Stories about Women & Gender from February, 2009
Afghanistan: Rights Activist Selected as Young Global Leader
Azar Balkhi reports that Fawzia Koofi, an outstanding human rights activist and the first female deputy speaker of the Afghanistan's parliament, was named “Young Global Leader” by the World Economic Forum.
Jamaica, Guyana: Action or Reaction?
Both Active Voice [Jamaica] and Guyanese blogger C.D. Valere (writing at Baiganchoka) continue the discussion about recent attempts by the Jamaican Broadcasting Commission to “clean up” the airwaves.
Criminal Minds: The Egyptian Sexual Offender's Profile
Will Facebook groups, anti-harassment T-shirts, posts, articles, bloggers, and activists put an end to sexual harassment in Egypt? Wandering Scarab does not think so!
UAE: A great shame
“Before the boom, people would travel to South East Asia to get their sin fix and bring back AIDS. The only difference being the prostitutes are here, and all the nefarious enablers that goes with it. A great shame,” according to a UAE national, writes Secret Dubai Diary, which is...
Saudi Arabia: Nora Al Faiz Bio
Saudiwoman's Weblog sheds light on Nora Al Faiz, who was appointed as the first female Saudi deputy minister recently.
Malaysia: Many are not satisfied with their sex lives
Myhorng links to an article which shows that many Malaysians are not satisfied with their sex lives.
Afghanistan: Prison, Poverty and Politics
While the Obama administration has announced that an additional 17,000 troops will be sent to Afghanistan to confront the rising insurgency, Afghan bloggers keep talking about the daily challenges facing Afghans such as a women in prison, poverty and political tensions. Baktash Siawash, a Kabul-based journalist and blogger writes [en]...
To females traveling to Egypt … or to the US
Crimes against women from Egypt to the US
Morocco: On Sex
Abdelilah Boukili ponders the preaching of abstinence, and sex in general, in this provocative and meaningful post.
Saudi Arabia: Thoughts on the Cabinet Reshuffle
Saudi Jeans reacts to the recent reshuffle in the Saudi government. ” I think the cabinet shuffle was not surprising in itself, but rather in its scale and some of the details,” he notes.
Ghana: Ghana's Most Powerful Women
David Ajao lists Ghana's most powerful women, “The Fourth Republic of Ghana is historical for many reasons. It has more women in higher public office than it has ever had, in its 51 years as an independent nation. This post highlights some of the women at the height of power.”
Libya: At the in-laws
From Libya, American Khadija Teri attends a family gathering with her Libyan in-laws, and spills the beans in this post.
Bahamas: Say “No” to Violence vs. Women
“One in three women on this side of the world will experience violence in her lifetime”: Womanish Words says that the woman’s right to live a life free of violence will only become important to the Bahamian government “when we demand it.”
Cuba: Women in Jazz
Havana Times focuses on the contribution of women to Cuban jazz.
Brunei: Global Expeditions
Like other citizens around the globe, Brunei is never short of people willing to take the challenge to put the country on the world map. Two sets of expeditions are being carried out.
Pakistan: The Taliban Truce Deal
There is a civil war going on in Swat valley in the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan for more than half a year between the Pakistani army and the pro-Taliban groups operating in that region. Hundreds of people have died and thousands of civilians have been displaced due to the...
Palestine: Appointment of Female Islamic Judges Ratified
Palestinian blogger and journalist Kawther Salam, currently based in Vienna, has interviewed the two women whose appointment as judges in Islamic courts has just been ratified in the West Bank.
Japan: Transgender Man to Receive Compensation As a Male. Surprised?
The Okayama District Court has ruled that calculations of estimated lost earnings for a transgender man suffering severe aftereffects from a traffic accident be based on average wages for an adult male, even though he is registered as a woman in the national family registry. Bloggers reflect on gender identity and sexual identity, income disparities between men and women, and the country's recent "onee boom".
Yemen: Marriage Age Increased
“This is great news: the Yemeni Parliament has just approved a new minimum age for marriage. It will be seventeen now. The law raises the minimum age for marriage – for both boys and girls – to 17, and provides for the right to alimony and recognition of the mother...
Saudi Arabia: On relationships and divorce
From Saudi Arabia, American Bedu answers a reader's questions on relationships with Saudis, the consequences on divorce on women and whether Saudi men can live in a relationship without being married.
Jamaica: Explicit music banned
The long-standing controversy over the appropriateness of certain music for public airplay has once again reared its head in Jamaica. Bloggers make their voices heard.