Stories about Women & Gender from August, 2011
India: Acid Survivor Denied Access To Mumbai College
Shirin Juwaley, an acid attack survivor, writes in her blog that she was recently denied entry to a Mumbai college. Dheera Sujan writes an open letter to the principal who didn’t want her students to see Shirin's face and get scared of marriages.
Cuba: Sixth Sunday vs. Women
“This Sunday August 28th was the 6th consecutive Sunday in which dozens of dissidents -mainly women- have been violently attacked by the regime’s forces. And, each passing day, the methods of repression are more ‘sophisticated’”: Pedazos de La Isla explains.
Cuba: Las Damas & the Archbishop
Uncommon Sense says that the fact that the leader of The Ladies in White has had to approach Havana's cardinal “to intercede…to halt the summerlong repression of the Damas and their allies…reveals everything there is wrong with the prelate.”
Azerbaijan: Ramadan
Aaron in Azerbaijan introduces its readers to Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting also known as Ramazan, and comments on a reflection on gender and faith during the period of observance of the by a local female blogger, Sensible and Sensitive, who visited a mosque for the first time in...
Bolivia: Aymara Women Working as ‘Voceadoras’ in El Alto
Alberto Medrano shares two videos of Aymara women in El Alto working in minibuses as voceadoras: women who announce the vehicle's route and collect the passengers’ money. Cristina Quisbert blogged about these women in 2008 in Bolivia Indígena [es].
China: Soaring number of female political prisoners
The Dui Hua Foundation's Human Rights Journal explores the issue of the fast growing number of female political prisoners in China. This presents unique challenges, including male-on-female violence, childbirth in prison, and the overcrowding of women's prisons.
China: Law professor claims all Chinese girls studying in France are debauched
A law professor Zhang Haixia in Ministry of Justice claimed that “All the mainland girls who study in France come back as losers and become like “Super Pan Jinlian”. Pan Jinlian is a famous literary figure in Shi Nai’an’s Water Margins, representing lusty woman in daily usage. Olivia from China...
Cuba: Woman Evicted
Pedazos de La Isla highlights the case of Mercedes Reyes, who was evicted from her home, allegedly for the purpose of turning the property into a Civil Registry Office, saying: “Another victim of eviction and injustice turns to the Cuban resistance to channel their denouncements, their complaints. And the world...
Russia: Cigarettes Branded for Young Women Spark Controversy
A recent advertising campaign and carton redesign by one of Russia’s largest tobacco manufacturers has riled Russan bloggers and sparked a debate on responsible marketing and advertising. Ashley Cleek looks into the issue.
Pakistan: Education, The Last Hope
As the socio-political crisis in Pakistan gets out of hand, emphasis on education is being stressed by civil society. This push mainly is due to the hope that maybe, just maybe, education might be the key to bringing stability amidst the unsettling internal civil war that Pakistanis face on a daily basis.
Cuba: Female Activists Detained
Four women who took to Havana's Capitol building to protest recent actions against The Ladies in White have reportedly been detained; Uncommon Sense has the details.
Ethiopia: A Woman Dedicated to Serve Her People
EthioHealthCare writes about Liya Abera, Director of Bala Health Center in Ethiopia: “Basically ,what this health center focuses on prevention of diseases mostly on those which are pretty common in that area like malaria, oro fecal disease etc. And also focuses on minimizing woman and child death as well as...
Video: Women Transforming Communities
Voices of Women Worldwide brings together people from all over the world interested in promoting the voices of voiceless women, young girls and children using all the different media they have available: blog posts, audio, video and visual journalism.
Cuba: Amnesty Reports on “Las Damas”
The Ladies in White are on Amnesty International's radar. Read more, here and here.
Trinidad & Tobago: Dr. Pat Bishop Passes On
Netizens of Trinidad and Tobago are coming to terms with the loss of one of its patriots: artist and musicologist Dr. Pat Bishop, who collapsed during “a meeting with a cabinet appointed committee of high level experts on culture and the arts” this past Saturday. Online tributes soon started to pour in.
Madagascar: Expectant Mothers, Beware
In an interesting post on “Fady” (cultural taboos) in traditional Malagasy society, blogger Ariniaina lists a few “do not” tips for pregnant women [fr], for example: “Do not carry fish in a basket on your head (and do not eat it) otherwise, your baby could grow scales on its skin”.
D.R. of Congo: End Congo Rape Campaign Launched Online
End Cong Rape online campaign has been launched: “The aim of this site is to inform people on the plight of women in the east of the Congo, as well as to encourage people to get involved and donate.”
Sri Lanka: The Return Of The Grease Devils
In many rural areas of Sri Lanka the mythical figure of the Grease Yaka (Grease Devil) is being blamed for nighttime assaults on women and thefts/robberies. A number of suspects have been arrested and a few of them even mob-lynched by villagers. Rezwan investigates.
Costa Rica: Slut Walk Reactions, Religion and Women's Rights
Last Sunday 14 August, 2011, the Costa Rican Slut Walk took place in the capital city of San Jose causing both a media and religious backlash due to allegedly violent anti-church chants and performances. The ongoing debate has been covered on both citizen and mass media outlets as people react to the Costa Rican version of this worldwide protest.
Bermuda: BAD Call to Boycott
“Bermudians Against the Draft have launched a campaign to persuade young black men not to cast their ballot in the next general election [because] neither political party supports their position”: Respice Finem disagrees, on the grounds “that disengagement keeps the status quo in place and renders you voiceless.”
Cuba: From the Mouths of Las Damas
Pedazos de La Isla has an account of “physical blows, shoving, threats, deportations, and arrests” against members of the Ladies in White.
