Stories about Women & Gender from December, 2011
Greece: “Giving Birth is Not a Privilege of the Rich!”
A newspaper has revealed some public hospitals in Greece have refused treatment to women in labour, because they did not have the money to pay hospital fees of 950 euro. Veroniki Krikoni reports.
China: Outrage as ‘Underage Prostitution’ Law Protects Child Rapists
A recent case has once again seen Chinese government officials saving themselves from harsh legal punishments by 'reclassifying' their crime of child rape as 'underage prostitution'. This legal definition has people outraged, both off and online.
Cuba: Reggaeton Hit ‘Chupi Chupi’ Denounced by Authorities
Over the past two weeks, reggaeton artist Osmani “La Voz” García’s popular hit 'Chupi Chupi' has begun stirring more than just the hips of partygoers on Havana’s Malecón. Cuban Minister of Culture Abel Prieto, and Cuban Institute of Music President Orlando Vistel, have publicly denounced the song and the video.
Reactions to SlutWalk Singapore
In a rare public assembly, hundreds gathered in support of SlutWalk Singapore and it generated a lively response in the cyberspace. Netizens used the hashtag #slutwalksg to document the event.
Cuba: Loving Yoani
Along the Malecon links to an interview with blogger Yoani Sanchez’ husband, in which he reveals that “he quickly realized she was special.”
Slutwalk Singapore Photos
The Online Citizen uploads photos of Slutwalk Singapore which was organized in Honglim Park to protest sexual violence in society.
Canada: The Start of the SlutWalk Movement
Global Voices' author, Maria Grabowski, interviews Heather Jarvis, the co-founder of the first SlutWalk initiative based in Toronto. They talk about the background of the movement and its quick spread to the rest of the world.
Azerbaijan: Dos and Don'ts of local customs
Making Wool from Eggs, a Peace Corps Volunteer blog, puts together a list of random and funny local customs, noting which are approved or disapproved of in the provincial towns and villages of Azerbaijan.
Caribbean: Thoughts on World AIDS Day
December 1, was World AIDS Day. Bloggers from the Caribbean have weighed in with their own thoughts about and support for the ongoing battle against HIV and AIDS.
Cuba: The 99 Per Cent
Uncommon Sense reports on the latest activity in the Occupy Cuba movement, here and here.
China: Marriage Transaction
ChinaHush has translated the script of an online video and a new movie trailer, A Big Deal, in which women talk about their attitude towards marriage. More and more Chinese women believe that marriage is like business transaction and “men without money are garbage” in the marriage market.
Global Voices Podcast: Technology that Empowers!
In this edition of the Global Voices podcast you can hear how women in Egypt are using technology to fight harassment, and what our Global Voices authors and editors got up to at the Mozilla Festival in London. We also mark World Aids Day by speaking to HIV/AIDS activists in Kenya and Egypt about the special work they do.
St. Vincent & the Grenadines: Aiming for Zero HIV
On World Aids Day, Abeni says: “The Caribbean has the second highest regional HIV prevalence after sub-Saharan Africa, although the epidemic has slowed considerably since the mid-1990s. The theme for World AIDS Day 2011 is ‘Getting to Zero.’ In other words wrap it up, get tested, dismantle the AIDS related...
