Stories about Women & Gender from August, 2010
Africa: Conference on African Same-Sex Sexualities
A conference on African Same-Sex Sexualities and Gender Diversity will take place in South Africa, February 13-16, 2011.
Iran: Arresting girls for unfit hijab
Here is a film in You Tube showing the Iranian securtiy forces arrested and humilated a few girls for unfit hijab (veil). You can read the conversation in English.
Jamaica: Refugee Status
The Caribbean Camera reports on the case of “a gay man from Jamaica [who] has been granted refugee status in Canada on the basis of discrimination against him.”
Saudi Arabia: Where Women are Dependents Forever and Ever
Did you know that Saudi Arabia has a service in place where the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sends a text message to a male guardian every time a "dependent" leaves the country? Saudi blogger Eman Al Nafjan opens Pandora's Box when she questions the new development.
Azerbaijan: Reputation
Scary Azeri recounts some personal stories of how people in Azerbaijan love to spread gossip. Also true for the other two countries making up the region, and especially Armenia, such an intrusion into the private lives of others is particularly relished when it comes to presumed relationships between men and...
India: No Room for Single Women
Hanna Ingber Win tells the story how difficult it is for single women to rent a flat in the housing society apartments of Mumbai.
Armenia: Being Queer in Yerevan
Bekhsoos, a queer Arab magazine, features a guest post by Canadian-Armenian Adrineh Macaan on life as a lesbian in Yerevan, the Armenian capital.
South Africa: Unforgotten Faces
Sokari writes about Artscape Women’s Festival 2010 where Zanele Muholi and Ellen Eisenman have produced photographs that celebrate women’s lives.
Voices of Young African Leaders Heard at Obama's Forum
The President's Forum with Young African Leaders took place in Washington, DC from August 3-5 2010. Delegates from Sub Saharan Africa were invited to exchange ideas on development in their countries as many were celebrating their 50 years of independence.
Bangladesh: Visitors Share Their Thoughts On Grameen Ventures
This summer, eight students and faculty members from the Master of Public Administration program of the Northern Kentucky University in Kentucky, USA are completing an internship at Grameen Bank in Bangladesh. They have made numerous field visits and are recording their experiences in their blogs using texts, pictures and videos.
South Korea: Teenage Moms Quit Schools, Survey Shows
A survey shows most of teenage moms drop out of schools after got pregnant with babies, against their will to complete high school education. The Korean society started to address this largely ignored issue by taking a baby step forward by considering building state-run facilities and changing education law, South...
Taiwan: Slogans to Encourage Childbirth
Micheal Turton translated some slogans, selected by the Ministry of the Interior, to encourage Taiwanese to have kids.
Pakistan: Gang Rape Of Nurse Causes Outrage
The gang rape of a trainee nurse by a medical officer at a government hospital has caused outrage in Pakistan. Bloggers discuss the need for better implementation of the work place harassment bill and demand actions to curb the increasing incidences of rape.
Pakistan: Stigma Against The Girl Child
R Zaib at The Rant Sessions names the stigma against the girl child and preference of boys in Pakistani societies – ‘a moronic desire’.
Puerto Rico: Lebrón Passes On
Both Repeating Islands and The Voice of the Taino People Online mark the passing of Puerto Rican nationalist and independence activist, Lolita Lebrón.
Caribbean: On Freedom
Yesterday, August 1, marked the 172nd commemoration of Emancipation Day in many English-speaking Caribbean territories, when African slaves were freed from their British colonists. Today is a public holiday in many countries throughout the region and a few bloggers are taking the opportunity to reflect on what the occasion means to these developing islands.
Indonesia: Gossip shows and sex change declared forbidden
Indonesia's highest state sponsored Muslim clerical organisation, the Majelis Ulama Indonesia, has issued a fatwa (ruling) declaring gossip shows and sex change operations as haram or forbidden. The government is not obliged to apply the fatwa into law.
China: Sex workers demand legalization, organizer detained
If prostitution doesn't violate contemporary cultural norms, sex activists argue, then why doesn't the law reflect as much? Just a few days after a group in central China took to the street to gather support in a fight for social status for sex workers, the organizer has been detained by police.
