Stories about Women & Gender from May, 2011
Jamaica: A Lucky Poem
Litblogger Geoffrey Philp posts a poem by diaspora writer Shara McCallum.
Zimbabwe: Action Alert: Women Arrested for Protesting
Six WOZA (Women And Men of Zimbabwe Arise) women have been arrested for protesting about electricty supplies in Zimbabwe: “The members were arrested by police officers who accused them of painting messages on the road. The messages read- ‘power to poor people’ ; ‘no lengthy load shedding’ ; ‘prepaid meters...
Uganda: First Female Speaker of Parliament: Should We Celebrate?
Ms Rebbeca Alitwala Kadaga was today sworn in as the Speaker for the 9th parliament in Uganda. She is Uganda's first female speaker of parliament. Is it worthy a celebration? Rosebell does not think so: “In a world that cherishes women’s rights and empowerment (or pretends to), this should be...
Iran: “We are Everywhere” Campaign Against Homophobia
This year, on May 17, the International Day Against Homophobia, several Iranians raised their voices by launching a “We are everywhere” campaign, on YouTube, Facebook and blogs against homophobia worldwide. In Iran, homosexuality is punishable by death.
France: The Fall of Dominique Strauss-Kahn?
On Sunday 15 May, 2011, France awoke to a political earthquake: a sex scandal involving the (now former) French president of the IMF, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, arrested for an alleged sexual assault against a housekeeper in a New York hotel. On day three after the revelation, French bloggers are still struggling to grasp the implications of this global scandal on French politics.
Lebanon: “Mabrouk” to Lebanese Women
Rita Chemaly congratulates Lebanese women on recent progress toward gender equality in Lebanese law. Several laws have been modified to grant women more rights in the areas of income tax, inheritance, and social security. To read her post, Mabrouk! [congratulations], click here.
Azerbaijan: Eurovision-induced sexual revolution?
Turkhan's blog [AZ] posts video and photos of a woman celebrating Azerbaijan's Eurovision victory in a less than expected way considering the otherwise traditional and patriarchal nature of local society. Stripping to her waist in the center of the capital, Baku, the blog wonders about the likelihood of a sexual...
Puerto Rico: A Cry for Justice, No More Violence Against Women
This year in Puerto Rico, 15 women (two more cases are under investigation) have been murdered by their partners or ex partners. In the context of a population of almost 4 million people, the Caribbean country has one of the highest rates in the world of women murdered by their partners, spouses, ex partners or ex spouses.
Cuba: Feelings Toward “Foreigners”
Yenisel Rodriguez, blogging at Havana Times, tells of an incident of xenophobia that made him “recall stories of the discrimination that Haitians suffer in the Dominican Republic.”
Cambodia: Blog to promote LGBT welfare
Cambodia LGBT Pride! is a blog established by volunteers who “work together with NGOs and local businesses to reduce discrimination based on sexuality and co-ordinate events to help nurture and strengthen the LGBT community in Cambodia.”
St. Vincent & the Grenadines: Women & HIV
Abeni writes a thoughtful post about HIV awareness, saying: “The judgmental stances do very little to help the issues at stake which is HIV transmission/infection. The reality is that women are the ones most affected by this disease and the onus is on them to protect themselves.”
El Salvador: Government Program Seeks to Improve Lives of Low-Income Women
Tim's El Salvador Blog comments and shares information on ‘Ciudad Mujer,’ a government program “creating a series of regional centers which to address specific needs of poor women […] Violence against women is a serious problem which the country is only starting to address. Discrimination against women in employment is common according...
Macedonia: Report on Sexual & Health Rights of Marginalized Communities
The Coalition for Protection and Promotion of Sexual and Health Rights of Marginalized Communities has recently published [mk] its annual Report on sexual and health rights of marginalized communities in the Republic of Macedonia for 2010, available for download as a single e-book with Macedonian and English text documenting over...
Saudi Arabia: A Woman Challenges the Law by Driving in Jeddah
Women in Saudi Arabia are not allowed to drive. One Saudi woman claimed that right when she drove her children to school in Jeddah. Netizens debate the move, with many applauding Najla Hariri for her heroic feat.
India: Taxi Cab For Women In Delhi
Shital Shah at Think Change India writes that an innovative start up in Delhi, which is training women to drive taxi cabs to provide abuse free transport for women.
South Africa: Homophobia Hurts
Free Gender is a black lesbian organisation based in Khayelitsha township of Cape Town, South Africa: “As human rights defenders, we are also gender friendly towards transgender and intersex persons in our community. The organisation was founded in 2008 and have since participated in various protests/ political meetings/ guest talks...
India: Privacy for the Deceased?
The accidental death of a NIT (Calicut, Kerala) research scholar has once again sparked controversies about the privacy of women, privacy of a dead person and in general about the lingering male chauvinism in Keralan society.
Bangladesh: Protests Against Women Development Policy
Rahnuma Ahmed posts her reflections on the proposed Women Development Policy of Bangladesh and the protests against it by a section of religious parties (Part I, Part II, Part III).
South Africa: Corrective Rape Claims Another Victim
The unending cases of "corrective rape" that have plagued South Africa at alarming levels are still on the rise. Corrective rape is a criminal practice, whereby men rape lesbian women, purportedly as a means of “curing” the woman of her sexual orientation. The latest victim is a twenty-four year old soccer player from Johannesburg who was stabbed to death minutes after dropping off her girlfriend.
Armenia: Childbirth
Motherhood, Repatriation and other fictions, a blog by an ethnic Armenian from the Diaspora turned activist in Armenia, comments on the quality of healthcare in the former Soviet republic. Although conditions are improving, the blog notes, petty corruption and the quality of nursing remain serious problems for expectant mothers.
Cuba: Proper Care for HIV+ Mother
Pedazos de La Isla reports that the Orlando Zapata Tamayo National Resistance Front has publicly requested – and since received – proper medical service and housing conditions for an HIV-positive mother and her young child.