The senate today passed the re-authorization of the Violence Against Women Act. All of the women senators voted in favor, as did all of the democrats and not surprisingly those who were opposed were republican men. Some very important changes were that Native American women, GLBT women, and immigrant women were all included. I am … Read more
http://womensenews.org/story/rape/130205/india-rape-ordinance-blasted-female-activists#.URUdph0701I Based on the deadly gang rape the president added an anti-rape ordinance into law. Protesters are furious because they say it was crafted without any input and falls short of bringing perpetrators to justice. The outcry is also due to the perceived dismissal of the recommendations made by the Verma committee’s report. … Read more
http://womensenews.org/story/lesbian-and-transgender/120820/indonesian-lbt-women-exposed-backlash In Indonesia they are fighting for women’s rights, but LGBT rights are not considered to be part of those. In fact if LGBT rights are mentioned it brings backlash from the fundamentalists and weakens the advocacy for women. This is problematic because there is no one to speak up for the LGBT persons. … Read more
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=9Z0DB2XOoHc
Here is an article that appeared in Foreign Policy, which sent Twitter, FB, and all forms of social media buzzing: http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2012/04/23/why_do_they_hate_us?page=0,0 discussing “the real war on women.” For an example of a response, see http://neocolonialthoughts.wordpress.com/2012/04/24/a-response-to-mona-el-tahawy/
In an interview with al-Jazeera, a Qatari author discusses the (non)impact the Arab Spring on women: http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/talktojazeera/2012/04/201242111373249723.html .
My colleague and friend Khaled Fahmy wrote this fascinating piece in al-Masry al-Youm: http://www.almasryalyoum.com/en/node/592711
This snarky article rips the GOP in several states for passing legislation which further widens the pay gap for women, or rather, girls. Safety and education apparently aren’t on the menu for working teens in these Republican states either. http://www.womensenews.org/story/equal-payfair-wage/110411/gops-attack-child-labor-threatens-our-daughters -Lenna
Women Fight Veiling Ban
Lena Jones As George Santayana famously quoted in his book Reason and Common Sense, “those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” These words foreshadow a sad and sickening future for women and girls of all walks of life in every corner of the globe. Mass rape in warfare has been an … Read more