Stories about Women & Gender from August, 2011
Cuba: First Transsexual Marriage Preceded “Gay” Wedding
Gaspar, El Lugareño [ES] claims that last Saturday's “gay” wedding was actually not Cuba's first, saying the first marriage of a transsexual person happened in the late 80s.
Costa Rica's ‘Slut Walk’
José Medrano [es], ‘Conejitos Suicidas’ [es] and Julio Córdoba [es], among others, blogged about the ‘Slut Walk‘ which was held in Costa Rica for the first time on Sunday, August 14.
Cuba: First “Gay” Marriage
This past weekend, a gay man and a trans-sexual woman, got married. In Cuba - on the same day that Fidel Castro turned 85. Bloggers weigh in on the landmark event, including Cuba's most well-known netizen, Yoani Sanchez, who acted as matron of honour.
Cuba: “Las Damas” – The Struggle Continues
Attacks allegedly continue against Cuba's Ladies in White.
St. Vincent & the Grenadines: Woman Killed, Victim of Domestic Violence
As yet another young woman becomes a victim of domestic violence, Abeni says: “A weariness fills my soul…and within my weariness is a growing despair that we are a long way from turning around this situation. Sometimes it is hard being a woman.”
Poland: Parties Not So Eager to Obey New Gender Quota Act
With the announcement of the date of the Polish parliamentary elections this October 9, bloggers are discussing whether the country's political parties will follow the new rules introduced by the Gender Quota Act.
India: Was Delhi's SlutWalk More of a Media Hype?
On Sunday 31 July, 2011, Delhi held it's own version of the SlutWalk - titled 'Besharmi Morcha' to make it more relevant to the Indian context. Netizens discussed the event, its reach, impact and its coverage in the mainstream media.
Nigeria: Adrift, Awaiting the Arrival of a Woman?
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is Nigeria’s new Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister for the Economy. Until recently, she was the Managing Director of the World Bank. As soon as her appointment was announced, netizens have not stopped talking about the most powerful woman in President Goodluck Jonathan’s cabinet.
Jamaica: The “Performance of Gender”
“Everyone is involved in this baseless discrimination. Effeminacy is apparently extremely off-putting. The effeminate man, whether he is gay or straight, catches a whole lot of hell”: Under the Saltire Flag suggests that “what is being policed is not sexuality, but gender.”
Guyana, Dominica: Rhys’ Romantic Heroine
Guyanese litblogger Charmaine Valere takes a look at Jean Rhys’ classic tale, Wide Sargasso Sea, as part of her blog series on female Caribbean writers.
Puerto Rico: State Funding of Religious Campaigns
The site of the online radio station Bonita Radio [es] publishes an interview [es] with members of the feminist coalition Movimiento Amplio de Mujeres de Puerto Rico [es] about the recent state funding of the US based religious campaign Promise Keepers, which purports to fight against domestic violence.
Costa Rica: Metropolitan Cathedral will be Surrounded by Sluts
This Sunday, the Costa Rican SlutWalk will come together in front of the Metropolitan Cathedral in the capital city of San José. The walk comes as a response to the statements made by a Catholic Bishop and visiting Cardinal during Costa Rica's Patron Saint ceremony on August 2nd, where they...
Cuba: Bloggers Comment on Attacks vs. Activists
More on the attacks against activists that took place this past weekend: a statement from The Coalition of Cuban-American Women, a video “of victims who got away with minor injuries”, and reports of two other incidents, here and here.
Barbados: Threat to Borders?
Barbados Underground suggests that “as the economic condition of many around the region in markets known for exporting drugs…declines, the threat to our border will increase, ” adding: “Barbadians must not yield to others who have failed to show how they can manage a stable society in the way Barbados...
Bahamas: The Female Perspective
“Environmentalism, Bahamian social woes, immigration and even the financial crisis…from what is unmistakably a feminine perspective”? ARC highlights a new exhibition by the country's leading female artists.
Puerto Rico: Threats to a Secular State
Feminist blogger and activist Amárilis Pagán reflects on recent news [es] that demonstrate how religious fundamentalism is threatening the advancement of human rights in Puerto Rico.
Bangladesh: Fatwa Violence Still Exists
Cori Fleser at BRAC Blog reports that in spite of a 2001 judgment by the Supreme Court outlawing the practice of fatwa, the practice of such extrajudicial punishments still exists in Bangladesh and the authorities are not able to do much to prevent them.
Cuba: Attacks on Activists
Diaspora bloggers report on attacks against human rights activists in Cuba that allegedly happened this past weekend.
Cuba: Female Protesters Arrested
Reports of female political activists being “violently arrested on the steps of the old Capitol building in Havana after their demonstration in favor of freedom for the Cuban people drew support from other Cubans and tourists”, here and here.
Lebanon: Abolition of Reduced Sentences for Honor Crimes
Lebanese Tweeps and bloggers are congratulating themselves for the abolition of reduced sentence on crimes of honor on August 4th, 2011. Roy Tohme, tweets: ” Finally, we're catching up with humanity” while Tarekhs can't help but wonder why did a certain parliamentary bloc oppose the ban and says: ”Good Thing...
Ghana: Towards the ‘Ideal Woman': Meet Blogger And Journalist Linda Annan
Though she shares a last name with a globally famous Ghanaian, Linda Annan is not related to former UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan. Linda is a Ghanaian journalist and blogger who contributes to Global Voices Online and is the founder of Obaasema, an online magazine for Ghanaian women.
