Tradition

Clinic helps end harmful cultural practices in Bangladesh

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http://www.unfpa.org/news/clinic-helps-end-dangerous-traditional-practices-rural-bangladesh In Chanti Hasradanga, a rural village in rural northwest Bangladesh, a clinic is helping the community to change harmful cultural practices that cause infant mortality. Women in this village typically do not receive pre- or post-natal medical treatments, but rely upon traditional birth attendants  who are not skilled in handling complicated pregnancies or births. … Read more

It’s A Girl – Gendercide in India and China

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The film, It’s A Girl (available now on Netflix watch instantly), casts a light on the way girls in India and China are discriminated against because of their sex. According to the film’s website, the UN estimates as many as 200 million girls are missing because of female infanticide. The film also explores dowry and … Read more

Egypt’s Brotherhood Blasts UN Women’s Document

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Sarah El Deeb’s article discusses the opposition that a UN Women’s document has received from the Islamic Brotherhood in Egypt. The group has opposed this document because of clauses within it that they consider incompatible with the tenants of Islam. Actual details of the document have yet to be released pending negotiations. Officials are remaining … Read more

Malaysia’s anti-gay camp violates law, says minister

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This article from the BBC details a the Malaysian Women’s Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil’s response to a camp that claims to “un-gay” young Muslim boys.  She maintains that characterizing these supposedly effeminate teenage boys as gay or transsexual, and then attempting to “correct” their behavior will be detrimental to their mental and emotional health. Though this is the … Read more

Contraceptive Use Among Religious Women

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This fascinating little article addresses a new study published by the Guttmacher Institute on contraceptive use amongst religious women.  The Guttmacher study found that there is little to no difference among contraceptive practices between religious and non-religious women.  The article suggests that the results from this study will have implications in United States health care  policy, … Read more

Maternal Health in the World

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Aljazeera has created a special series about maternal health in the world.  The website has videos with detailed stories about maternal health issues around the world.  It has detailed facts about the social problem.  The social facts state that maternal morality is the greatest health disparity in the world.  99% of maternal morality happens in … Read more

Granny Orphanages in Nepal

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With the transition from extended families to nuclear families, elderly women have lost their support from their children.  Money, contraception, and education has changed the institution of the family.  Elderly women are showing up are orphanages that were traditionally for children.  Now, the orphanages are becoming packed with elderly women without family members to help … Read more