Boys and Girls

The latest installment of girls being boys and boys being girls.

The Democracy We Engendered

As I have posted before on this blog, our 'democratizing' mission in Iraq has miserably failed with gays in that country, as with other issues or areas of life. We have created an environment where individuals are being persecuted and sought out to be killed for having committed inconsequential, consensual actions that regard only their personal lives.

On a similar note, NPR reports that women-run Iraqi businesses will suffer once the United States leave the country. The fact that women will be worse off if the United States leaves notwithstanding, it is important to also view the flip-side of this scenario: that of an economy and of a society that is, at present, so steeped in religious bigotry and clan mentality that the secularism defended and upheld by Saddam Hussein, despite its dictatorial and violent nature, may soon appear like a pleasant past deserving of nostalgia. Accompanying audio below.

Women in the News

In light of the latest gender scandal in sports, BuzzFeed has compiled a list of famous disputed/questionable genders in Olympic history. They are all interesting, I must say.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has made the news thanks to her way of doing diplomacy around the world. NPR audio below.

On the other side of the spectrum, Sarah Palin remains in the news, this time thanks to the Huffington Posts, which posted some of the most memorable videos of her from this past year in the national arena.

On two separate articles, the BBC reports that England and Wales have made it possible for lesbian couples to have each of their names put on birth certificates of their children. Criticism, no doubt, followed.

Meanwhile, in Afghanistan, women's rights have suffered, as fewer women showed up at the polls, reminding the world that progress is too distant for Afghani women.

Newsweek has an interesting article on women's efforts to break the glass ceiling. Apparently, their success depends on their ceasing to be 'good girls' and becoming 'bitches.'

Women in the News

Forbes magazine compiled a list of the world's one hundred most powerful women. Just like the past three years, Angela Merkel, chancellor of Germany, is at the top, primarily because of her coveted influential position, and also because of the success that her cabinet's measures had in getting Germany out of the financial crisis. Other influential ladies like Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton, Queen Elizabeth II also make the list.

South Africa's champion runner Caster Semenya is fighting allegations calling her gender into question. The allegations came after she won the 800-meter race with over 2.5 seconds between her and the racer in second place.

What Women Eat

Apparently smaller amounts and less caloric meals if men are around. Does that mean that they also have a secret stash for when they're alone?

How Nagging Women Get Their Start

Apparently, it starts quite early....

(Grazie, Beppe!)

Women in the News, etc.

First, some education on Victoria Claflin Woodhill (1838-1927), an uncelebrated women's rights pioneer and the first woman to run for U.S. President in 1872.

In Sudan, a journalist is making the most of her public status to challenge that country's law condemning 'indecent' clothing for women. In her case, 'indecent' means trousers. She faces forty lashes or a high fine for wearing pants in public.

Women are also catching up to men in drinking and DUIs nowadays. The number of DUI arrests is on the rise among women and in decline among men.

Meanwhile, Norway is helping break the glass ceiling by demanding that 40% of boardroom members be women. The corresponding audio is below.