I just watched the most interesting program on PBS about women in poor, rural areas of Asia and Africa (they may have covered other areas but I turned it on late ( Read more... )

Obviously, redindigo was onto something when she posted about heteronormativity and heterocentrism, at least judging from the 312 commentsSo, I'll risk appearing the angry, man-hating separatist dyke and attempt to move this conversation to the next level ( Read more... )

maclyn shared a post with the community a few days ago urging us all to acknowledge and reflect on the US-centric posts that have proliferated and become standard in this community.  in that same vein, i'm calling on everyone to pause and reflect on their own heterocentric inclinations.  the posts recently, and in general, have been very much focused on ( Read more... )

I'm beginning to feel really irritated by the US centrism in this community, and I bet I'm not the only one.

( Cut in case this gets long. )

I'm getting sick of dealing with anti-feminists who demand "concrete examples" of patriarchy, male privilege, sexism, etc., only to dismiss them with one of the following excuses:

• It's true, but the statistics are exaggerated.
• It happened in the past, but it doesn't any more.
• It happened in other countries; I'm only concerned with this one.
• It's due ( Read more... )

This is in response to this post and the belief that we, as Americans, and as citizens of the Western world, have a moral responsibility to assimilate other cultures to our own, (including, "BURQAS ARE BAD, POOR WOMEN ( Read more... )

Nigeria state segregates travel

The authorities in the northern Nigerian state of Kano have imposed a ban on Muslim men and women travelling together on public transport.

( The Rest of the Story )

MP: Free University for Virgins

A university in Ugandan member of parliament has decided to reward girls for not having sex - an attempt to lessen rates of HIV/AIDS and other STDs. So many things about this make my head hurt.

"A group of Kenyan women who fled abusive husbands to set up their own women-only community are facing increasingly violent attacks by local men angry at their success.

Turning traditional African patriarchy on its head, 15 women established Umoja village in 1990, as a refuge after their husbands' behaviour forced them to flee their homes."

( Read more... )

Rebecca Lolosoli is likely to be quite busy on most typical days. Of course, you too would be quite busy if you were the de facto ruler of a city, village or town.

Ms. Lolosoli has attracted the admiration of the UN for all her mighty leadership efforts, and she has most assuredly earned it! She is the recognized matriarch of the Kenyan village of ( Read more... )