Stories about Women & Gender from May, 2006
Liberia: Sexual abuse by aid workers
Black Star Journal reports that aid workers, peaceworkers and business men have been sexually abusing young girls in Liberia..
Poland: Preparations For the Pope's Visit
p3 writes that some of Poland's preparations for the Pope's visit don't make sense: “This is typical Poland for me. Someone important is coming so let's slap up a coat of paint (apply it thin because it's expensive) and as soon as our guest of honor is gone everything starts...
India: So much for Equal Opportunity
Some firms in India have a long way to go before they even begin to be women-friendly. Emma on the outdated beliefs as expressed by a top shot in one of the biggest IT firms in India, with nanopolitan also voicing some concerns.
Martinique: Friend of Yesterday, Lesbian of Today
The about section of Le Blog de [Moi] (FR) reads: “Friend of yesterday … Lesbian of today. To live one's homosexuality in Martinique on the day to day is possible. The proof: [Me].” Recent posts include a critique of French feminist group 143 Rebels and a lukewarm review of a...
Jahanbegloo, a Scholar in Jail & Islamic Dress
Several bloggers talked about why and how Dr.Ramin Jahanbegloo, a Canadian- Iranian scholar & journalist, was arrested. Some bloggers have started different activities to help him out or at least, let people know what is going on in Tehran. Jahanbegloo has been charged having “relations with foreigners” by government. Toronto...
China: Death metal opera
Aside from a trip to a sex market in the Southern Chinese city of Guangzhou and the displayed breakthrough in research of ancient Chinese erotic art, Frances at Supernaut keeps blogging up to the opening of her collaborative death metal Cantonese opera performance project, Apocalypse Pearl River Delta.
Jacob Zuma Acquittal
Yesterday, Jacob Zuma was acquitted on rape charges and the compliant known as Khwezi is on her way to a life of exile. The response in the African blogosphere is varied and ranges from those who are outraged at the verdict believing Zuma to be guilty of rape. Then there...
South Africa: Zuma Aquitted
Black Looks reports that Jacob Zuma has been aquitted of rape……..”The verdict is a loss for the Khwezi and for all the other women who will now be deterred from reporting rape knowing that they cannot expect justice to be done. That their personal lives will be invaded in the...
Jamaica: Prostitution – to legalize or not to legalize?
A Jamaican businessman raises the question of whether prostitution should be legalized in Jamaica to help control the spread of HIV/AIDS, but Leon Robinson's not having any of it. “Legalizing prostitution may have the reverse effect,” says Leon, “making solicitation a more accepted practice. Plus it would further destroy the...
Zimbabwe: Campaign for Sanitary Towels
Action Alert: Sokwanele announce the start of a campaign “Dignity Period” . “Shortages of sanitary ware go to the heart of women’s rights: it’s an issue which raises questions of whether a woman is forced to stay away from work or school; whether she is putting her health at risk...
Voices of African Women
Afromusing continues her excellent reports on solar power in Africa. She has opened up her blog to take questions on alternative energy in Africa and here she answers a question from Mshairi on when will the high costs of installing solar panels come down. Yes, the time is drawing near...
Albania: Lining Up For Bread
Traveller One of Stepping Stones almost starts “an Albanian Feminist Movement” before she learns about the local tradition of lining up for fresh bread.
Pulse of the Saudi Blogoshpere
Let's start our roundup for this week with the coverage of international media on Saudi Arabia, which has drawn the attention of many bloggers. Mansur posts a comment on a story from the BBC website. He says: Now what kind of Deputy Minister would share this kind of information with...
Martinique: Male-Centered Internet Advertising
InternetRapide.com wishes (FR) more local internet advertising appealed to female values since “all studies on the profile of web surfers in the French Antilles and in France show that they are first and foremost women.”
Syria: Kubaisi women
Ammar talks about the interesting now celebrated phenomenon of the Kubaisi women – the orthodox sufi women movement founded by the Syrian scholar and teacher, Munira Kubaisi, a.k.a. the Miss. The movement which began in the early 60s in Damascus is now an international one with centers all over the...
Cayman Islands: Ignorance and stupidity wash in Grand Court
Cayblogger is outraged at the legal precedent set by a Cayman Islands’ Grand Court which ruled that “that if a man has sex with a 12-year-old girl, the ‘but she looked 16-years-old’. . . a conviction of statutory rape can be avoided.” As the title to Cayblogger's post says, “Ignorance...
China: Blind activist disappeared
Celia at China Activist Weekly blogs on the naming by Time Magazine of women's rights activist Chen Guangcheng as one of the one hundred people shaping the world. Following harassment and a severe beating by the Chinese police, Chen Guangcheng disappeared in March. Here‘s what Celia's doing on his behalf.
Iran: Women & Labour Market
Hamed Ghoddusi in his Hot Cuppa blog talks about a new coming wave in Iranian labour market. He says a new wave of entering into the market by women in the next few years would be expected. Blogger adds this wave is the result of rapid increase of women’s share...
Aruba: No equal pay
ArubaGirl attends a seminar and learns that women in Aruba, while better educated than their male counterparts, on average earn US$275 month less than the latter. She also learns that the country has no law that mandates equal pay for equal work, and that introducing one is not on the...
Iran: Don't Punish Homosexuals!
Paiz, blogger & human rights activist, reports that several Iranian writers and academics have signed a declaration concerning homosexuals in Iran(Persian). They asked that homosexuals do not get punished in Iran, because of their sexual oriented. They also hoped media in Iran & abroad back their idea.
Workers, Women, Ahmadinejad & Ayatollahs
Iranian blogs have talked about 1 May demonstration in Tehran and Ahamdinejad’s decision to permit women to go to stadiums to watch football. President’s decision has been discussed on Iranian and international blogs such as BBC’s World Have Your Say. Jomhour says, according to ILNA (Iranian Labour News Agency) hundred...
