women

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Nicolas Cadène, in an interview at L’Express analyzes the French court ruling issued Friday that struck down the ban by the mayor of Villeneuve-Loubet on Muslim women wearing modest clothing at the public beach. The ban was on the burkini, invented by a Lebanese fashion designer […]

Democratic Party

Top 7 firsts in Women in US Politics

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – As I pointed out, it is all very nice that Hillary Clinton is the first American woman to be nominated as the standard-bearer for her party’s presidential bid, but 11 Muslim women have already served. Women comprise 51% of the US population but they are only […]

Democratic Party

‘Security Moms’: A Constituency for Hillary Clinton’s Hawkish Foreign Policy?

contributors

by Dinesh Sharma | (The Conversation) | – – Both conservatives and progressives have argued Hillary Rodham Clinton is more “hawkish” than President Obama. Robert Gates, the secretary of defense under both Presidents Bush and Obama, worked with her in the White House and called her “a tough lady.” Bruce Riedel, a South Asia expert […]

Democracy

Welcome to the Party, America! 11 Muslim women who have been PM or President

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Hillary Clinton gave a victory speech Tuesday night positioning herself as the logical conclusion of the first women’s rights meeting at Seneca Falls in 1848. Along the way, other milestones have included women gaining the right to vote, in 1919 and the first woman elected to […]

Reproductive Choice

Turkish President: Muslims who use Birth Control are Traitors

contributors

By Arzu Geybullayeva | (GlobalVoices.org) | – – In the past 72 hours, international media coverage of Turkey has been replete with headlines such as “Go forth and multiply: Turkey President Erdogan warns Muslims”; “Turkey’s Erdogan warms Muslims against birth control”; “Family planning not for Muslims, says Turkey’s President”; and “Turkey’s Erdogan: No Muslim family […]

Kurds

As they Liberate Villages from ISIL, Kurds drawing Syrians into Feminist Democracy

contributors

By Rahila Gupta | ( OpenDemocracy | – – Rojava is a fast moving, dynamic place where things change by the minute. What are the material conditions which support this woman-centred revolution ? Part 5 of 50.50’s series Witnessing the revolution in Rojava, northern Syria. There is a real sense of a people responding to […]

Libya

The Next Libyan Revolution Will Be Led by Women Wielding Words—Not Guns

contributors

By Alaa Murabit | ( Yes!) | – – This article was originally published by New America Weekly. The Next Libyan Revolution Will Be Led by Women Wielding Words—Not Guns “Soft power” gives communities words and tools to fight against violence, fear, and corruption and offers youth weapons of peace against an enemy that wants […]

Democracy

With more Women than Clerics, will Iran’s new Parliament improve Women’s Rights?

contributors

Leila Alikarami | (Open Democracy) | – – The problem was the Guardian Council, a body which has veto authority over any legislature, which in this case rejected all 33 bills introduced by women deputies. Parvaneh Salahshouri in the conference of elected moderates and reformists of Iran, March 2016. Wikicommons/ Hamed Malekpour. Some rights reserved.Seventeen […]

Republican Party

Does Trump’s problem with Women voters extend to GOP Women?

contributors

Ana Kasparian & John Iadarola | (The Young Turks) | – – “Donald Trump’s favorability, or lack thereof, continues to plummet among female voters. Even Republican women are turning away from the candidate. Ana Kasparian and John Iadarola, hosts of The Young Turks, break it down. Tell us what you think in the comment section […]