Gender Across Borders

The Week’s Best Posts on GAB: February 20-24, 2012

Emily Heroy — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 17:00:46 +0000

Here's this week's best posts from Gender Across Borders. Maybe you missed reading our global gender justice articles from this past week, or want to read them again because they're that good. So! Here goes... "I love Pussy Riot’s method of protest. It is loud, it is bold, and it is distinct. Though it may have roots in earlier feminist actions, like riot grrrl, Pussy Riot is unique to Russia and the feminists who live there..."

Global Feminist Link Love: February 18-24, 2012

Atifa Hasham — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 13:00:38 +0000

Hey Global Feminists! Below are a list of links to blog posts and news stories about what other global feminists have been up to this past week. But we also want to know: what have you been reading/writing this week? Share your own link love in the comments! See our Facebook, twitter, or tumblr for more feminist global news!

“ZHE”, A New Play about Gender, Culture, and Sexuality in British Africa

Spectra Speaks — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 17:00:16 +0000

ZHE is a humorous, thought-provoking and haunting drama explores the lives of two British Africans living at the crossroads of culture, nationality, gender and sexuality. Journeying from childhood to adulthood and across continents, the play examines the joys and pains of coming to terms with the complexity of our many identities.

Russia’s Riot Grrrl Revolution

Carrie Nelson — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 13:00:23 +0000

Recently, a punk band has been causing a stir in Russia. In December, they played a protest song on a building next to a prison holding political protestors. In mid-January, they performed outside of the Kremlin and sang lyrics expressing anti-Putin sentiments. And earlier this week, they staged an impromptu concert at Christ the Savior Cathedral, which lasted until security stepped in five minutes later. The band is Pussy Riot, and as the name suggests, their style of activism is not quiet or subtle. They are using music and performance art to make radical, feminist political statements.

What Would It Take “To Educate a Girl” in Uganda and Nepal?

Spectra Speaks — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 17:00:29 +0000

Framed by the United Nations global initiative to provide equal access to education for girls by 2015, the documentary film, To Educate a Girl, takes a ground-up and visually stunning view of that effort through the eyes of girls in Nepal and Uganda, two countries emerging from conflict and struggling with poverty.

The Taliban Wants Her Dead

Nadia Smiecinska — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 13:00:08 +0000

It is difficult to imagine that in a place where many women are still denied their basic human rights on a regular basis, despite some progressive gains since the demise of the Taliban, a woman would not only remain in politics but dedicate herself to run for president in the next election to be held in 2014.

Sex Specific Abortion: From Canada to Asia

Avital Nathman — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 21:00:09 +0000

According to a recent public opinion poll, the majority of Canadians are in favor of legislation restricting sex-based abortion. Three in five people who responded to the poll (including ⅔ of women) felt that there should be laws put in place that outline whether or not a woman can have an abortion based solely on the sex of her fetus. The poll showed that regardless of political party affiliation, the majority of those who responded were in favor of some sort of regulation to prevent sex-specific abortions.

Defeat of Swedish Transgender Sterilization Requirement Shows Potential of Rhetorical Strategy

Avory Faucette — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:00:13 +0000

I’m happy to be able to provide you with an update to a story I posted in January on the sterilization requirement for Swedish transgender people to change their legal gender marker. The Christian Democrats, who were holding up a move to reverse the ban, have decided to allow it to go through following an online petition that garnered 77,000 signatures. Swedish activists have been opposing the sterilization requirement for years, and the international pressure of what is reportedly the largest online movement so far to protect transgender human rights ultimately caused supporters to back down.

Somali Women Push For Equal Representation in Parliament

Carrie Nelson — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 13:00:19 +0000

Since Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed stepped down as Somalia's Prime Minister last summer, the Somali parliament has been in a state of transition. Last week in Puntland, in preparation for the elections scheduled to take place in August 2012, the Somali government held a meeting with civil society and representatives from the UN and the African Union to discuss the formation of the new government. Among other issues, the inclusion of women in political leadership positions was discussed.

Just the Internet? Women’s Speech in the Age of Blogging

Jessica Megarry — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 21:00:44 +0000

Many of you may recall the media attention garnered by #mencallmethings, the twitter hashtag created by Sady Doyle late last year. The hashtag allowed women with an online presence to name the threats that regularly appear in their inboxes, and what emerged was a harrowing picture of often violent abuse that women who speak online receive from men.