UNDERSTANDING AND PERCEPTION OF CROSS-GENDER CULTURE AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

In the past decade, the proliferation of cross-gender culture, commonly known as transgender culture, in Malaysia has become a significant challenge to the Muslim community. The advancement of the digital world has provided a platform for this group to normalize cross-gender culture in the country. The combination of technological advancements and the abundance of social media applications has made it easier for all groups, especially the youth, to access various discussions, particularly on this issue. This is relevant as the younger generation also contributes to the emergence of this group. We can observe on social media platforms that the transgender community is becoming increasingly bold in openly spreading their ideology, to the extent of insulting Islam. For instance, they would livestream on their personal social media platforms while eating openly during the daytime in the month of Ramadan. Such actions demonstrate a fragility in religious understanding, leading them to engage in activities that contradict Islam without considering the concept of reward and punishment. Therefore, this study aims to assess the level of understanding and perception of university students regarding cross-gender issues in Malaysia. A survey questionnaire was distributed to respondents who were students at a university in Malaysia. The data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software in a descriptive manner. The study found that the respondents exhibited a moderate level of understanding regarding cross-gender issues in Malaysia. Additionally, their perception of cross-gender culture was also moderate. This indicates the need to extensively expose university students to the issue of cross-gender culture so that they become more aware of its presence. This study is considered significant in preventing society, particularly young Muslim individuals, from adopting an open-minded attitude towards accepting the presence of cross-gender culture and subsequently getting trapped in a realm that contradicts Islamic law.