Stories about Women & Gender from August, 2010
Armenia-Azerbaijan: More dialogue through film
With national television in Armenia and Azerbaijan controlled by the authorities or government-linked individuals, there is little opportunity for independent reporting. Now more objective and human interest stories can be found on the Internet.
Taiwan: 250000 Facebook users against inadequate court sentence
More than 250 thousand facebook users join together to condemn the recent court sentence that put a rapist in jail for only 3 years and 2 months, much shorter then...
Taiwan: Students ask for more rights
A team of university student representatives from various universities and colleges established their official blog[zht] and published the 2010 evaluation result of students’ right in universities. They criticize some universities for...
Russia: “Jailbird Moms”

A Good Treaty writes about two Russian “jailbird moms” – Anna Shavenkova and Yulia Kruglova: “Two court cases in recent weeks have given Russia’s bruised citizenry a few additional reminders...
East Timor: (Un)Dignified Sculptures of Women in Shangai World Expo 2010
In response to recent statements by a Timorese deputy, who reportedly implied that the statues of naked women at the Timor Leste Pavillion in Shanghai World Expo 2010 are not...
Guyana: Domestic Violence
“Domestic violence has not been stamped out; instead it has grown to staggering proportions”: The Guyana Groove thinks the country needs “a real, feasible solution to this dire situation.”
China: Prostitution, Reality, Hypocrisy and Human Lives
What good does punishing women involved in the sex trade do when the gangs, corporations, and clients are left largely untouched?
Iran: Blogger May Face Charge of ‘Waging War Against God’
There is a growing concern that Shiva Nazar Ahari, a jailed human rights activist and blogger may be charged with moharbeh (waging war against God/enmity against God) in an upcoming trial. In Iran, this can carry a death sentence.
Pakistan: Field Notes From Doctors Of A Relief Team
“If there is anything the government should learn from this flood, it is to take education and women empowerment more seriously,” reports Dr. Syed Nabeel Zafar in a medical field...
Mexico: What About the Dead Women of Juárez?
Ximena Vega says [es] Mexicans have forgotten about one of the most important problems the country is currently facing: femicides in Ciudad Juárez.
China: Fujian Netizen, Fan Yanqiong, Released from Prison
The last of the Fujian 3 netizens still in prison, Fan Yanqiong, was quietly released today on medical parole with nearly a year remaining on her sentence. Watch He Yang's new documentary on her story, as well as that of netizens You Jingyou and Wu Huaying, below the jump.
Puerto Rico: When Legalizing Abortion is not Enough
“Legalization has not been enough for poor women who, despite the formal right they have, don't have the means or the access to the clinics to carry out procedures in...
Egypt: Egyptian Woman Vs a Woman….
Aliaa Elzeiny, an Egyptian studying political science at the American University of Beirut, Lebanon, is reflecting on whether there is a different between “Egyptian Women” and “Women” or not.
Haiti: Beauty & Controversy
As controversy swirls around Haiti's representative for the 2010 Miss Universe beauty pageant, The Haitian Blogger says: “The assassination of Miss Haiti's mother was a terrible tragedy. Unfortunately the sad...
Iran: International Protest against Stoning
Those condemned to be stoned in Iran now have a face in international media, Sakineh Mohammadi Ashitiani, a 43-year-old mother of two, who was sentenced to death by stoning for adultery.
China: Hype on university virginity rate
On August 16, a survey report on university female student virginity rate was posted around university forums. Since the report was published under the name of Li Yinhe, the most...
Portugal: Online Conversation on Poliamory
PolyPortugal blog [pt] is an online community that discusses poliamory in Portugal and supports sexual diversity in general.
China: Finland Bath
Carrie Yang and Katrien translated Han Han's short story, I want to talk to this world, which describes Finland Bath business and a police crackdown incident.
Bangladesh: An Important Recognition
Andalib at Cadet College Blog discusses [bn] about the recent decision of Bangladesh election commission to recognize “sex worker” as a profession in the voter ID.
Jordan: Reema, We Refuse to Let You Die in Vain
A 35-year old mother of three was shot by her husband during her sleep in Jordan. The reason for this murder? Her husband believes that his wife was a "victim of sorcery" and that she would kill him first. A heartfelt obituary has been written online by her nephew, a blogger, and appeals are being sent so that her death may not be in vain.
Brazil: Gay Kiss Prejudice
Rafael Ximenes writes [pt] about the controversy in a university within the state of Minas Gerais, where the promotion poster for the 3rd Congress on Public Policy / Social Services...