Stories about Women & Gender from October, 2008
Egypt: Humiliating Sexist Joke
From Egypt, Zeinobia shares this joke about women – expressing her shock at how some women found it funny and laughed -despite its “insulting humiliating nature.”
Jordan: GirlyGator Launched
Jordanian blogger Qwaider announced the launch of GirlyGator – an Arab girl's only blog aggregator.
Afghanistan: Portrait of a Female Politician
Azar Balkhi writes about Fawiza Koofi, a modern thinker, poet and the deputy of the Afghanistan Parliament, a symbol of women in a men-dominated society.
Armenia: Fingernails
Elizabeth's Armenia Journal, a Peace Corps Blog, post photographs and comments on the obsession most local women have with having their fingernails painted.
Canada: Indigenous Femicide on the Spotlight
Canadian documentary which is bringing to public attention the disappearances and murders of more than 500 aboriginal women in Canada in the past 30 years. The film is called Finding Dawn, by Christine Welsh. The movie is named after Dawn Crey, who was the 23rd victim whose DNA was recognized in the largest serial murder investigation in Canada back in 2002-2004.
Bangladesh: Fisher woman
Rafiq at Bangladesh from our view portrays a fisher woman from rural Bangladesh.
Serbia: Campaign Against Sonja Biserko
Greater Surbiton writes about smear campaign against the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia and the organization's head, Sonja Biserko.
Syria: Petition Urging Men to “Cover Up” Launched
Syrian blogger Omniya [Ar] has heard enough about people ordering her to cover up and that women are to blame for falling victims to sexual harassment. Now is her turn to launch a campaign calling for men to cover up and lower their gaze.
Pakistan: Choices in an arranged marriage
The view from behind my specs… shares some hilarious moments showing how the matter of silly choices can dictate the proceeding of an arranged marriage in Pakistan.
Russia: Mozhaisk Women's Colony
Grigory Pasko visits Mozhaisk women’s prison colony and writes at Robert Amsterdam's blog about “what a women’s colony in today’s Russia is like and what is a ‘house of the...
St. Vincent & the Grenadines: Concern about Crime
Bloggers are concerned as rape crimes continue to increase in St. Vincent. Abeni: “This is so disturbing because there is a tendency to believe that there is safety in numbers....
Jamaica: Changing Attitudes?
As The Jamaica Gleaner runs an article on the changing attitudes towards homosexuality (along with an interesting choice of stock photography), My View of JamDown from Up So wonders “what/if...
Jordan: Domestic Violence Month Marked
Palestinian/Jordanian Shuger Cuebs says October is Domestic Violence Month in Jordan. “It’s time to speak. Make your voice heard in every possible way. It’s your duty and your right to...
Azerbaijan: Peace Corps Volunteer Blogs
The U.S. Peace Corps started working in Azerbaijan in 2002. Since then, over 190 Peace Corps Volunteers have served in Azerbaijan and a number set up blogs from the beginning of 2006. Operating outside the capital, Baku, the blogs detail life in the regions of an oil-rich country that few would otherwise experience.
Egypt: We are All Laila
We are all Laila, echo Egyptian female bloggers in one voice. Who is Laila and why do Egyptian girls and women associate themselves with her? Read on to learn how Egyptian bloggers are working to break the gender barrier and make their voices heard.
Bahrain: I Want My Daughters to be Arrogant
From Bahrain, Mohammad Al-Ubaydli wants to teach his daughter how to be arrogant. “So for my daughters, it begins with teaching them to be as arrogant as men tend to...
Saudi Arabia: On Misyar
Stilettos in the Sand, from Saudi Arabia, shares her thoughts on ‘temporary’ marriages or misyar, in this post.
Iran:An Iranian Lesbian needs urgent help in Sweden
Iranian Queer Organization (IRAQO) asks people to help a young Iranian lesbian who escaped Iran to Sweden in January 2008 on base of her sexual orientation. According to this organization...
Arabeyes: Here Comes the One-Eye Veil
From a veil which covers the face but allows women to show their two eyes, an Islamic scholar from Saudi Arabia is now calling for a veil which shows one eye only. Bloggers from the Arab world react.
Jordan: Secret Love
From Jordan, A Different Perspective takes a walk down memory lane, and describes how she fell in love.
Israel: Violence Against Women
The Philistine links to news articles which speak of violence being committed against women in Israel.