Her Daily News

This article really hit home with me. In the Houston Chronicle today, there is a story about a study done by the University of Texas that shows teenage girls who are obese are half as likely to attend college as their slimmer counterparts. The study also showed that obese teenage girls were more likely to engage in reckless behaviors such as skipping school, underage drinking and drug abuse. Such acting out stems from feelings of isolation. What I found most poignant in the article was how the societal stigma of appearance is not the same for obese boys.

Today is my birthday and I’m venturing into my mid-twenties. But it wasn’t too long ago that I was a teenage girl in high school facing the same pressures discussed in this article. For girls, even at an early age, looks and weight become the focus. Once you fall outside of the desired parameters for looks in society, the change begins. It is a shame that these girls are judged by their looks before they have even had time to develop them. What is even more of a shame is that these outside factors are affecting the educational choices of these young women. Because you don’t wear a certain size means you aren’t supposed to be successful in life? This shows me how much young women tie beauty to self-worth. The unfortunate part is that beauty and outward appearance will fade and can be taken away. It’s what you learn, give to others and grow into as a person that makes you special. Those types of lessons often come with life experience and wisdom, both of which you do not need outer beauty to attain.

women, obesity, education, beauty, society, teenage girls, pressure

So I’m taking a break from my normal hard-hitting news routine to kind of vent my frustration with news resources. In this blog, my focus is on women’s interests and issues. While I think that leaves room for a pretty broad range of information, I am still finding it difficult to find stories that matter. Maybe I am picking or judgmental but I really want to focus on all aspects of female life. What I find, however, is that often the articles focus on women in relation to men in society. It always seems to be a compare and contrast of gender. I think many of the articles I have posted on here are great examples, such as articles about occupations, business and gender roles in society. Part of me wonders if we could use this type of information to keep women informed and in the know as opposed to just showing them what they already know about their roles in society.

My other beef is with the lack of substance. I do some other types of freelance writing and actually submitted one of my published articles as part of my application here. One of the articles I wrote and submitted is about the lack of substance in today’s female society. This is not to say that there aren’t women today with intelligence and insight to offer; it is that American society and often the world-at-large chooses not to focus on those things. Many womens sites, magazines and media outlets focus on fashion and beauty rather than education and independent thought. As I sat down today to write my post, I found myself on the hunt for useful, informative information that relates to women’s interests and issues. More and more often though, I leave disappointed. I don’t want to discuss Lindsey Lohan and Paris Hilton. I don’t want to give women tips on hair color. And I don’t want to talk about listen to women whine about dating. These things are temporary and often superficial. Unfortunately, this is what many women find as resources for life.

Now, this isn’t to say that I haven’t found some great resources for news and information. Women’s Media Center, Women’s eNews, the New York Times and some of the sites you see listed under my links have been very helpful. Some of the stories overlap and I do think there is a need to increase the number of resources. I think overall my point is that I want to see women’s view of society change so that society’s view of women will change. I think progress should be the major goal in the end.

women, news, resources, research, society, gender, news, information

An industry and a past-time, long thought to be a boy’s club, has not begun to woo women. An article in the New York Times discussed how the motorcycle industry has started to embrace the female buyers market. One of the most interesting statistics is that women are the fastest growing area in the business. Companies, such as Harley Davidson, have even begun to modify their motorcycle designs to fit women’s needs. Another important aspect if their marketing campaign toward women is the accessories sold. Traditional black doesn’t cut it anymore. A wider selection of brighter and bolder colors are available. With the rising demand for bikes made for today’s ladies, it won’t be surprising if other industries stand up and take notice to how the motorcycle industry is embracing their female market.

women, motorcycles, marketing, industry, Harley Davidson

Pratibha Patil was elected India’s first female president on Saturday. Though the office is viewed as mostly ceremonial, the election is seen as a positive step for the country’s girls and women. You can find the full story in Sydney Morning Herald article. With America facing the opportunity to elect it’s own first female head-of-state, it makes me if a country that claims to be a progressive as ours is ready for such a change. Only the next year will tell if we are.

women, politics, elections, India, president

This week’s great woman in history is:

