Stories about Women & Gender from March, 2009
Cuba: Ladies Arrested
Cuban diaspora blogger Uncommon Sense says that “the Castro dictatorship's strong-arm treatment of the Damas De Blanco (“Ladies In White”) continued over the weekend with the arrest of the three of the group's members.”
Middle East: Women Looking for a Cause to Celebrate
Female bloggers from across the Middle East joined hands in marking the International Women's Day with posts reflecting on the occasion and celebrating the lives and achievements of women who have touched them. In Saudi Arabia, American Bedu admits that while many women in the kingdom may not even be...
Americas: Celebrating Women's Day
Bloggers from across Latin America also commemorated International Women's Day with posts about the day which is celebrated every March 8 throughout the world. Some also took the opportunity to reflect on some of the issues facing women, but also featured initiatives that are working to alleviate some of these problems.
The Status Of Women In Nepal
On the occasion of the International Women’s Day Birat Simha at Nepali Perspectives.. comments on the status of women in Nepal: “Until we can accept the fact that all babies, whether male or female, are born equal and have equal rights, the status of Nepali women will continue to be...
Egypt: Mostafa Hussein shreds the Honor Legacy
Honor, honor crimes, female genital mutilation (FGM), and virginity are deeply rooted concepts in the Egyptian culture. Call them heritage, legacy, or traditions, Mostafa Hussein brilliantly feeds them into the shredder.
International Women's Day: “All women are queens”
Yesterday was International Women's Day, and francophone bloggers around the world used music, poetry and art to honor the beauty, achievements, and continuing struggles of women.
Jamaica: Violence Against Women
Abeng News Magazine reports that “the Jamaica Government has taken a step towards combating violence against women through the passage of a new Bill to create a Sexual Offences Act.”
Egypt: Poster to Mark International Women's Day
Egyptian Leftist posts this poster to mark the International Women's Day.
Saudi Arabia: Women can ride horses
Susie, an American married to a Saudi and living in Jeddah, takes her son to a riding school and notes: “Although there are many things that women cannot do here in Saudi Arabia, horseback riding is not one of them. Private equestrian centers are places where women are free to...
Armenia: International Women's Day
Global Voices Online's Caucasus editor posts photographs and an account of how some civil society groups marked International Women's Day in Armenia on the Frontline Club blog. In a country known for its traditional and patriarchal tendencies the day was observed not without its incidents.
Taiwan: Women still seeking labor rights
On International Women's Day Letters from Taiwan notes the gap between government rhetoric and actual practice on women's rights.
Video: Celebrating Women on their International Day
International Women's Day has been celebrated since the early 1900s: at first as a reminder of all the wrongs done to womankind and the long hard row necessary to achieve equality and fight for women's rights. However, for the past few years, many of the original points of dissention have been resolved and right now the day is used to celebrate the positive improvements instead of a reminder of the bad events. And through poetry marches and songs, we'll see how people around the world do just that.
Israel: Saudi Woman Driver Arrested
Aussie Dave from Israel reports that a woman in Saudi Arabia has been arrested for .. driving a car. “I will resist making any women driver jokes since I don’t want to obfuscate my disgust over the horrendous treatment of women in Saudi Arabia and other Muslim or Arab countries,”...
Nigeria: V Monologues 2009: The Nigerian Story
Ore reports that Kudirat Initiative for Democracy (KIND) presents V Monologues: The Nigerian Story, a play based on interviews from 150 women from all over the country.
Egyptian -and Muslim- Girls between a Rock and a Hard Place
Egyptian women are trapped between who they are and who they are expected to be; they are required to live up to the expectations of their parents, families, colleagues, and later on, their husbands and children. In their attempt to meet those expectations, some of them feel that they lose touch with who they really are and the great things they can really do.
Barbados: Foolish Games?
The Rihanna/Chris Brown reconciliation rumours are leaving “a really bad taste” in the mouths of Barbadian bloggers.
Sierra Leone: Giving women and girls sense of hope
Amie Kandeh, the IRC’s gender-based violence prevention coordinator in Sierra Leone, talks about how her team works to give thousands of women and girls back their sense of hope, belonging and self-respect.
Poland: “Sexiest Female Politician”
Polandian is holding a vote for Poland's “sexiest female politician.”
Jamaica: Double Standard
As the Jamaican Prime Minister reasserts his vow not to yield to pressure from lobby groups “to ‘liberalize'…unjust laws which overly scrutinize and punish some men for engaging in consensual sexual practices with each other”, Long Bench maintains that his position is an “irresponsible double standard.”
India: Fearless Karnataka
Ultra Violet informs that: “in response to the recent attacks against women in the city of Bangalore, many individuals and organisations have come together to form FEARLESS KARNATAKA or Nirbhaya Karnataka to reclaim public spaces and promote safety for all.”
Morocco: Moroccan-American Author Releases First Novel
Over the past few years since her first book, a collection of intertwined short stories entitled Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits, was released, Laila Lalami has emerged as one of Morocco's best known authors. As few Moroccan writers' work is translated into English, and even fewer female writers', Lalami's books - penned in English - fill a gap in the connection between Moroccan literature and the west.
