Echo Buzz: Malaysia’s Anti-Sexual Harassment Bill
Posted inEcho Buzz Educational Self-help

Echo Buzz: Malaysia’s Anti-Sexual Harassment Bill

Source: Christophe Gowans

An unwanted gaze, an unpalatable whistle, an unsolicited remark. These seemingly ‘minor’ annoyances are familiar to a large population of Malaysians and can be much more severe than appearances may imply. Though often going unreported and unnoticed, sexual harassment — the act of conducting oneself in an unwelcome and sexual nature towards another to demean their dignity — is much more prominent than expected.

Demystifying Hikikomori: The Hermits Of Modern-Day Japan
Posted inEducational Health Lifestyle

Demystifying Hikikomori: The Hermits Of Modern-Day Japan

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The Japanese term Hikikomori refers to a form of social phenomena principally found in Japan. The term — first coined by Saitō Tamaki, a psychiatrist —  is used to describe the phenomena of the complete withdrawal of Japanese people from society. The term also generally describes the people suffering from said phenomenon, with an individual that has withdrawn from society for longer than six months at a time is deemed a ‘social recluse’ or Hikikomori. According to a survey conducted by the Japanese government, it is estimated that there are currently more than 1 million Hikikomori living in Japan. From the same survey conducted, the age can range from as low as 15 to as high as 64 years old, with men constituting approximately 76.6% from the survey’s total participants. 

Re-educating Educators: Make School A Safer Place
Posted inEcho Buzz Educational Lifestyle

Re-educating Educators: Make School A Safer Place

Source: Yante Ismail

For years the excuses of humour and sensibilities have been thrust around as a means of justifying inappropriate remarks regarding sexual harassment and assault. These harsh statements masked behind attempts at comicality become even more complex to disassemble when they are employed by authoritative figures such as educators, making its recipients inclined to remain silent due to the imbalance in the power dynamics as well as the risk of severe consequences. Nevertheless, recent revelations have proven that many actions can be taken in order to combat these injustices and silence is no longer an option in the face of rights transgressions, especially once solidarity is achieved.

Finding Courage in Femininity
Posted inEducational Lifestyle Self-help

Finding Courage in Femininity

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Picture this: a strong woman who has all the traits to take on the world with her own prowess and seemingly infinite courage. She is the epitome of what an empowered woman should be: she can shatter the demarcated bounds of achievements, she can nonchalantly seize the attention of a room so that her voice is heard, and she can fight, and she does so effortlessly.  Odds are that the first image you conjured up is the carbon copy of the ones we have all seen or read about in the media; the woman who rejects all that is deemed feminine and carries herself with the confidence of a man, whilst discarding all her “feminine-like” characteristics. But why do so many of us look up to and aspire to be women like these?

Healing The Planet: The Fight Against Climate Change
Posted inEducational Lifestyle Self-help

Healing The Planet: The Fight Against Climate Change

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Look 214,000 million kilometers away from Earth, and you will find our sister planet, Venus. Named after the eponymous Greek goddess of love, this planet shines as one of the brightest celestial bodies in our night sky. Mankind has always looked towards colonising potential planets such as Mars. Yet, Venus is rarely brought up as a possible candidate. Have you ever wondered why that’s the case? Well, the truth of the matter is that Venus is entirely uninhabitable. Ravaged by the long-lasting effects of climate change, our sister planet has completely metamorphosed from having similar atmospheric conditions to Earth to a fiery sphere of literal doom. 

Recovering from Mental Illnesses
Posted inEducational Health Lifestyle

Recovering from Mental Illnesses

This article contains a discussion about depression, anxiety and eating disorders. The opinions and views expressed by the author are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice and should not be relied on as health or personal advice. Reading discretion is advised.