Stories about Women & Gender from October, 2010
Caucasus: Women as a reflection of nationalism
Motherhood, Repatriation and other fictions comments on a recent event staged in Istanbul, Turkey, which women activists from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, South Ossetia, Abkhazia and Russia attended. The blog particularly examines the role of nationalism and patriarchal societies in peace-building and cross-border initiatives in the South Caucasus.
Sri Lanka: Female Chauvinism Spreading
Changing Perspectives blog tells that there is a trend for increase in female chauvinism in Sri Lanka.
Netherlands: Latin American Diaspora Women Unite
The European DiasporaSolidaria.org foundation organized a summit for migrant Latin American women in Amsterdam, where they discussed issues such as their rights, the changing nature of families and remittances. LA Ruta brings us a short video recording some of their experiences.
Jamaica: Eliminating Gender-Based Violence
As reggae artist Bounty Killer makes “a pledge to support the elimination of violence towards woman in the region”, The Wickedest Time quips: “Holla at me when he signs up for anger management classes!”
Guyana: Creating Awareness
“October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month”: The Guyana Groove urges her compatriots to “speak up and save a woman’s life.”
Cuba: Las Damas Members Injured
Bloggers discuss the latest altercation between Cuban authorities and Las Damas de Blanco.
Serbia: Gay Pride Parade Used as Excuse for Riots
Gay Pride Parade held on October 10 2010 in Belgrade brought out the worst and the best elements of Serbian society in the open. The police had to suppress about 6000 rioters who, in a very organized manner, wrecked damage in the city center, while pro-democracy forces hailed the event as big advance for the freedoms of speech and association, guaranteed by law.
Armenia: Domestic violence claims a life
The issue of domestic violence in Armenia is well known, albeit rarely spoken about openly. However, a video interview with the family of a young woman who died of injuries sustained after being beaten by her husband and his mother has shocked and angered many.
Brazil: Abortion debate heats up in presidential runoff
The debate on abortion has taken centre-stage in the runoff of the Brazilian presidential elections, with bloggers concerned it is being used to win votes rather than foster discussion of a contentious issue.
Puerto Rico: A Blog on Gender Discrimination in Law Schools
Environmentalist lawyer, law professor at the University of Puerto Rico, and blogger Erika Fontánez examines the possibility of opening a blog [ES] to discuss gender discrimination against female law professors in law schools: “Maybe its time to openly talk about what it means to be a female law professor.”
Puerto Rico: Wave of Hate Crimes against LGBT community
Gay activist and blogger Pedro Julio Serrano has demanded that the Police [ES] investigate the latest case of attempted murder against a transsexual woman in Puerto Rico as a hate crime. Ten members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community have been murdered in the past 10 months in...
Liberia: Liberia's Rape Court
Jina writes about Liberia's “Rape Court”: “The court, which will turn two in Februrary, was a direct response to what many people we met called a rape “epidemic” in Liberia. The country's post-war rape stats are sky-high, and most of the victims are young girls.”
Bangladesh: Feminist Responses Towards Fundamentalists
Kaberi Gayen at E-Bangladesh discusses about the role of women in response to the growing fundamentalism and neo-liberal economy.
Guyana: Enforcing Equality
“Although Guyana’s Constitution affords women equal status as citizens, just a few hours spent watching real life in action will demonstrate how society does not honour women with their lawful right”: The Guyana Groove says the problem is enforcement.
Can We Halve Global Hunger by 2015?
World leaders from some 140 countries gathered at a United Nations Summit in New York from September 20-22 to discuss the best approaches for achieving eight poverty-reducing goals by 2015. One goal: To halve global hunger between 1990 and 2015.
Russia: Another Calendar – and Questions – for PM Putin
The Moscow Diaries writes about another calendar for Vladimir Putin, which was created in response to the “boobies-for-Puties calendar” by a different group of female students of MGU's journalism department and features some tough questions for Russia's PM.
Chile: Podcast Interview with Creator of Blog ‘Zancada’
El Quinto Poder [es] interviewed [es] Paty Leiva, creator of the blog Zancada [es], the most widely read blog written by and for young women in Chile.
Bolivia: Video Interview with Bolivian Blogger and Twitter User Vania Balderrama
Hugo Miranda from Angelcaido interviewed [es] blogger [es] and Twitter user Vania Balderrama (@capsuliana). In the video interview, Vania talks about blogging, Twitter, women and technology, and what it means to be Bolivian.
Puerto Rico: “A Day to Treat Others Well”
In Brujas y Rebeldes [ES], feminist blogger Amárilis Pagán Jiménez criticizes a female senator for declaring “The Day to Treat Others Well,” while doing nothing to help victims of domestic violence. This year, 19 women in Puerto Rico have been murdered by their partners or ex partners.
Russia: Putin Turns 58, Gets Erotic Calendar as Birthday Present
The Moscow Diaries writes about an erotic calendar – allegedly featuring female students of MGU's journalism department – that was created as a present for PM Vladimir Putin on his 58th birthday.
Pakistan: A Patriarchal Society
“From a teenager girl to mature women; every female in Pakistan faces the problem of being harassed by her male counterpart. Wherever she goes from a school to the market she is not secure in terms of being teased by males,” comments Hifsah Saeed at Chowrangi.
