening to what they talking about. The most important is be an active listener. Benefits of active listening include stronger trust, fewer conflicts and, ultimately, better relationships and thereby greater happiness.

SUMMARY

Many people think that communication is just talking a lot and speaking clearly. However, communication is more than that!! Body language, voice tonality and words are include in the communication. Therefore, to have a good communication, we have to pay attention and focus to other peoples when they are talking to us. If not, your poor communication skills could be causing additional stress in your life.

MALAYSIAN LANGUAGES

Malaysia is a multiracial country. Malaysia has a population of Malays, Chinese, Indians and other ethnic groups. Malaysia is unique because of its diversity of races, religions and cultures, the stability of the country and many places of interests. By this different race, so different language is spoken by all the Malaysian. However, with the Perlembagaan Persekutuan Malaysia,all the Malaysian agree that Bahasa Malaysia as the lingua franca of Malaysia.

MOTHER TONGUE IN MALAYSIA

A language is a system for encoding and decoding information. Malaysia is a multiracial country which has many languages such as Bahasa Malaysia, English, Tamil, Chinese and more. The Malay is the largest ethic group in Malaysia. Therefore, Bahasa Malaysia has become the mother tongue in Malaysia.

MALAY LANGUAGES
Not only Malaysian spoken Malay language, but all Malay people who reside in the Malay Peninsula, southern Thailand, Philippines, Singapore, central eastern Sumatra, the Riau islands and other country also use it. This language also similar to local language in Indonesia, know as Bahasa Indonesia.

ENGLISH LANGUAGES
The national languages is Bahasa Malaysia (MalayLanguage). However, automatically English has become the second languages. This is because we has been widely spoke and used English language in Malaysia. English Language being a compulsory subject in primary schools, lower and upper secondary school and the local version of '0' level examinations. It also is the main languages spoken in colleges and universities. Beside that, English is the languages of private business and tourism in Malaysia. When the tourist visit Malaysia country, it is easy for the Malaysian to communicate with them. By speaking English, we also can improve our English languages pronunciation. Nowadays, English is very important. So we must improve our pronunciation, listening and writing in English. Official languages is Bahasa Malaysia and English. It is important to learn English languages as the English is the lingua franca of the Internet.

OTHER LANGUAGES
The Chinese and Indians, two of the largest minority groups, speak a number of languages, including Mandarin, Cantonese, Tamil, Malayalam, and Punjabi. There are a lots of dialect use by the Chinese and Indian in Malaysia. Examples for Chinese dialect is Cantonese, Mandarin, Hokkien, Hakka, Hainan and Foo Chow. For the Indian is Tamil, Malayalam and Panjabi. In East Malaysia, there are several indigenous language. Most widely spoken are Thai language, Iban language and Kadazan language.

It is compulsory for Malaysians to learn Bahasa Malaysia and English at school. But for Chinese and Indians learn Mandarin and Tamil at school respectively. Apart from that, Chinese dialects such as Cantonese and Hokkien are also widely spoken by the Chinese. Meanwhile, the Ibans and the Khadazans in Sabah and Sarawak also learn their native languages at school. Nowadays, Malay and Indian parents also allow their children to learn Mandarin because Mandarin has become important in the cooperate world.

SUMMARY

While growing up, children are educated in the same schools and will eventually work in the same offices. Beside that, a few will marry outside their own ethnicity. Therefore, as a Malaysian, we have to know all about the differences of ethic in Malaysia such as their lifestyles, their beliefs and also their language. Despite the ethnic differences there are commonalities culturally speaking. Therefore, it is good for us to know all the language in Malaysia. So, we can communicate with different ethnics by using different language.

GOTHICS SUBCULTURE IN MALAYSIA

A youth subculture is a youth-based subculture with distinct styles, behaviors, and interests. Many youth subcultures are associated with specific music genres. Examples of youth subcultures is punk rockers, ravers, Metal heads, Goths, hip hoppers, emo and indie.

WHAT IS GOTHICS?

Crazy of Gothics! Gothics or Goths is music genres come from branch of rock music by the late 1970s. Originally, Gothics is a music brought by a band who struggle for a punk rock rhythm which then change to romantic and fantasy rhythm. It is associated with Gothics tastes in music and in Gothics fashion. Styles of dress range from Gothics horror, punk, Victorian and lots of black.

GOTHICS FASHION

Gothics fashion is stereotyped as a dark, sometimes abnormal, eroticized fashion and style of dress. Typical Gothics fashion includes dyed of black hair, dark eyeliner, black fingernails, black period-styled clothing. Gothics may or may not have piercings. Styles are often borrowed from the Elizabethan, Victorian or medieval period and often express Catholic of other religious imagery. Their use of black clothing was originally "something of a backlash to the colorful disco music of the seventies.

GOTHICS IN MALAYSIA

Now, the youth in Malaysia also influenced with the Gothics subculture. However, unfortunately, they follow this subculture without knowing what is the purpose and the history of Gothics subculture. Even some of them also do not know what actually Gothics music is. Actually, in western country, the Gothics fashion arise at early aged and this fashion is very popular in Japan.

HOW ARE GOTHICS RECRUITED?

