women

By Dee Goddard | (The Conversation) | – – At a recent “Town Hall” debate Hillary Clinton announced that she would appoint a cabinet that is half female if she is elected president. When questioned by MSNBC host Rachel Maddow, Clinton pledged: “Well, I am going to have a cabinet that looks like America, and […]

Kurds

Syrian Kurds: True Revolution must Liberate Women

contributors

By Rahila Gupta | ( OpenDemocracy ) In less than four years, the women’s umbrella organisation, Kongira Star, has set up an autonomous, grassroots, democratic structure which has resulted in shifting patriarchal mindsets and reversing gender discriminatory laws . . . On day three of my trip to Rojava, Nuvin and Essam from the media […]

Islam

Why Burqa Veils Are Illegal In Some Countries

contributors

Laura Ling | (TestTube Video Report) | – – “Face veils are often viewed as a symbol of modesty in Islam, but many governments have put restrictions on them. So where are burqas banned around the world?” TestTube: ” Why Burqas Are Illegal In Some Countries”

African-Americans

Top 7 ways Harriet Tubman is the most Badass Spy & Warrior ever to grace US Currency

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Despite US schools’ tendency to give students several years of American history, over and over again, most of us probably have only a foggy idea who Harriet Tubman, chosen to replace Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill, was. That she was an abolitionist and helped out […]

Terrorism

ISIL and the New Sex Slavery

contributors

Human Rights Watch | – – (Beirut) – The extremist armed group Islamic State should urgently release Yezidi women and girls they abducted in 2014, Human Rights Watch said today, following new research with recent escapees who were raped and traded between members before they fled. [The so-called] Islamic State (also known as ISIS) also […]

Terrorism

Activism v. Stereotypes: Women fighting Extremism aren’t just Victims or Amazon Soldiers

contributors

By Sanam Naraghi Anderlini | (Inter Press Service) | – – WASHINGTON DC, Apr 6 2016 (IPS) – Violent extremism is the topic du jour, as government officials are busy developing plans of action on “preventing or countering violent extremism” (P/CVE). In these plans there is dutiful reference to engaging “women”. The more progressive mention […]

Haredim

Israel’s “chained women” fight for right to divorce

contributors

By Michael Blum | ( Your Middle East | – – Israel’s “chained women” fight for right to divorce. She is one of Israel’s “chained women” — the hundreds, perhaps thousands, of wives denied a divorce by their husbands and prevented from breaking free by the country’s use of Jewish law. The 30-year-old mother of […]

Reproductive Choice

Republican front-runner Donald Trump: Women’s “punishment” for abortions

contributors

TeleSur | – – Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump said Wednesday that women may need to be “punished” for having abortions in the United States. Speaking at a MSNBC town hall in Wisconsin, Trump said “there has to be some form of punishment” for terminating a pregnancy, adding that the specifics would have to be […]

Afghanistan

‘Not Sharia’: Female Afghan Rap Star campaigns against Child Marriage

contributors

Jon Snow | (Channel 4 News Video Report) | – – “Sonita Alizadeh was just 10-years-old the first time her parents tried to sell her as a child bride. She turned to music and began recording raps protesting against child marriage.” Channel 4 News: “Sonita Alizadeh: the Afghan protesting through rap”