Newsletter No. 478

8 478 • 19.5.2016 ’ 口談實錄 Viva Voce 本刊由香港中文大學資訊處出版，每月出版兩期。截稿日期及稿例載於 www.iso.cuhk.edu.hk/chinese/newsletter/ 。 The CUHK Newsletter is published by the Information Services Office, CUHK, on a fortnightly basis. Submission guidelines and deadlines can be found at www.iso.cuhk.edu.hk/english/newsletter/ . 碧樺依教授 Prof. Raees Begum Baig • 社會工作學系助理教授 • Assistant Professor, Department of Social Work 你的中英文名字是否有特別意思？ 父親是巴基斯坦人，Begum Baig是姓，第一個字是用以識別 為女性。名字Raees在巴基斯坦語解作rich（富足）。母親是香 港人，碧樺依是她純粹按音譯而來的，感謝她譯得那麼詩意。 混血兒的身分對你唸書和工作可有影響？ 從小學至中學唸的是女校，校內亦有其他少數族裔學生，當中 也有混血兒，未有受到特別對待。不過，由於自己是回教徒， 而小學和中學分屬基督教及天主教學校，所以需要迴避某些 宗教儀式和習俗如祈禱、跪拜神像等。也因這樣的背景，我 的敏感度會較高，反映在生活細節，像吃飯時，會問大家有否 不愛吃的東西，工作時如處理族裔、文化差異及性別研究等議 題，會從多角度出發。這是正面的幫助，但也是雙刃刀，我怕 會被定型─只做少數族裔及移民的研究。 生於斯長於斯，少數族裔身分給你的經驗是促使你唸社 工系的原因嗎？ 倒不是。準備升讀大學時，少數族裔議題還未流行。我自小 已是女童軍和服務隊成員，喜歡參與社會服務和與人接觸， 所以便想到唸社工，既能認識不同議題，又可服務市民。 畢業後能學以致用、實踐理想嗎？ 社工分作微觀與宏觀兩大類，前者以前線個案工作為主，後者 則是組織、社區及政策倡議的工作，也是我較喜歡的。2004年 畢業後到了香港人權監察工作，雖然它不算是社福機構，但要 做很多社區教育和倡議工作，特別是要用簡單易明的方法， 向基層人士解釋人權公約和相關法例的含義，唸書所學在此 便派上用場。 為何又重回校園唸博士？ 一直都有志攻讀博士的，只是覺得才大學畢業，人生歷練仍欠 火候，故決定先工作，確定專研興趣所在才深造。此外，在香 港人權監察期間，不斷寫了很多建議書、報告，甚或提供給少 數族裔的宣傳教育套，又與其他團體、政治人物、政府官員溝 通聯繫，進行游說。這是一個難得的學習過程，我想何不把它 系統地記錄下來，既檢視社福界如何處理人權議題的歷史， 也留下這重要的記憶，所以再次回到校園。 你最關心哪些社會問題？為甚麼？ 全民退休保障，這是人口老化最基本的保障。香港在二三十 年後要面對老年化的高峰期，必須有長遠的規劃，任何小修 小補，或是短期措施，都解決不了問題。現時討論的焦點又往 往集中於錢的問題上，忽視了過程中衍生了很多歧視和分化， 舉例說，在現有的強積金制度下，低收入者供款少，回報自然 有限，形成惡性循環，他們始終停留在低收入階層。全民退休 保障的目標應是締造一個較完善的社會。 另外，就是少數族裔問題。當提及南亞裔人士和難民，大家不 期然會有負面的刻板印象，如何消除歧視，避免族群間的矛 盾日益加深，值得關注。身為回教徒和少數族裔，我對性別、 宗教及少數族裔關係的研究亦深感興趣，計劃開展關於回教 女性受壓迫及對性別看法的研究。 是甚麼令你轉到中大任教？ 機緣巧合。之前曾在社工系任兼職教師，得知有空缺，於是試 着申請。2014年8月加入中大。相對於非政府組織，大學有更 大的研究空間和彈性，讓我觸碰不同的議題。 網民稱你為「女神」，有甚麼看法？ 沒有特別的看法。似乎女性出現於鏡頭前都被稱為「女神」 了。對女性看法以樣貌為先，不是香港獨有的，世界各地都一 樣。我認為某程度上是一種歧視，轉移了視線，忽略了本來應 帶出的訊息，淡化了女性付出的努力。 Are there any special meanings to your Chinese and English names? My father is a Pakistani. Begum Baig is my surname, the first word identifying me as female. My name Raees means ‘rich’ in the Pakistani language. My mother is a Hongkonger. 碧樺依 is the Chinese name she has given me, based on her transliteration of the original version. I owe her thanks for such a poetic-sounding name. Has your mixed-race identity affected your school and work experiences? I went to girls’ schools, both primary and secondary. There were other ethnic-minority students in my schools, including mixed-race ones, and I received no special treatment. However, given the fact that I am Muslim, while my primary and secondary schools were Christian and Catholic, respectively, I had to avoid certain religious rituals such as praying and kneeling before icons. Such background has given me greater sensitivity to certain things. For example, I would ask others if there is any food they do not like. At work when I handle ethnic, cultural difference and gender issues, I take a multi-perspective approach. But this could cut the other way. I am afraid of being cast into doing only ethnic minority and immigrants research. You were born and raised here. Have your ethnic minority identity and experience prompted you to study social work? Not really. When I was preparing to enter university, ethnic issues had not gained popularity. In my younger years, I was a Girl Guide and service team member because I liked to participate in social services and come into contact with people. That was why I thought of studying social work, as it would not only expose me to different social issues but also let me serve