Phillis Wheatley
Born: c. 1753-5 in Gambia, Africa
Death: December, 1784 in Boston, MA

Her biography from Women in History is below:

During her life, while it was not common for American women to be published, it was especially uncommon for children of slaves to be educated at all. Her gift of writing poetry was encouraged by her owners and their daughter, Mary; they taught Phillis to read and write, with her first poem being published at the age of twelve, “On Messrs. Hussey and Coffin.” The countess of Huntingdon, Selina Hastings, was a friend of the Wheatley’s who greatly encouraged and financed the publication of her book of poetry, Poems. Obour Tanner, a former slave who made the journey through the middle passage with Phillis also was one of the chief influences and supporters of Phillis’ craft.

She was especially fond of writing in the elegiac poetry style, perhaps mirroring the genre of oration taught to her through the women in her African American tribal group. Her elegy on a popular evangelical Methodist minister, George Whitefield, brought her instant success upon his death. She also was well versed in Latin which allowed her to write in the epyllion (short epic) style with the publication of “Niobe in Distress.”

Phillis’ popularity as a poet both in the United States and England ultimately brought her freedom from slavery on October 18, 1773. She even appeared before General Washington in March, 1776 for her poetry and was a strong supporter of independence during the Revolutionary War. She felt slavery to be the issue which separated whites from true heroism: whites can not “hope to find/Deivine acceptance with th’ Almighty mind” when “they disgrace/And hold in bondage Afric’s blameless race.”

Phyllis is remembered for many first time accomplishments from a woman of her day:

First African American to publish a book
An accomplished African American woman of letters
First African American woman to earn a living from her writing
First woman writer encouraged and financed by a group of women (Mrs. Wheatley, Mary Wheatly, and Selina Hastings.)

women, history, slavery, writers, poets, Phillis Wheatley

This week Pink magazine announced it’s Elite Eight companies for working women. MarketWatch has the article here. The companies are as follows:

• Kelly Services
• American Express Co.
• Heller Ehrman LLP.
• Aflac Inc.
• FedEx Services
• Grant Thornton LLP.
• Turner Broadcasting System Inc.
• Wachovia Corp.

Here is how the finalist were selected:

After a comprehensive application and evaluation process involving many of America’s finest companies, PINK recognized these eight finalists for their strong focus on the Four P’s: Power (women in board seats and C-suites, and those with P&L responsibility); Pipeline (leadership training, mentoring and coaching programs to retain talented women and move them up the ranks); Pay (evidence of pay equity, including the number of women in the top 20 percent of company salaries); and People (a work culture that allows women to have a beautiful career and a beautiful life).

The magazine says it is important to recognize these companies because the majority of corporate America is very much a boys club. Women make up less than 7% of the top earners last year. Companies like these help lead the way for gender equality in the work place. We will know that this is accomplished when it isn’t necessary to make special mention of the companies that are helping women advance. Until that day, cheers to them!

For more information visit the Pink magazine website.

working women, jobs, employment, gender

Turkey’s Brothels Produce Two Election Candidates

Two former prostitutes are running for seats in Turkey’s July 22 election to raise awareness about the stigma sex workers face in the nation. With little chance for political victory, they say their goal is to change society instead.

How could this not catch my eye? The cover story on Women’s eNews is a compelling one indeed. This prostitution system that is in place in parts of Europe is unfamiliar to most Americans. There, prostitution is government-run in such countries, offering health benefits and even retirement. But the downside to such a life, as mentioned in the article, is that you forced to register with the police. Such a record is used when running background checks on you and your family members and is used as a way to screen out undesirables.

In a way that is similar to the United States, there is a negative stigma that surrounds workers in the industry. In a way for them, it is a catch-22 because their government funds the occupation, along with benefits and retirement but society treats the workers as outcasts. I find it ironic that in society that mostly consist of strict Muslim’s, prostitution is even a legal way to earn a living.

Another disturbing fact is that many of these women do not chose their occupation. Like the two women discussed in the article, both were sold by their families into prostitutions as young girls. They are then forced to work to pay off their sale price. Once their debt is paid, they are free to leave. Unfortunately, society is not welcoming them with open arms.

