Stories about Women & Gender from March, 2006
The blogosphere responds to Jamaica's first woman Prime Minister
On March 30, Jamaica's first (and the anglophone Caribbean's second the anglophone Caribbean's third, after Dominica's Eugenia Charles and Bermuda's Jennifer Smith) female Prime Minister was sworn into office. Portia Simpson-Miller is a long-standing member of Jamaica's ruling People's National Party (PNP) who won the party's internal vote to elect...
Pulse of the Saudi Blogosphere
Mohsen Al-Awaji was freed after 11 days of detention, and Aya thinks this action by the government is a tangible lesson for Saudis: “Don’t you dare to criticize the government because we are capable, at any time, of stripping you from your freedom and dignity.” Riyadhwai seemed happy about the...
Africa: Women in Leadership
Africa Unchained looks at the increasing profile of African women in leadership roles.
India: Sexual harassment in the Media
Don't trust the Indian Media on the instances of sexual harassment within the media sector, and how the issues go largely unreported.
Belarus: Letter From Female Prisoners
LJ user kapitan_tanaka translates a letter written by Valyantsina Palyavikova and Larysa Bukholenka, two female prisoners who were jailed for their participation in the post-election protest in Minsk.
Singapore: a gay party cancelled
On the cancellation of Feelin’ Good, a party organised by gay and lesbian media and events company Fridae, Mr. Brown quotes and links to conflicting statements from Fridae and the police. Fridae says the Ministry of Sound informed them that the police demanded the cancellation of the event because it...
Jamaica: High school sports teams at war
From Leon Robinson, a rather dispassionate discourse on the “war” being waged between rival Kingston high school teams in the “Champs”, the VMBS/ISSA Boys & Girls Athletic Championships. “We even have “territories”, places where rival schools are not welcome, at least not in frequency or numbers. . . . We...
African women blogging this week
It is that time of the year for those of us in the Diaspora, long nights and dark days in Europe set the heart and mind to thinking of life at home. Mshairi expresses her homesickness through a poem “Home (Again)” I want to stand by the shore as graceful...
The dark side of blogging – intimidation
Most articles about blogging emphasise the positive empowering aspects, but as black looks points out it also gives freedom to abuse. She says speaking out is the best way to combat the bullying.
Iran: The Flight from Iran!
View from Iran says about her flight from Iran. Blogger writes ” the flight from Iran was uneventful. By the end of our flight, not one woman was wearing a headscarf. You would see more women in headscarves on any flight in Europe or the US.”
Guyana: Expectations of women
When Guyana-gyal meets a widow and her two children at a charity luncheon, her thoughts turn to the plight of women. “So many women, waiting quiet, quiet, for donations. How many got a skill? I wonder if they only aim in life as young girls was to marry, have children....
Jamaica: Male sexual harrassment
ClaudeMills.com tackles the subject of the sexual harrassment of men in Jamaica in an article which quotes business consultants, a psychologist and at least one potential victim who says, “I know what it is like for a woman to shower unwanted attention, but I don’t think a Jamaican man would...
Nigeria: Vagina Monologues
Ore's Notes writes about her visit to see the Vagina Monlogues in Lagos last Thursday… Ore is not so sure about the call to reclaim words like “the C-Word” as a means of removing power from the speaker of the word.
African women bloggers
AfroMusing posts on a radio interview by two African women bloggers – via Kenya Unlimited.
Kenya: African women
Afrikan Eye writes on the role of African women in civilisation….”I always cringe when people talk about African women's ‘traditional role in Africa’ when in actuality they are referring to a fairly recent period in time (namely the 1800s) when African women's roles had already been distorted. So…just to set...
Bangladesh: Forced Marriages
imperfect world 2006 brings to light a case study on forced marriages in the context of UK. – “The UK government is currently injecting some energy in bringing to light these human rights abuses through their Forced Marriage Unit.”
African women blogging this week
As usual, African women have been blogging about a variety issues. Black Looks has recorded a moving audio post honouring the brilliant African-American science fiction writer who recently passed away, Octavia E. Butler. Black Looks has also posted information regarding the The Octavia E. Butler Memorial Scholarship which is aimed...
This week on the Lebanese Blogosphere: Mom, Dad and God.
While the squabbling in the National Dialogue continues, the English side of the Lebanese Blogosphere went on about the various intricacies involved. Ur Shalim observed the similarity between the Lebanese Civil war and the nascent Iraqi one, while Across The Bay and Beirut To the Beltway delved into the various...
India: Sexual harassment
The Commonwealth Games begins with the news of a person on the Indian contingent being held for sexually harassing a woman. More at Blogpourri.
Landing at the Iraqi Blogodrome
Today's report is dedicated to the women of Iraq. Women have suffered greatly in the new Iraq and on top of everything have to cope with the prejudice of some western journalists too. Again a mixed selection of blogs but you must read to the end for more cute animals!...
Zimbabwe: Quality of sanitary towels
This is Zimbabwe reports on the governments decision to “quality test” sanitary towels” that have been donated during an international appeal….”At the moment Zimbabwean women are forced to use newspaper and toilet paper; those in the rural areas are apparently resorting to leaves and tree bark! And apparently this is...
