Stories about Women & Gender from July, 2008
Russia: Sexual Harassment
FP's Passport reports on one Russian judge's view of sexual harassment.
Saudi Arabia: Is Divorce an Easy Word?
With divorce rates soaring to an all new high in Saudi Arabia, Saudi blogger 3abira Sabeel [Ar] asks: “Has divorce become such an easy word?” Amira Al Hussaini translates 3abira's post from Arabic, which discusses how different today's women are from their grandmothers and why young women and men find it easy to dissolve their unions.
Russia: Prostitution To Be Legalised?
LJ user mbpolyakov discusses (RUS) proposals and rising support for legalising prostitution in Russia.
Ukraine: Protests Against Image as a “Brothel of Europe”
The Turkish Invasion writes about a demonstration in Kiev, staged by a women's student organisation, in protest against the widespread image of Ukraine as a “brothel-state and bridebasket of Europe.”
Haiti: Act 3, Scene 2
“It has been fascinating to follow. And we are thankful that we are now watching Scene 2 unfold, while not really certain of its outcome”: jmc strategies is watching the process develop as Michèle Pierre-Louis moves closer to potentially becoming Prime Minister of Haiti.
Thailand: Transvestite toilets
A school in Northeastern Thailand has introduced “transvestite toilets” for male students who choose to dress as females. Connecting the dots criticizes the new toilets.
China: Naked Beach Proposal
Li Yinhe comments on the naked beach proposal in Zhuhai. Oppositional views said that naked beach is immoral and at odd with Chinese culture. The blogger also feels that the cultural leap is too big to be accepted by the public.
Arabeyes: Head Over Heels for Muhannad
A strange phenomenon has gripped the Arab world and Arabs seem to agree on something. It is an infatuation with a Turkish soap opera, dubbed in Arabic, and its stunning star Muhanned (played by Kıvanç Tatlıtuğ), whose romantic trysts are beamed on television screens across the region. The obsession of some people with the soap has also prompted the Grand Mufti of the Islamic world, Shaikh Abdul Aziz Al Shaikh, from Saudi Arabia, to issue a fatwa (religious edict) banning the drama, saying watching it is Haram (a sin).
Bahrain: A Woman in a Workplace
“I pledge, as a woman in a workplace – mostly dominated by men who smell either like cheap cigarettes, cheap cologne, hardcore armpit odour -to maintain my good deeds and acts with everyone, whether with an over-demanding bossy boss or with a chauvinistic, sexist, hateful, jealous colleague,” writes Bahraini blogger...
Egypt: A Man's Views on Sexual Harassment in Egypt
In a series of posts tackling sexual harassment in Egypt, Marwa Rakha sheds light on a male Egyptian blogger's interpretation of what is really happening on the ground. "The Sex Files," by blogger Wael Nawara presents a rather interesting perspective on sexual harassment in Egypt.
Mourning a sexually harassed Egypt – Part 2
Reuters published survey on sexual harassment in Egypt is still stirring angry responses from Egyptian bloggers. Marwa Rakha sheds light on more reactions in this post.
Jordan: The Business of Marriage
“Marriage, is just like anything else in this life. It's a partnership that has assets, partners, resources, expenses, rights, obligations, expectations, challenges, competition, ethics, rules, standards, planning, customers and profit. Just like any business out there,” writes Jordanian blogger Qwaider.
Lebanon: Women's Rights
“I remember a friend of mine… who was quite worried during the latest armed confrontations… because her estranged husband won’t give her permission to take the children out of the country, and she cannot take her children out of Lebanon without his written and explicit permission. one story among many,”...
Trinidad & Tobago: Question Time
“So as to avoid heartache, stress, stalking or late night non-returning of flaky text messages,” Trinidadian blogger Attillah Springer has compiled a must-read questionnaire for potential dates.
Aghanistan: Police Violence
The Rumi reports that a 13 years old girl was raped by five policemen after torturing her family inside their house in central city of Sare-Pol province, northern part of Afghanistan.
Indonesia: Divorce cases increasing
Indonesia Matters reports that divorce cases are up in Indonesia with more women initiating the divorce. Adultery is still the top reason for divorce but it is interesting to note that “political differences” are also causing family break-ups.
India: Co-eds and Convents
Bohemian Rhapsody on the the value of getting educated at a co-ed over a convent school.
Kosovo: Miss Kosovo at Miss Universe
Douglas Muir of A Fistful of Euros reports that the Miss Universe pageant “accepted Kosovo as a country, and […] Miss Kosovo made it into the top ten. (To be precise, she placed sixth in swimsuit and eighth in evening gown.)”
Nigeria: Much ado about nudity
Fadekemi at ConnectAfrica comments on a recent bill proposal to prohibit and punish nudity in Nigeria, among other offences: “Nigeria is Africa’s most populous nation […] faced with so many issues ranging from the Niger-Delta crisis to the high rate of infant mortality. According to Senator Eme Ufot Ekaette who...
Nepal: Women and Democracy
Anbika's DiGi Home questions how the democratic setup in Nepal can be called inclusive without women playing a crucial role.
Mourning A Sexually Harassed Egypt
Two-thirds of Egyptian men harass women showed a survey reported by Reuters. The survey of more than 2,000 Egyptian men and women and 109 foreign women said 62% of Egyptian men reported perpetrating harassment. 83% of Egyptian women reported having been sexually harassed. 98% of foreign women saying they had...
