Category Archives: Feminism

Siri Hustvedt: ‘Trump was elected because misogyny is alive and well’ | Books | The Guardian

“He was elected because his exploitation of the big lie technique worked, because misogyny is alive and well among women and men,” she says. “He was elected because, as a study at Yale demonstrated, when faced with an identical description of an ambitious politician, both men and women respond to a female candidate with feelings of ‘moral outrage’, but have no such feelings for a power seeking male candidate.” It goes back to what she has been saying about the science of perception, the kinds of expectations we have for men versus those for women. “If she’s emotional, then she’s like a woman. If she’s not emotional, then she’s cold and heartless,” she says of Clinton. “Whereas Trump actually has played the female role: the out of control, angry hysteric. And yet, he has been perceived as a robust, masculine figure by a large portion of the US public. The possibilities for a woman are infinitely more narrow.”

Source: Siri Hustvedt: ‘Trump was elected because misogyny is alive and well’ | Books | The Guardian

Violence against women: Mexican senator vows to fight gender violence after vicious attack | In English | EL PAÍS

This is a cowardly act,” said Guevara, unable to hold back tears. “I have always been a simple person, I don’t have a chauffeur or bodyguards. I am always encouraging civic behavior among people. I believe in my country and this is where we have to do our work.”Guevara, known to Mexicans for earning a silver medal at the 2004 Athens Games in the 400-meter dash, said she did not identify herself as a senator while she was being attacked.“It was hard for them to identify me because I was wearing glasses and my helmet… I took every single blow they delivered.”

Source: Violence against women: Mexican senator vows to fight gender violence after vicious attack | In English | EL PAÍS

Don’t spread ‘straight-man cancer’, China feminist warns Trump | World news | The Guardian

“We wish you to watch out, the feminists worldwide are speaking, and we are watching you.”Zhang called on Trump to respect women’s rights, warning him not to use his position to spread “straight-man cancer”.The term has become popular in China in recent years to describe a “disease” among narrow-minded men seeking to control women and work against gender equality.“Straight-man cancer” also chastises men seen to cling on to traditional Chinese norms in relationships, such as suppressing women’s rights through official policies, devaluing female labour and branding educated women as unattractive.“In general ‘straight-man cancer’ is the equivalent of ‘male chauvinist pig’ in English,” Zhang wrote.

Source: Don’t spread ‘straight-man cancer’, China feminist warns Trump | World news | The Guardian

John Kasich Signs One Abortion Bill in Ohio but Vetoes a More Restrictive Measure – The New York Times – Sick men still try to control women’s life without cause or right.

Gov. John Kasich of Ohio on Tuesday signed into law a ban on abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy, but vetoed a far more restrictive measure that would have barred abortions after a fetal heartbeat was detected, as early as six weeks into a pregnancy.In reaching the split decision on the two bans, adopted last week by the Ohio legislature, Mr. Kasich, a Republican, said the so-called heartbeat bill was “clearly contrary to the Supreme Court’s current rulings on abortion.” He called the 20-week ban the “best, most legally sound and sustainable approach to protecting the sanctity of human life.”

Israel officials snub Swedish foreign minister – The Local

No Israeli officials will meet Sweden’s foreign minister during her trip to the region, a spokesman has said.Erik Wirkensjö, spokesperson for Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallström, told the AFP news agency she had wanted to meet both Israeli and Palestinian officials during her visit from Thursday to Saturday.“This time it was not possible to visit Israel,” said Wirkensjö.Asked why there were no meetings planned, he said such questions must be “asked to the Israelis”.Israeli foreign ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon blamed “schedule problems” and declined to provide further details.Earlier, Wallström told Swedish news agency TT: “I would have gladly seen myself travel to Israel as well, but unfortunately they do not welcome it.”There is no international airport in the Palestinian territories. Wirkensjö declined to comment on whether Wallström would fly to an Israeli airport and then travel to occupied West Bank or go via Jordan. She was not denied entry to Israel, he said.