others. After graduation, were you able to practise what you learned and realize your ideals? Social work practices are of two major types: micro and macro. The former centres on frontline cases, while the latter focuses on organizations, communities and policy advocacy work, which is also what I prefer. After graduating in 2004, I worked with Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor. Although it could not be considered a social welfare organization, it did a lot of community education and advocacy work, especially in explaining to the grassroots the implications of human rights instruments and related laws in simple, intelligible language. So what I learned in the classroom could be applied there. Why did you go for a PhD? I had always aspired to do a PhD. But at first I felt I lacked life experience and so decided to work and further my education once I had determined what my research interests were. Besides, when I was working for Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor, I had drafted plenty of proposals and reports and even publicity and education kits for ethnic minority groups. I also liaised and communicated with other groups, political figures and government officials to carry out lobbying. This was a precious learning experience. So I thought why not have it recorded systematically. Not only would it provide the social welfare sector with a historical view on how to handle human rights issues, but also leave a document of such important memories to posterity. So I decided to return to campus. What are the social issues that concern you most? Why? Universal Retirement Protection (URP). This is the most fundamental protection for an ageing society. Over the next 20 to 30 years, Hong Kong’s age-related problems will reach its peak, which calls for long-term planning and bold moves now. The focus of the ongoing discussions is always on money. No one pays attention to the discrimination and antagonism that may result. For instance, the existing Mandatory Provident Fund system is a vicious cycle where low-income earners who make lesser cash contributions and hence get lesser returns would be trapped forever. The goal of URP should be to foster a better society. Another issue is ethnic minorities. Whenever South Asians and refugees are mentioned, negative and stereotyped impressions would be formed in one’s mind. How to eliminate discrimination and avoid increasing conflicts between ethnic groups are issues worthy of our concern. As a Muslim and an ethnic minority, I am deeply interested in research on gender, religion and inter-ethnic relations. I plan to commence research on the oppression facing Muslim females and gender perceptions. What made you come to CUHK? It was a matter of coincidence. In the past, I taught part-time here. When I heard of a full-time vacancy, I applied for it. In August 2014, I joined CUHK. Compared to the NGOs, the University offers greater room for research and the flexibility to cover different topics. You have been called a ‘goddess’ by netitzens. How do you feel about that? I have no special feelings on this. It seems that all females appearing in front of the camera are called ‘goddesses’. When it comes to women, looks always come first. This happens everywhere around the world. To a certain extent, I believe this is a kind of discrimination, as it diverts the focus away the core message and trivializes the efforts of women. Photo by ISO staff