Stories about Women & Gender from May, 2011
China: Sex, nation and cultural traitors
Siweiluozi has written an excellent piece, in response to the State's interrogation of Li Tiantain's sex life, to discuss the formation of China as a nation through discourses about sex and women as cultural traitors.
Australia: SlutWalks Spread the Word
Following Toronto’s lead, Australians have started a series of SlutWalks with Melbourne’s first march on 28 May. The catchphrase: Make it known that those who experience sexual assault are never the ones at fault.
Africa, France: Who is Nafissatou Diallo? Victim or Conspirator?
In the debate over the alleged sexual assault by French politician Dominique Strauss-Kahn of a Guinean hotel chambermaid in New York, attentions from France to Africa have now shifted to the identity of the alleged victim, Nafisatou Diallo.
China: Detained Rights Lawyer Interrogated About Sex Life
After three months in detention, Chinese lawyer Li Tiantian described on Twitter how her interrogators used intimate details of her personal life to harass her. In the past months, more than a hundred human right lawyers, activists, writers and artists have been arrested or prosecuted in China as a result of the crackdown on the Jasmine protests.
Zimbabwe: On Journalism and Sexual Harassment
Beven Takunda blogs about journalism and sexual harassment in Zimbabwe: “A number of young female journalists coming from college have raised complaints that they are being asked to go out with some of the editors of these newly established newspapers if they want to get employed. This is vey sad...
Zimbabwe: Fined US$400 for killing a woman
A man is fined US$400 for killing a woman in Zimbabwe: “Fungai Tichawangana is widely admired and respected in Zimbabwe. Fungai’s wife was killed by a drunk driver. A man who was fined US$400 and had his license suspended for 6 months. Fungai pointed out to us that people who...
Lebanon: Mapping sexual harassment
An interactive map of incidences of harassment in Lebanon has been launched. Featured testimonies can in no way be considered official, verified or comprehensive; the map shows only personal reports published on Qaweme Harassment -Fighting Harrassment on Lebanon Streets [en, ar] by women who decided to break the wall of...
Costa Rica: Sex Abuse Prison Sentence Raises Concerns About Justice System
The sentencing of a 39 year old cabinet-maker to four and a half years of prison for sexually assaulting a woman during the daytime by touching her genitals in public has divided Costa Rica: while some applaud this decision, others believe this points to a failed justice system and a third group considers it excessive.
Uganda: It Began With Words, Songs and Music
The women of Northern Uganda have been banding together in groups to support each other: “The Voice Project is an attempt to support these incredible women and the peace movement in Uganda, and an effort to see how far a voice can carry.”
Cuba: Repressive Action
Cuban bloggers cite numerous cases of the authorities cracking down on dissidents, calling the arrests “part of a vicious series of repressive moves by the dictatorship to target the opposition.”
India: Malayalam Bloggers Campaign For Soumya
Kerala was rife with outrage, when 23 year old woman Soumya was thrown out from a moving passenger train, raped and brutally murdered. With the public losing the trust in mainstream media, blogs with the individual's voices question media's silent role and discuss many unnoticed aspects of the story.
Trinidad & Tobago: Oppression of Women
“Women’s oppression, he said, was a myth created by the Judeo-Christian West as a tool of capitalism. I nearly fall on the ground”: And then, Lisa Allen-Agostini writes a must-read post about it.
Lebanon: Bras for a cause!
Bras for a Cause is the first lingerie design contest of its kind in the Middle East. Launched on May 19th, the initiative aims to raise awareness and support women who are battling or have been treated for breast cancer. Selected designs (including some mastectomy bras designed specifically to enable...
Cote d'Ivoire: Amnesty International Report on Post-Electoral Conflict
Amnesty International published a report about Cote d'Ivoire [fr, PDF] on May 25 in conclusion of a field survey: Looking back on 6 months of post-electoral violence. In this document [fr] the organisation warns that, “The conclusions of this report clearly show that all of the conflicting parties have committed...
Saudi Arabia: Will women take the wheels on June 17?
Women2Drive group launched a campaign in Saudi Arabia, via a Facebook page and a hasthag on Twitter [en and ar], to encourage and prod women to follow the example of Najla Hariri and [en] and Manal Al Charif [en] and defy the laws by driving on June 17th. Manal, one...
World Economy: Women Weigh in on Poverty, Work and Debt
The International Museum of Women's online exhibit on women and the economy, features slideshows, podcasts, videos and essays on women from countries such as Sudan, Denmark, Philippines, USA, Costa Rica, Mexico, Argentina and how they view issues such as poverty, business, family, rights, money and much more.
Cuba: Rojas Detained
Cuban bloggers focus their attention on Luis Felipe Rojas, who was reportedly detained this past weekend, allegedly for blogging about the beating of three women.
Saudi Arabia: Woman Arrested for Driving
A week ago, a Saudi mother drove her car in Jeddah to take her kids to their school. On May 21, 2011, another Saudi woman, Manal Al-Sharif, posted a video of herself driving on YouTube. Al-Sharif was arrested, then released on bail, but later on the police arrested her once again.
Trinidad & Tobago: Race & Stereotyes
Anje Woodruffe writes at Outlish about how she was programmed to stereotype black men; CODE RED for Caribbean freedom! responds.
France: DSK Scandal Fires a Protest Against Sexism
French feminist network Osez le féminisme (Dare to be a feminist) [fr] is organizing a protest [fr] in Paris on Sunday May 22, 2011, in front of the Pompidou museum against “the sexism of the French ‘elites’ revealed by the DSK scandal”. In a matter of hours, their online petition...
France: French Women Bloggers on the DSK Scandal
French feminists bloggers and women bloggers writing on women's issues, have gained a larger audience and a new respect in France in the aftermath of the Domininique Strauss-Kahn scandal. Meet a few French feminist bloggers laboring online against prejudices and the French perception of sexual harassment and crimes.
