· October, 2012

Stories about Women & Gender from October, 2012

Afef Abrougui, Blogging From Tunisia

  31 October 2012

Afef Abrougui, a contributor for Global Voices in Tunisia, tells us about her experience in the demonstrations that took place in her country in 2011 and what she expects for the immediate future of Tunisian politics. She also shares with us some of her daily life and chores.

El Salvador's Tough Abortion Laws

  30 October 2012

Voices from El Salvador highlights several stories of Salvadoran women affected by the country's abortion ban, ” which includes cases of rape, incest, and when the health of the woman is at risk.” The issue is compounded by other women’s rights issue, including femicide (El Salvador has the highest rate in...

Ghana: Meet Agnes Chigabatia – Ghanaian Female Politician

  26 October 2012

There have been considerable efforts by women to have chance in Ghanaian politics. Agnes Chigabatia, a parliamentary candidate and a former member of parliament, is one of them. Ghana Decides, a non-partisan project which aims to foster a better-informed electorate for free, fair and safe 2012 elections using social media tools took a personality profile look on her. She is

Pakistan: Developing Viewpoints on Malala Yousufzai

  19 October 2012

Malala Yosufzai, the female education activist who was shot by Taliban, has become a symbol for an enlightened and moderate Pakistan. Her name is being eulogized in prose and poetry in her homeland and beyond. However, an Anti-Malala Syndrome has also developed simultaneously.

China: Breast Feeding

  18 October 2012

Sascha Matuszak blogs about his wife, Zhang Yushi's involvement in breast feeding campaign in China, including the organization of a flash mob breast feeding action in Chengdu.

Ada Lovelace Day: Celebrating Women's Genius

  16 October 2012

Ada Lovelace Day, celebrated every October 16, honors international women in the fields of science, technology, engineering and maths -women's whose skills are urgently needed for the future of the world. Here we highlight some of these extraordinary women.

Argentina: Guarani Leader Wins International Rural Women's Day Prize

  15 October 2012

Fionuala Cregan reports that Matilde Lucio, an indigenous leader in a Guarani community in Jujuy, in northern Argentina, “will be awarded one of 10 international prizes for her creativity in rural life” on October 15, International Day of Rural Women. Read more about Matilde and her story in Upside Down World.

Saudi Arabia: Women2Drive Steps Up Tone; Blames Government Policies

  14 October 2012

Women2Drive, later renamed Right2Dignity, has been campaigning for lifting the ban on women's right to drive by calling for days in which women get behind the wheel and supporting lawsuits against the Interior Ministry for refusing to grant women driving licenses. Now they are blaming the government for the ban, saying that if the Saudi monarchy wanted to lift it, it would have done so earlier.

Ghana: Obstacles to the Advancement of Women

  13 October 2012

Betty Mould Iddrisu, jurist and Minister of Justice of Ghana, writes [fr] on pambazuka.org: To reach the upper level is rare, and once you have arrived there, you still have to face hostility and doubts about your abilities, because you are a woman. A woman at the top works harder...

Ukraine: “The Babushkas of Chernobyl” Documentary Project

  11 October 2012

On Kickstarter.com, only a few hours are left to pledge funding for The Babushkas of Chernobyl, a documentary project by Holly Morris and Anne Bogart, which tells stories of “an extraordinary group of women who live in Chernobyl’s post-nuclear disaster ‘Zone of Alienation’ or ‘Dead Zone'”: Time really is of...

Pakistan: Religious Extremists Attack Malala Yousufzai

  11 October 2012

Malala Yousufzai, a 14 year old girl, was shot and severely wounded by Taliban for her activism. She is famous for her ‘Diary of a Pakistani School girl‘ which reveals the onslaught of the Taliban against girls education in Swat, Pakistan. Netizens condemn this horrendous act.

Arab World: The Plight of Syrian Refugee Girls

  10 October 2012

As the Syrian Revolution continues, its consequences continue to affect refugees who have fled the violence in the country, especially women. Syrian refugee girls in Jordan, Libya, Turkey and Lebanon are subject to the pressures of forced marriages from Syrian or other Arab nationals under the pretext of protecting their virtue.