Stories about Women & Gender from January, 2009
France, Guadeloupe: Obama Appointment?
Indiscrétions and RCIgp [Fr] wonder if the appointment of former LCI journalist (Guadeloupean-born Christine Kelly) at the CSA is as a result of the Obama effect.
Martinique: Increase in domestic violence
Martinican blogs [Fr] Blogdemoi and Bondamanjak tell with much consternation about the dramatic increase in domestic violence.
Cuba: Human Rights & Political Prisoners
As The Cuban Triangle reports that Cuba is about to face a human rights review, Uncommon Sense says that women are also among the political prisoners on the island.
St. Vincent & the Grenadines: Call for Justice
“Let the courts speak loudly on behalf of all the little children whose voices are silenced by these criminals”: Blogging from St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Abeni is all for throwing the book at sexual offenders.
Haiti, U.S.A.: Obama & Abortion
Haitian diaspora blogger Finian says: “This is where Obama loses my support. I believe abortion on demand is wrong.”
Iran:The first mixed football game draws punishment
The first mixed football (soccer) game — females vs. male teenagers — since the 1979 Islamic revolution led to punishment, as an Iranian football club said it had suspended three officials involved. Coralit,an Iranian blogger, says [fa] that some people filmed the match by their mobiles and these films were...
Nigeria: Developing Women 2.0
A new NGO named W.TEC has adopted Web 2.0 tools and technologies in order to facilitate knowledge gathering and sharing amongst Nigerian women.
Poland: Katarzyna Hejna on Feminism
Katarzyna Hejna talks about feminism in Poland – at Polandian.
Nepal: The plights of the Kamlaris
Untold Stories writes about the plights of the kamlaris, who are found in the rural villages of southwestern Nepal, and the efforts to rescue them. “Kamlaris are house slaves, as young as five, who toil away their childhoods cooking, cleaning and babysitting in the homes of higher caste families.”
Saudi Arabia: Young activist faces social condemnation
Saudi Arabia is a conservative society, and when individuals act in ways that challenge convention, not only might they face harsh criticism, but so might their families. A young activist called Amna Fatani has experienced such condemnation recently, and some Saudi bloggers have offered her their moral support.
Korea: Marital Rape and Suicide
A man who was convicted for the first time in Korea of marital rape in January of 2009 committed suicide.[EN] The judgement stood for his wife who is from the Philippines and the humiliation led him to suicide. His case brings several issues to netizens — countryside men, multi-cultural families,...
Iran: Women activists support Shirin Ebadi
Kosoof, a leading photoblogger, says a group of women rights activists gathered to meet Shirin Ebadi, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, with red roses in their hands to wipe off bad memories of slogans which were written against her outside the walls of her house and remind the positive effects of...
Saudi Arabia: A boycott that might work
Crossroads Arabia reports on a call by Saudi women to boycott lingerie shops that refuse their demand to hire women – an initiative backed by the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Armenia: Homophobic Media
Despite the country's recent endorsement of a UN declaration against discrimination on sexual orientation, Unzipped: Gay Armenia continues to expose the prevalent homophobia in Armenian society. Following recent discriminatory and alarmist comments from a leading member of civil society, the blog notes that one newspaper has discovered there are lesbians...
Guyana: Dirty Laundry?
The new President of the United States is the Caribbean's darling, but the President of Guyana is having a tougher time of it. The latest controversy to plague him comes in the form of his ex-wife spilling the beans about their stormy personal relationship and Mr. Jagdeo's alleged failure to provide her with a divorce settlement. Bloggers, of course, are all over the story...
India: The Surname Debate
Indian celebrity Sanjay Dutt sparked a debate in the country when he said: “Women should not stick to their fathers’ surname after marriage just for the sake of fashion. It will be a disrespect for their husbands if they do so.” I love life… so I explore reacts to his...
Africa: Banking on African Women
“Women own nearly half of all enterprises in Africa, but have the hardest time securing credit,” writes Guest Author on AfricanLoft discussing African women and entrepreneurship.
Russia: Crisis, Lipstick and Feminism
Anna’s Out of Town News writes about the crisis and the “lipstick effect” in Russia, and about an online poll on what a feminist is, posted on the website of the Russian edition of Cosmopolitan.
Angola: An increase in domestic violence or only in awareness?
The rates of domestic violence in Angola have increased considerably but it is a good sign: by reporting more, Angolan women get a step closer to ending the abuse perpetrated by their partners. But, have the numbers actually increased or is there just a greater awareness of such crimes?
Poland, UK: Abortion
Polandian notes that thousands of Polish women are having abortions in the UK: “With it being illegal here in Poland, they are forced to travel to other countries thereby adding bureaucratic hassle and a strange environment/language to what must already be a very nasty and stressful situation.”