Source: Israel officials snub Swedish foreign minister – The Local

Madonna Calling it Like it is, Tells Us the Sexist Entertainment World Has Rules for Women and None for Men – The Ladies FingerThe Ladies Finger

She drew inspiration from David Bowie, who gave her a chance to think that there were no rules, but Madonna still had to come to terms with the fact that freedom was offered only to the men in the industry. She had to battle between being accused of trying too hard or not at all, between being objectified or dismissed as promiscuous, while her contemporaries, like Prince, were being just as provocative without having their legitimacy as artists questioned.The superstar, who has remained the highest grossing female touring musician for the past 12 years, spoke of the violence and discrimination she faced from the time she was a teenager trying to find her way through New York to the present day. This endurance and resilience, she added, might well be the most controversial thing about her: “Michael is gone, Tupac is gone, Prince is gone, Whitney is gone, Amy Winehouse is gone, David Bowie is gone… But I’m still standing.”Drawing from her long search for a female peer who would support her and her acceptance of herself as a “bad feminist”, she encouraged women to recognise their own self-worth, rally around each other’s achievements and to not confine themselves to men’s expectations. She talked about growing old in an industry where “to age is a sin.”Madonna really meant it when she sang “It might sound like I’m an unapologetic bitch, but sometimes you know I gotta call it like it is”, and we couldn’t be happier.

Source: Madonna Calling it Like it is, Tells Us the Sexist Entertainment World Has Rules for Women and None for Men – The Ladies FingerThe Ladies Finger

‘Rebel’ Saudi Arabia woman who posted photo without head scarf is arrested | World news | The Guardian

After a fierce backlash from ultra-conservative critics online, Shehri took down the picture and deleted her Twitter account. Other Twitter users came out in support, with one comparing her to Rosa Parks.Thousands of Saudis signed a petition in September that demanded the government abolish the guardianship system, which prevents women from engaging in fundamental tasks without the permission of a male relative.

Source: ‘Rebel’ Saudi Arabia woman who posted photo without head scarf is arrested | World news | The Guardian

A Palestinian Writer in Search for Freedom – Fanack Chronicle

“On my blog and in my books I write about my life: what it’s like to be a woman, who is a Muslim, who is living under occupation, while being divorced. These are not so much hardships, except the occupation. But combined, these factors are a hardship as hard as the occupation itself. It’s the patriarchal society I’m living in that makes it a burden to be a divorced Muslim woman.“I want to be liberal. To be free. Freedom is something you choose, from the inside. I don’t wear a headscarf and I have a boyfriend. My life would be perfectly normal somewhere else. But not in Palestine.”Meet Nadia Harhash, a Palestinian writer based in East Jerusalem. Her blog, called “Living in the Shoes of a Woman“, receives widespread attention in her home country, not least because of her coverage of Palestinian politics. Her posts are also published on the websites of Huffington Post English and Arabic.“I was married for 13 years. I’m a normal person. People can get divorced. But in my case, it was like getting divorced from society, from everyone I know and don’t know. I had just hoped that both our lives would become better without each other in it. But suddenly, everyone was involved. A divorce threatens the very structure of our society.“It’s like a mafia culture: it looks good on the surface, but actually my divorce threatened my mother, my sister, my friends. Everyone is having problems in their marriages: people cheat, women get beaten. But instead of supporting me, my female family members and friends started attacking me. I made them reflect on their own lives. I unveiled the truth. My mother was afraid that my sisters would want to divorce their husbands as well, and what would the people say? But I still went ahead with it. In the end, it’s my life.”

Source: A Palestinian Writer in Search for Freedom – Fanack Chronicle

Study confirms 4-fold rise in Zika microcephaly in Colombia | CIDRAP

Over the past year, experts have wondered if Colombia—hit with Zika virus after Brazil—would see a rise in Zika-related microcephaly similar to that witnessed in Brazil. Colombia has officially reported some microcephaly cases (476, including 44 pregnancy losses), but nowhere near the level seen in Brazil, raising questions about the impact of the virus.

Source: Study confirms 4-fold rise in Zika microcephaly in Colombia | CIDRAP