Everybody wonders why do they love to dress up like that. May be they need a lots of love or attention from other peoples. A lot of people turn to the Gothics subculture after having a hard time in school, feeling alienated, and looking for a way to express themselves that mirrors those feelings. Others find the scene through literature, still others want to be shocking, and some people just find black clothing slimming.

The most powerful mode of recruitment for Gothics is music. Many young people are originally attracted through concert and music fests. Gothics rock is a musical sub genre of alternative rock that formed during the late 1970s. Gothics rock bands grew from the strong ties they had to the English punk rock and emerging post-punk scenes. Examples of Gothics rock bands are Advent sleep, Black Ice, The Damned, Ghose Dance, Ikon, James Rays Gangwar and more.

The Malaysia's youth also involve in Gothics subculture because of Gothics fashion. They think that the fashion is suitable for the younger. Gothics fashion is a clothing style worn by members of the Gothics subculture. They wearing an unique accessory, short skirt or blouse, eyeliner,high heel shoes, dark lipstick and dyed black hair.

SUMMARY

In Malaysia, almost half of the youth have join this subculture. We can see this members of Gothics subculture in big city such as Kuala Lumpur, Shah Alam and more. Therefore, parents are play an important role to decreases the number of members of Gothics subculture in Malaysia.

SIAMESE TRADITIONAL WEDDING

Malaysia is an unique country. All the Malaysian can live together even though they are in different culture, race,ethnic and religion. For examples, Bidayuh, Iban, Malay, Chinese, Indian and more. But, do you know? Siamese is also one of the ethnic in Malaysia.

Siamese is one minority ethnic in Malaysia. Almost all Siamese live in the north of Malaysia such as Kedah, Perlis, Kelantan and Terengganu.Their lifestyle and culture does not have many differences with the Siamese in Thailand. Almost all the Siamese religions is Buddha, but have some of them is Christian.

All Siamese that live in Malaysia habitually marry same like other race. Their wedding custom also same with other society such as proposal, engaged and marriage. Siamese’s wedding custom started with investigate ceremony. Normally, the young man side will inform his wish to his parents first. Then, his parents and other family members will visit to the girl’s house for proposal the girl.

THE DAY OF PROPOSAL AND ENGAGEMENT

During the day of proposal, the groom side will bring the present such as arrangement of betel leaves and a ring. All the engagement will be held. The young man sheathe the ring for the girl. Then, the money and the date of marry will be decide. For the ancient time, the date of the wedding usually is decide after the harvest time. Normally, it is decide by 'tok moh'.

THE WEDDING DAY

On the morning of the wedding,a group of people from the groom's side,including the groom,will form from the bride's house. At the front of the group are two peoples holding sugar cane plants which will later be planted nearby. The Khan Mahk (betel leaves), special candle tray and the food is adorned with flags to symbolize a special occasion.
The bride's family won't accept a groom unless he brings these special foods--money and jewelery is important too but the right food is just as important! As the group move to the bride's house,they will announce arrival of the groom's party. A loud song call klongjao is blares from the bride's house. This is a way to announce to all of the neighbours that a man will come to marry their daughter.

khanom kareaw, khan mark

met khanoon, khanom Tuay Foo

Pla Ngun, Foy Thong

khao Neeo Dang, Thong Yod, Khanom Chan

When the groom arrives along with his group, an elder from the group will announce that she is there to represent the groom's side. A playful exchange occurs at this point, as the bride's family stops the group with solid gold chains. As tradition says, the more gold chains, the more the groom has to pay to get inside. when a settlement is finally reached, money is given to the person holding the chain. Then, the chain are leaves and the groom is go inside by his elder representative. The group are waiting outside while the bride meet the groom inside her house.

Inside the bride's house, the khan mahk is open. The groom brings sid sod (money) along with tong mun (jewelery and some gold). As a form of tradition,this all is count by the bride's representative.Parents from each side then sprinkle the seeds over the money while saying a blessing for the couple.

In the afternoon, the main event of the traditional wedding will be followed. It is called ROD-NAM-SANG ( ROD is soak, NAM is water and SANG is conch shell). The both bride and the bridegroom's family will get together in this event. Both of the bride and the bridegroom will sit together or at a small stage with their hand held in wai style ( praying to the Lord Buddha style). A flower chain connects the hands. The leader who is the most senior person will start to soak the couple's hands in water and wish them good luck. The water is contain in the conch shell container. Then, the parents and other peoples will do the same action. Usually, just selected person like close friends and relatives will invite to the ROD-NAM-SANG event.

After the ROD-NAM-SANG event, everyone is treated to a meal provided by the bride's family. During lunch, usually the groom will be dared to do something such as give his wife a kiss or lift his wife up to get the money held from a window or ledge. As tradition says the success of their marriage is related to how well they can play the game. After lunch at the bride's house, the bridegroom will take a rest and put on nice formal clothes. The wedding party will continue that evening. At the end of the wedding party, the groom will bring the bride to the groom's side.

SUMMARY

Siamese traditional wedding usually include only relatives and close friends of the couple.It is a ritual for the bride and groom to sit together on the floor with wai style. The couple's hands are also linked by a chain of flowers. The oldest relative leads the ROD-NAM-SANG event and to wish the couple luck. Their parents and other will do the same.

In rural areas, an elderly couple may arrange the bridal bed for the newlyweds and leave good luck tokens such as rice, sesame seeds and coins. This wedding custom symbolizes good luck and fertility.