· November, 2006

Stories about Women & Gender from November, 2006

Kurdistance: It's Quiet Out Here

  30 November 2006

One of the hardest things about reporting on various blogospheres is the natural ebb and flow of people's writings. The past two weeks in the Kurdish blogosphere have been strangely quiet, the kind of quiet that is found before a great storm. Hiwa from Hiwa Hopes writes about the rampant...

Egypt: The Right to Love

  29 November 2006

“What causes sons to hate their mothers, fathers to target their daughters and husbands to persecute their wives? Have Adam and Eve not co-existed long enough for love and mutual respect to take hold? In this respect, we cannot say that such an attitude is particular to the Middle East,...

Trinidad & Tobago: Violence against women

  28 November 2006

To mark the 16 days of Activism against Gender Violence, Titlayo has pledged to write 16 posts on the subject of violence against women. Today, she writes about the situation in Trinidad and Tobago.

China: open against hidden shamelessness

  28 November 2006

ESWN translates an interview in the Southern Weekend with actress Zhang Yu, who has been posting videos of her trading sexual favors with directors and producers in return for film roles.

Barbados: Machismo and domestic violence against men

  27 November 2006

Two radio personalities make light of a news report about a barrister who has reminded Barbadian men that the Domestic Violence (Protection Orders) Act offers protection to them as well as women. Titilayo is concerned at the radio announcers’ attitudes: “Physical abuse is nothing to laugh at. Domestic violence is...

The Week That Was in Bahrain

  26 November 2006

More than 300,000 Bahrainis went to the polls on Saturday to elect 40 Municipal Councillors and another 40 Members of Parliament. This is the second time Bahrainis vote in their modern history, after sweeping reforms initiated in 2002. According to official records, seventy-two per cent of the eligible voters took...

Zimbabwe: Zimbabwean film-maker wins first prize

  25 November 2006

A Zimbabwean filmmaker, Tawanda Gunda Mupengo, wins first prize at the Dakar Film Festival for his short film, Spell My Name, “The film is about a young albino girl sexually abused by the headmaster of her school and a young teacher who stands up to protect her.”

India: The NRI Marriage and Dowry

  25 November 2006

A blogger at Together We Bond shares a heartbreaking story of a marriage that fails because of the husband's demand for dowry. “Then came the expectations. He wanted $25000 from my parents that too to be transferred to his account immediately. Initially I did not comprehend why?”

India: Karva Chauth, women and their husbands

  23 November 2006

The Mad Momma reflects on the ritual of Karva Chauth – a fast kept by married women to pray for their husbands to live long. “Does your husband not love you then? Doesn't he want to fast and pray to God to give you a long life?”

Egypt: Cairo's women speak out against violence

  23 November 2006

In the run-up to the annual global campaign for 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence, Egypt's First Lady, Suzanne Mubarak, addressing a meeting of the Arab Women's Organisation, issued a heartfelt plea: What shall we do to face challenges of discrimination, extremism and religious fanaticism? It's a vexing question...

  22 November 2006

Freedom for Egyptians reports that Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak rejected a request to ban the Niqab (full face cover for women) in his country.

Pakistan: Women from Islamabad

  22 November 2006

Metroblogging Islamabad profiles women from the city who have featured prominently in the public arena. “Here are five of the top movers and shakers based out of Islamabad who can be a beacon and role models for the rest. They come from diverse backgrounds ranging from government, entrepreneurship, and technology”

South Korea: too young

  21 November 2006

Andy Jackson in Marmot's hole worries that the national human rights commission's criticism against the Asiana and Korean Air’s policy of hiring women crewmembers that are no older than 25 years will affect the service.

Bahamas: Police brutalise woman

  21 November 2006

Lynn Sweeting writes a powerful appeal to the Bahamian public to register their outrage at the treatment of a woman who was brutally taken from her home — wearing only a towel — by the police. Sweeting's appeal takes the form of a letter to the woman in question.

Lebanon: Campaigns, Politics and Photos

  21 November 2006

A wide variety of topics were highlighted in the Lebanese blogosphere this week. There are campaigns against sectarianism, child abuse and AIDS as well as minorities speaking out. There are attempts to define the shades of grey in internal Lebanese politics. We also have posts about the media, nice photos...

Pakistan: Blog-o-success

  21 November 2006

As part of my extremely philanthropic nature, (which not only parallels but also surpasses the likes of George Soros, Warran Buffet and Bill Gates some say) I have decided to share with you a colossal secret, hidden for years by the high order of the Cyber Templar. Risking life and...

Arabisc: One Blogger Arrested..1000s More to Go!

  21 November 2006

There doesn't seem to be a week passing by without Egyptians and its bloggers rocking the boat and taking the virtual limelight in our part of the world. This week the huge ripples in the Nile are being caused by no other than Egyptian Culture Minister Farooq Hosni, who has...