The trivialization of rape has become exceedingly common as rape culture is actively perpetuated through rape jokes, rape apologies, and rape justifications. A TikTok video made by a Malaysian girl has catapulted to the forefront the harassment and rape culture rampant in Malaysian schools. What Happened: In a TikTok video, Ain Husniza Saiful Nizam, a 17-year old student at a state secondary school in Puncak Alam near Kuala Lumpur, said that her male physical education teacher had made a rape joke before the class in late April. The class had been talking about laws that protect minors from sexual abuse and harassment when the teacher suddenly interjected: “If you want to rape someone, make sure they are above 18.”
tw// R4P3 JOKES, VERBAL H4R4SSM3NT
this is what i experienced yesterday at school. please help make it safer for us. @maszlee @zunarkartunis @KemPendidikan @adibahnoor #Awareness #Malaysia pic.twitter.com/MSK2rMX6pg
— ain #MakeSchoolASaferPlace (@ainhsaifulnizam) April 23, 2021
How Did People Respond : Ain’s video has been viewed more than 1.8 million times since it was posted and has resurrected the debate on harassment, misogyny, and violence against women and girls in the Southeast Asian nation, which is home to the majority of ethnic Malays who are Muslim, and sizeable ethnic Chinese and Indian communities as well as various Indigenous group. Ain’s video started the #MakeSchoolASaferPlace hashtag on Twitter as many other female Malaysian students took to social media to share their experiences of harassment, in solidarity with Ain.
Others showed their support for Ain by lauding her for her bravery to speak up.
We want to hear from teachers who will stand with Ain.
Who will bravely show their faces alongside hers.
Who will have their voices heard alongside hers.
If you know a teacher, or are a teacher, who will back Ain and her cause, #MakeSchoolASaferPlace, PM us.
@ant33ater pic.twitter.com/A8b6fWc9My
— your.maker (@yourmakerasia) May 11, 2021
We educators stan with @ant33ater to #MakeSchoolASaferPlace
Lots of love and support from all of us!thank you for doing this, may the younger kids will benefit from this movement! pic.twitter.com/ZLBhau0sx2— fatimah tajuddin (@fatimahtajuddin) May 11, 2021
I #StandWithAin ✊.
Don't let them silence you.
Don't let them sweep sexual harassment and bullying under the carpet.
We are with you @ant33ater ❤️#MakeSchoolASaferPlaceP.S. Buat orang yg pelik² panggil dia Masonic, mai saya bagi gambar one-eyed ️ . pic.twitter.com/bOhMCLCaQ6
— Lim Yi Wei 林怡威 (@LimYiWei4MY) May 9, 2021
Malaysian politician Kerk Chee Yee also tweeted in support of Ain.
Enough is enough. Change starts with you & me. This is our home, our generation. #StandWithAin #MakeSchoolASaferPlace #GenerasiKita pic.twitter.com/7elDXtLKpy
— Kerk Chee Yee (@Kerkcheeyee) May 9, 2021