Stories about Women & Gender from May, 2013
Chinese Activist Detained After Protesting String of Child Molestation Cases
A Chinese activist was beaten up and detained by local authorities in China a few days after she demonstrated in front of a primary school whose principal allegedly sexually abused six school girls. In less than one month, the local media have exposed more than eight cases of sexual abuse of school children.
#SafeCityPledge: Indians Take a Stand Online for Women's Safety
A Twitter campaign has Indians flooding social media with personal promises to combat sexual harassment and sexism.
35,000 Child Prostitutes in Bangladesh
Amader Kotha, a site dedicated to women's issues in Bangladesh reports that at least 35,000 children are being exploited sexually on a commercial basis in the country. More than half of them live in the official red light districts of the country and are often forced to enter the profession that...
LGBTQ Rights in Puerto Rico Slowly Improve Step by Step
A battle is currently unleashing in discussions over LGBTQ rights in Puerto Rico. In recent weeks both advances and setbacks have been seen. Groups in favor of LGBTQ rights and Christian fundamentalist groups intensely lobby to influence the Legislature.
SlutWalk Brazil takes Brazilian cities
SlutWalk Brazil (@MarchaVadias) protests on the streets of Brazilian federal state capitals such as São Paulo, Belo Horizonte, Recife, Florianópolis, Curitiba, Porto Alegre, Belém, Rio de Janeiro and Vitória, and the Federal District, this weekend. They demand an end to violence against women and will be echoing slogans like “my...
Tunisia: FEMEN Activist Faces Possession of Pepper Spray Charge
Tunisian FEMEN activist Amina Tyler, 19, is set to appear before a court on May 30 to face a charge of "non-authorized possession of pepper spray." If convicted the young woman could spend up to six months in prison.
South Korea's Child Porn Law Blasted for Restricting Freedom of Expression
A new youth protection law in South Korea, meant to protect children by clamping down on child pornography, is being assailed for its broad language that labels net users who unknowingly downloaded suspicious content and artists who depict children in their work as criminals.
'14 Million: Life, Family & Liberty’ Movement Sparks Controversy in Ecuador
"14 million" is a citizen initiative that seeks to protect the rights of the family by opposing the free distribution of the day-after pill and other family planning policies in Ecuador. Even though part of the citizenry supports the movement, others -including President Rafael Correa- reject the group's ideas.
Gender Gap Widens in Chinese Cities
China Digital Times highlighted some discussion on gender gap in China. Even though the overall percentage of working women is not very low, as a result of urbanization, employment rate for working-age women in urban areas fell to a new low of 60.8 percent in 2010, down from 77.4 percent...
The Eccentrics and the Women Who Run for President in Iran
Hundreds of hopeful Iranians, including thirty women, have registered as candidates to replace President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the forthcoming election even though they have no chance whatsoever of being elected.
Nicaraguans Defend Law Against Violence Towards Women
In April a campaign entitled "I Support Law 779" began on social networks demanding that the "Integral Law Against Violence Towards Women" be respected before numerous reforms that religious leaders and members of the Supreme Court of Justice proposed.
No Women In Pubs In Andhra After 10 PM
Does the absence of women in public spaces makes these spaces safer for women? The above comment is made by the blogger at The Life and Times of an Indian Homemaker, who is outraged by the decision of the government of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, to ban women...
“Lift your Skirt, Save a Life” Cervical Cancer Ad Divides Singapore
To remind Singapore women about the free Pap smear screenings this month and to promote awareness about cervical cancer, the Singapore Cancer Society came out with a “Lift your skirt. Save a life” ad which sparked a lively discussion on whether it was creative, effective, or offensive.
Conference for Women Writers of African Ancestry
Yari Yari Ntoaso is an international conference on literature by women of African ancestry. You can follow in on Twitter using #YariYari hashtag or on Kinna Reads blog.
Hong Kong: ‘Drink Less to Get Raped Less’
Hong Wrong rounded up Hong Kong citizens’ responses to the city's security chief's comment on the soaring of rape cases. The police head, Lai Tung-Kwok, told women to cut down on drinking in a press conference.
Chinese React to Angelina Jolie's Mastectomy
Off Beat China translated Chinese netizens’ reaction to Angelina Jolie's double mastectomy. Comments are mixed, some find the act courageous, some say it is over-reaction.
Dirty Words Russian Girls Can’t Say on the Internet
Earlier this week, opposition figure Maria Baronova penned an open letter to writer and political dissident Eduard Limonov, wherein she dropped a sexual bombshell. Her text unabashedly refers to “masturbating in the shower” and credits Limonov with teaching her (through his books) how to “suck dick” “without false modesty” and “fuck like an animal.” The online response has been intense.
Muslim TV Anchor Faces Backlash in India Over ‘Uncivilized’ Veil Comment
A female anchor for a popular Malayalam-language television channel in the southern Indian state of Kerala is facing a firestorm of criticism after she called the Muslim practice of women wearing a veil "uncivilized" and a form of oppression.
Yemen: Focus on Education!
In a country where the illiteracy rate of both sexes (15 years and above) is almost 40 per cent, education and the empowerment of the women and youth is an imperative necessity for any concrete development in Yemen. Activists argue why education should be a right and not a privilege.
Dominican Catholic Church Sues NGO for Sexual Education Campaign
The Catholic Church filed a claim against the Dominican Association for Family Welfare (Profamilia) to withdraw their advertising campaign, "Your sexual and reproductive rights are human rights."
Brazilian Boy Band Tour Continues Despite Rape Indictments
Despite nine members of the 'pagode' boy band New Hit being indicted for the gang rape of two sixteen-year-old girls, the group has continued with its national tour regardless
