Stories about Women & Gender from February, 2015
Parliament Watchdog Connects Ugandans to Women MPs Through Twitter
Parliament Watch Uganda organized the #MPsEngage Twitter chat with women members of parliament to discuss the topic 'Making Women Count in Legislative Processes'.
The Political Apartheid Against Women in Venezuela
Desireé Lozano, a blogger for the Spanish-language website Voces Visibles (Visible Voices), reflects on the existing limitations on women’s political participation in Venezuela. According to the sociologist Evangelina García Prince, a kind...
Russian Lawmakers Propose Banning Women Under 40 from Smoking
“Female smoking,” the legislation’s explanatory note says, “harms the body’s reproductive system, causing irreparable damage to the genetic stock of the nation.”
Facebook Campaign Garners Iranian Journalist Masih Alinejad Women's Rights Award
Iranian journalist wins Women's Rights Award for her Facebook page "My Stealthy Freedom."
The Campaign Against Gender-Based Violence in Reggaeton Lyrics: Phase 2
The campaign recently released new images, posted on its Facebook page, that—very graphically—showcase the violence described in the lyrics of several very popular songs that are often performed in public.
The Politics of ‘Wining’ in Trinidad & Tobago
Did a candidate for prime-minister just 'wine' on a female reveller at the carnival? This political scandal is a potent cocktail of sex, race and patriarchy.
Can Istanbul Be Saved from Overdevelopment?
Build, build, build. Turkey's largest city is under a redevelopment siege threatening the buildings and communities that are part of its fabric.
Cuban LGBT Activist Takes On Conservative ‘Family Code’
An article published in the state newspaper Granma has fueled a debate about the obsolescence of the Cuban Family Code.
Trolls Target Brazilian Woman After She Shares Her Traumatizing Rape Story on Facebook
Ten years after she was raped, Viviane Teves publicized her struggle to move on. Trolls got a hold of her phone number and began to harass her on WhatsApp.
Film: The Art of Ama Ata Aidoo
The Art of Ama Ata Aidoo is a film by filmmaker Yaba Badoe: The Art of Ama Ata Aidoo, explores the artistic contribution of one of Africa's foremost women writers,...
Turkey Mourns a Female Student's Brutal Death
News of the horrific murder of a female student last week opened up the discussion about gender-based violence in Turkey, and public anger came steaming out.
Mozambique Governor Becomes Target of Backlash—Simply Because She's a Woman
Stela Pinto was nominated as Gaza province's first woman governor, but ever since she's endured attacks on her reputation, including the circulation of obscene photos said to be of her.
Japan Needs Apartheid, Says Influential Conservative Author
Noted Japanese author and conservative political activist Ayako Sono advocated in a newspaper column that immigrants to Japan be separated by race and forced to live in special zones.
The Caribbean Is Stuck in a ‘Blame the Victim’ Mindset
A couple of recent cases reveal that one of the most disturbing aspects of the region's complicated relationship with sex and gender is alive and well.
Iran, Beyond The Headlines
It's the 36th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, and six years since the 2009 Green Movement. Mahsa Alimardani reflects on her last visit to Iran in 2010.
A ‘Last Prophet’ Faces Jail for Land-Grabbing and Polygamy in Tajikistan
Seven wives, twenty kids and tens of disciples: Sheikh Temur reportedly claimed to be God's messenger, but his Judgement Day came sooner than he may have expected.
Malaysian Fan Girls Threatened With Jail Time Over Public Hugs From K-Pop Stars
One Malaysian TV channel posted a YouTube video of a fan meeting with band B1A4 under a title that accused the musicians of having "molested Muslim girls".
Male University Students in Taiwan Wear Skirts to Support Transgender Community
"I cannot help but feel sad. What makes us be so overcome with negative feelings when we see a minority who is different from us?"
Natural Hair Gets Barbados School in a Twist
It's nothing new, but netizens cannot understand why natural black hairstyles are deemed so offensive to authority figures in the Caribbean. Could race, rank and personal grooming be so intertwined?
