Stories about Women & Gender from September, 2012
Pakistan: Taking Off Hijab
The blogger of Kiss My Roti takes off her hijab and provides the reason for it.
Spain: Proposed Changes for Abortion Law
The 28th of September is the celebration of the Campaign for the Legalization of Abortion, which has taken place for years in Latin America and the Caribbean and this year...
Uruguay: Legislators Move Forward Bill to Depenalize Abortion
After 14 hours of intense debate, Uruguay’s Chamber of Deputies voted 50 to 49 in favor of depenalizing abortion during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Twitter was abuzz during the whole day as Uruguayans shared their opinions on abortion and the bill under debate.
Zimbabwe: My Zimbabwean Sheroe
Amy Tsanga is Rumbidzai Dube's Zimbabwean sheroe: Here was a woman who lived through an era when the education of girls was not a priority yet she had done it...
Documentary on Salvadoran ‘Guerrilleras’ Turns to Crowdfunding
Photographers Rebecka Bíró (Sweden/Spain) and Victoria Montero (Argentina) have teamed up to create 'Guerrilleras' a documentary and photography project about the experience of women in the guerrilla during the Salvadoran Civil War (1980-1992).
Hungary: Parliament Forced to Take Domestic Violence Seriously
Despite initial setbacks, the Hungarian public has succeeded in convincing the Parliament to treat the issue of domestic violence seriously.
Peru: Young Woman Killed After Participating in Reality Show
Peruvian netizens were shocked by the murder of 19-year-old Ruth Thalia Sayas Sanchez, a young Peruvian woman who participated in the newly launched reality show 'The value of truth' (El valor de la verdad). Her ex-boyfriend and two others kidnapped and later killed her for money after she had won 15,000 Peruvian soles (about US$5,700) on the show.
Brazil: Misogynistic ‘Humor’ in MTV-Sponsored Blog
A complaint was filed against the blog Testosterone, a blog sponsored by MTV Brazil that constantly posts misogynistic content. Now, online campaigns are calling for MTV to end the partnership with the blog's writer.
Egypt: Sex Education for Youth
Egyptian blogger Ahmed Awadalla argues in favour of empowering youth in post-revolution Egypt. He notes: Sex education can be a great tool to change deeply seated patriarchal values in our...
Uganda: Teenage Girl Becomes Africa's Youngest MP
Africa is truly rising and African women are rising with it. Currently, Malawi and Liberia have female presidents. Now Uganda has elected the youngest Member of Parliament in Africa - she is 19 year old Proscovia Alengot Oromait.
Togo: Waves of Women in Red March Down Lomé for Political Reform
Several thousand women dressed in red marched in Togo's capital Lome on September 2Oth demanding political reforms. The Association Let's Save Togo posted several photos [fr] from the march.
Senegal: ‘Completely White’ Whitening Cream Stirs Outrage
Lightening the skin is a common practice in Africa where the sale of skin lightening products is legal in many countries. In Senegal, a product named 'Khess Petch' is creating controversy on the web, as its name means 'complete whitenesss'.
Zambia: Former First Lady, Betty Kaunda, Dies
There was an outpouring of grief on social media networks on Wednesday September 19, following news of the death of former Zambian First Lady, Betty Kaunda, wife of Zambia’s first President Dr Kenneth Kaunda.
Mexico: A Photographic Glimpse into Midwifery Around the World
Intercultural Midwifery is the topic of this Offbeat Mama guest photo blog post by Brooklyn based photographer Alice Proujansky. While 5 months pregnant she traveled to photograph a cultural knowledge exchange in Quintana Roo where students from the only government- accredited program in midwifery went to study with Mayan traditional midwives from rural area.
Latin American Women as Key Development Partners
Moms, students, working professionals and women from all walks of life are the driving force behind a gender revolution that has made huge contributions to our region’s prosperity. In Americas...
Bangladesh: A Voice for the Challenged
Amader Kotha features the exemplary works of the award winning blogger Sabrina Sultana who is using blogs and other social media tools to improve the condition of the physically challenged...
South Korea: Golden Lion Winner ‘Pieta’ Reveals Society's Dark Side
The Golden Lion award-winning Korean film 'Pieta', which is also South Korea's submission for the 2012 Academy Awards (in the foreign-language film category) has sparked social media buzz and ignited various public discussions in the Korean blogosphere this week.
Kenyans Rally to Help Destitute Former Female Champion Boxer
A moving television interview has shown how former Kenyan female champion boxer, Conjestina Achieng, is currently destitute and suffering from mental illness. Kenyan netizens have rallied round to support her.
Should Uganda's Abortion Law Be Revised?
Ugandans are divided over the Center for Reproductive Rights and Development's campaign to revise the abortion law in Uganda. There are approximately 267,000 abortions carried out in Uganda every year, although the practice is currently illegal except where the life of the mother is in danger.
Nigeria: Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala Declines WTO High Post
Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Nigeria's Finance and Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy is not interested in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) top job. Pascal Lamy will retire soon and there's been...
Russia: Forecasts for the Protest Movement's Elections
On October 20, the new "Central Elections Committee" will hold elections to select 45 individuals to form the first "Coordinating Council of the Russian Opposition." When this process is complete, the protest movement will have a representative body for the first time, providing a powerful institution that at last formalizes opposition leaders' legitimacy in Russian politics.
