Stories about Women & Gender from September, 2013
Mozambique women's basketball reaches new heights
Following a thrilling victory in the quarterfinals (see our coverage), last night the Mozambican women's basketball team won a place in the Afrobasket Finals tonight against reigning champions Angola. With yet another comeback-style victory over Cameroon in the semifinals, they are also guaranteed a place in the World Championships, and...
Saudi Clergyman Delivers Ground-breaking Science on Why Women Shouldn't Drive
Women in Saudi Arabia should not drive because driving will have adverse effects on their pelvis and ovaries, says a religious scholar. No Kidding.
Mozambique Women's Basketball Thrills with Last-Second Win Over Nigeria
Excitement is overflowing in Mozambique as the national women's basketball team triumphed over Nigeria during the final seconds of a quarterfinals match. The "Samurais" next face Cameroon.
“You Can Kick Female Flight Attendants” in Kazakhstan
A former government official in Kazakhstan recently kicked a female flight attendant, reportedly because she did not speak Kazakh. The story has caused a stir on social media. Blogger Pivovar offers [ru] the most interesting and most widely shared Twitter posts on this incident, such as the one below: Казахстан-2013: бить...
Russia’s Hunger Games
There are two hunger strikes in Russia today, one by a famous Pussy Riot member and another by a mothers' group. What do the different receptions online say about Russia?
Why Laos Has High Maternal And Infant Mortality Rates
Dee Harlow cites several factors that explain why Laos has the highest maternal and infant mortality rates in Southeast Asia: Many factors contribute to the inaccessibility of the care expectant mothers need including, geographic remoteness, lack of infrastructure and seasonal limitations for travel on rough roads, lack of transport or...
India: Rape? Its Womens’ Fault
The media attention on rape in India and the public notion that women are responsible for most rapes have lead comedy podcast All India Bak**** (AIB), brainchild of comedians Tanmay Bhat, Rohan Joshi, Ashish Shakya and Gursimran Khamba, to protest by posting a satirical video on Youtube “It's your fault”...
Ugandan Minister: Indecently Dressed Women Are Asking to Be Raped
Uganda's Youth Affairs Minister Ronald Kibuule has been summoned to appear before Parliament to explain himself.
South Korea: ‘The Man Must Buy the House’
Although South Korea is still a male-dominated society that ranks toward the bottom of polls in gender equality, more men seem to feel they are losing ground. It is partly true when it comes to marriage where social pressure for young men to provide a house for their brides is enormous,...
Two Women Jailed After Kissing at Religious Rally in Brazil
In a religious service lead by the pastor and congressman Marco Feliciano, two young women who kissed in the middle of the event were arrested.
Is the Spanish Army Punishing Women Who Denounce Sexism?
What is the situation of women in the Spanish Army? Lourdes Sada reports.
Indonesian Groups Criticize ‘Miss World’ Contest as ‘Un-Islamic’
Venue of the contest was moved from Jakarta to Bali. Organizers vowed to replace bikinis with Balinese sarongs for the beach wear but protests have continued.
“A Woman Can Only Become President When Men Die Out in Tajikistan”
The upcoming presidential elections in Tajikistan promise to be anything but boring. For the first time in the country's history, a woman is running for its highest political office.
Indonesia's First Breastfeeding Video Animation
The Indonesia Breastfeeding Mothers Association has produced a 13 minute film animation that educates Indonesian couples about the benefits of breastfeeding.
Is a Monument to Chechen Women an Affront to Russia?
Ramzan Kadyrov caused an outcry in the blogosphere when he dedicated a monument to a group of Chechen women who died during the Caucasus Wars in the 19th century.
The Fight to Ban Child Marriage in Yemen
Child Marriage is a widespread practice in Yemen, especially in the rural areas. The story of the death of an eight-year-old child bride puts this serious issue under the spotlight.
Indians Push Back on Racist Taunts to Miss America 2014
Indian-American Nina Davuluri faced a barrage of racist comments in social media after winning the Miss America pageant. Indians fumed, but also wondered about her chances of winning in India.
A Positive Example of Community Farming in Mozambique
A positive example of a farming, savings and literacy community project in Mozambique was highlighted in the blog of the NGO Justiça Ambiental (Environmental Justice) following their visit to the community of Nacoma, about 83 km from the northern city of Nampula last July. Justiça Ambiental learned about the association's good practices...
New Australian Government: Where are the Women?
On her YaThink? blog, Noely Neate asks why there is likely to be only one woman minister in Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott's new government. Where are the “Women of Merit”?: Married, unmarried, Gay, children, no children, minorities… The previous Cabinet, particularly under Ms Gillard, including both women AND men,...
Gender Inequality in Laos and Cambodia Schools
Laurence Bradford studied some statistics about female education in Southeast Asia. She highlighted the problems and discrimination faced by young girls in Cambodia and Laos. For example in Cambodia, 50 percent of young girls are laborers instead of students. In Laos, male literacy rates are 20 percent higher than those...