· April, 2011

Stories about Women & Gender from April, 2011

Chad: White Gold Opens Income Stream For Women

  30 April 2011

Franseca writes about white gold in Chad: “Shea nuts are indigenous to southern Chad, and have been traditionally pressed into a black oil to add to foods. While nutritious, it has an odor that many find unpleasant. Processing the Shea nuts into a white butter gives it all kinds of...

Nigeria: Women Protest in Abuja

  27 April 2011

Nigerian women say no to violence: “Nigerian women in Abuja protesting against the post election violence in the north of the country. Nigerian women have always at the forefront of anti-violence protest in the country. Last year hundreds women from the Jos region gathered in Abuja in a day of...

India: Challenges Of A Single Working Woman

  26 April 2011

Neha Saxena at YouthKiAwaaz, a citizen journalism platform for the Indian youth, describes the challenges of a single working Indian woman nearing 30, who have a lot of pressure from the family and society to marry and settle down.

Zimbabwe: Does Violence Deter Women From Entering Politics?

  26 April 2011

Simon Moyo wonders whether violence in Zimbabwe deters women from participating in politics: “Since the emergence of the MDC as a credible challenger to Zanu PF domination in 2000, violence has been a consistent feature, and often it is women who have been the greatest victims. Some have totally withdrawn...

Trinidad & Tobago: Carib Queen Dies

  26 April 2011

Review of the Indigenous Caribbean and The Voice of the Taino People Online acknowledge the passing of Valentina Medina, the Carib Queen of the Santa Rosa Carib Community.

Malaysia: Boot Camp to “Help” Effeminate Boys

  26 April 2011

Based on their effeminate tendencies, 66 schoolboys from the state of Terengganu in Malaysia were recently sent to a boot camp aimed at "helping them behave in a proper manner". The boys were identified by their schools, who were instructed last year to identify students who displayed feminine qualities. The blogoshere in Malaysia is divided over this issue.

Thailand: Outrage Over Topless Teen Dancing

  24 April 2011

The buzz in Thailand in the past week was the scandal caused by the topless teen dancers during the Songkran Water Festival (Thai New Year). The photos and videos of the three girls dancing bare breasted immediately went viral and generated intense online debates on the real meaning of Thai culture and morality.

Cuba: Women as Soldiers?

  20 April 2011

Octavo Cerco is irritated by a sign which suggests that “we Cuban women form a battalion for the defense of the fatherland”, saying: “It bothers me greatly that the multiple mass organizations which supposedly represent groups of Cubans feel like they have the right to speak for everyone, robbing individuals...

Global: Bloggers Take Issue with Anti-Niqaab Punditry

On April 16, 2011, France's ban on the niqaab and burqa went into effect, re-stirring emotions on the subject and sparking protests in the European country and beyond. In cyberspace, bloggers are taking issue with popular pundits on the subject, focusing particular attention on Egyptian journalist Mona Eltahawy's pro-niqaab ban stance.

Pakistan: In Support Of The Burqa Ban

  19 April 2011

Kalsoom at CHUP! Changing Up Pakistan highlights Nabiha Meher Sheikh, a freelance writer based in Lahore, who explains why she supports the burqa (full face veil) ban in France.

Colombia: Teen Produced Web Series about Gay Youth

  19 April 2011

Nineteen year old Jhoncito Arango's most recent web project has certainly caught the local media's eye in his native Colombia, where his web series Yonkis has had a very good reception considering that it tackles a topic that is still considered highly sensitive in this Catholic country: homosexuality.

India: How Much Is A Housewife Worth?

  15 April 2011

In a ruling Indian Supreme Court questioned the Indian government’s Census parameters which placed housewives in the same economic bracket as “prostitutes, beggars and prisoners”. In this context Phoenixritu tries to fathom how much is an Indian housewife worth.