The importance of gaining consent

There's a lot of things that you are not told before you return back to your own country after you move to study abroad, especially if you're the type of person who immerses themselves in the local culture. One thing that I have learnt from living in the UK for close to 5 years is that when you return, there are going to be many differences, positives and negatives that you can take from both places. But one thing that has been worrying to me ever since I have returned to Malaysia is the lack of privacy, data security and lack of consent when attaining anything from members of the public. 

One such occasion that took place was when I was at a park, as I always am in the evening for my run. I was approached by a couple of girls who asked me what my stance was on LGBTQ+ and they said that it would be for a research project and I am of course always willing to offer my opinion, but what I didn't realise was that some of them were using their mobile devices to record a video of me and my opinion. Now, it's one thing to record my voice, and a whole other thing to record a video of me. I wasn't given a warning that I was being filmed, neither was I informed how the information would be used and when I actually realise that they were recording me, was when they were almost done and I was too taken aback to say anything. It's one of those moments where you froze in disbelief.

I think it's really important to realise for us Malaysians that as much as we are a developing country, but our mindset plays the main role in us achieving a first world status. How we approach subjects such as these. I was actually very much annoyed and I honestly was very unhappy about the situation but it was also partly my fault that I froze in disbelief instead of saying something or asking them to delete the video that they had taken of me because even the location in which they were collecting information was at a park, where people went mainly there to exercise and I was definitely not in a situation in which I was comfortable to be filmed in. I'm sure many people would hold the same opinion. But once again, each to their own.

I feel that in Malaysia there are still a lot of things such as discrimination based on race, religion, age and gender that influences many people. I have always held opinions of upholding gender equality, treating people the same regardless of their race and etc. mainly because my family is quite liberal and we have many discussions and arguments on our differences in opinion but that also helps us to change our opinions on things and it has never stopped us from being a family. If anything, it has definitely helped us in being more opinionated and independent. I know Asian men have a problem with women being strong, independent and opinionated and there's been a few occasions on which some people who have asked me if I was a feminist and how much they hate feminists and I have stared at them in disbelief, because feminism isn't about thinking women are better than men but that we are equals and this is very much debatable because physically we aren't and we are more competent at certain things than men and equally the other way round. But that's not a discussion for today and regardless, if being opinionated makes me a b***h, then, I proudly am. The best one you have ever seen.

Regardless, there are a lot of things I feel I can bring to the table especially in educating Malaysians how to react better to situations, be more accepting of our differences and also living in a harmonious environment as we used to in the 80s. I think social media is an amazing tool to utilise and especially almost everyone in our country is very connected in the online web, I have decided to attempt to make a change in my own country, an amazing, beautiful, culturally vibrant and eccentric country. So, let's start this. 

On an unrelated note, I have also not been blogging as much as I have been adjusting to living in Malaysia again. My work assignment which has led me to be living in Malaysia again is exciting and also provides me a platform to be socially connected once again. So, leggo!

Till my next post. xx