April 2013 – Winking at Life

former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in October 2007 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Anti-Margaret Thatcher badge (Photo credit: dannybirchall)

I wasn’t overjoyed or saddened at the news of Margaret Thatcher’s demise. She was the UK’s first woman Prime Minister, yet seemed less concerned about what concerned most women – their children. I’m not British, and seeing the trend of ‘capitalist’ and ‘neo-liberal’ behavior she set in motion in Britain and in other countries of similar economic persuasion during her term as PM, I might feel glad not being a claimant of her legacy. Continue reading “Baroness Privatization R.I.P.”

Cover of "Maid in Manhattan" — Cover of Maid in Manhattan

Domestic Workers on Sunday (Photo credit: JMR_Photography)

Some may remember the 2002 movie “Maid in Manhattan” with Jennifer Lopez as Marisa Ventura, a mother working as a chamber maid in a classy Manhattan hotel. She meets a politician, Christopher Marshall, who falls in love with her and is staying at the hotel where she works. He mistakes her for someone else but later finds out, and she gets fired from her job for this seeming deception. However, after the story runs its course, true love triumphs in the end, and they live happily ever after.
Many young girls,especially those from impoverished rural areas perhaps hope such dreams will come true for them in a more affluent environment where they can earn a decent living, and get a better life for their families and themselves. But, the reality isn’t as simple or straight-forward as they think. Continue reading “Maids in Malaysia”