"Wanita Bangkit!" (Women Rise) – the cry echoed down the streets from Sogo right up to Masjid Jamek under the sweltering afternoon sun on March 8, 2018, commemorating International Women's Day (IWD) that year.

Speeches made by women for women cutting across the community and class struggle of Malaysia rang out loud. But it wasn't long before criticisms against the rally for being radical and "kecoh" (troublemaking) descended. It was then that it struck me...