These women admit that the chances of winning are slim to none, their goal goes beyond votes. Their goal is to raise awareness about the inhumane way women are treated under the government controlled prostitution business. They also want to show that they aren’t bad people as their society would have you believe. If they are able to at least get people thinking about the problem, that is the first step to change.

women, prostitution, Turkey, government, sex, politics

So what would it be like if gender roles were truly reversed? Well, a news series on Fox this fall will explore just that. The brilliance of the idea almost makes me wonder why this hasn’t been explored before (possibly by a better network). Below is the series description:

When Women Rule the World - Fox

What if it was “a woman’s world”? What if women made ALL the decisions? If men were their obedient subjects?

These questions and more will be explored when a group of strong, educated, independent women, tired of living in a man’s world and each with a personal axe to grind, rule over a group of unsuspecting men used to calling the shots on WHEN WOMEN RULE THE WORLD.

The unscripted series will reveal how women and men react in a world where women are in charge and men are subservient, and each gender’s ability to adapt to a new social order will be put to the test.

The participants will be brought to a remote, primitive location where the women will have the opportunity to “rule” as they build a newly formed society – one where there is no glass ceiling and no dressing to impress. For the men, their worlds of power and prestige are turned inside-out and upside-down. And for these women, turnabout is fair play!

In order to win, the men must accede to the women’s every demand, 24/7. Here, women command and men obey. Over the series’ duration, the men will be eliminated by the women until one last man is standing.

How will the men react? How will the women treat the men? Can women effectively rule society? Will the men learn what life is like for some women in today’s world? Will this new society be a Utopia or a hell on earth? And in the end, who will be man enough to succeed in the new social order?

I guess it wouldn’t be safe to call this a reality tv show since it is the opposite of the society we live in today. That is not to say that the concept is an impossible reality. I view it more as a “what-if” scenario, acted out for the whole world to see. Unless the cast is poorly chosen, I think this will be an eye-opener for both men and women.

women, television, utopia, men, gender roles

Last week’s cheers and jeers brought to you by Women’s eNews:

Cheers

In commemoration of World Population Day on July 11, the United Nations Population Fund has called on men around the world to become partners in maternal health care.

“Experience shows that men’s involvement and participation can make all the difference. By discouraging early marriage, promoting girls’ education, fostering equitable relationships and supporting women’s reproductive health and rights, progress is made,” said Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, the Population Fund’s executive director. “It is time for all men as fathers, brothers, husbands, community and religious leaders, and government officials to become partners in maternal health.”

About 525,600 women die annually from pregnancy and childbirth complications. Every minute, a woman loses her life. And for every woman who dies, 20 experience serious complications such as obstetric fistula, a debilitating childbirth injury that affects more than 2 million women around the world.

The U.N. will work with governments and other partners to guarantee that every woman has access to three reproductive health services saving women’s lives: voluntary family planning, skilled attendance at birth and emergency obstetric care if complications arise during delivery. For instance, international relief groups are training Darfuri midwives to help reduce Sudan’s maternal mortality rates, currently the fifth highest in the world, the Christian Science Monitor reported July 10.

More News to Cheer This Week:

• A 10-point action plan, the Nairobi Call to Action, was developed by 2,000 delegates from 95 nations during the International Women’s Summit on HIV and AIDS that concluded in Kenya on July 7. The 10 points call for meaningful involvement of women in health policy and political decision-making; promoting gender equality and the human rights of women and girls; ensuring their physical, sexual and psychological safety and security; and ensuring their education, economic security and access to resources, including the right to own and inherit property. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, South Africa’s deputy president, urged African journalists to “rebrand” Africa by taking into consideration the “positive social, political and economic development witnessed all over the continent,” Medical News Today reported July 12.
• The increase of women’s participation in college athletics has not had a detrimental impact on men’s sports, a July 12 report from the Government Accountability Office concluded. The congressional investigative agency found that although opportunities have increased for both female and male athletes between 1991 and 2005, women have not yet achieved parity in athletics programs.
• London’s Metropolitan Police has offered a $40,000 reward for information to prosecute female genital mutilation, the Guardian reported July 11. The penalty for arranging or performing the procedure is up to 14 years in prison, but no one has been prosecuted under the laws that ban it so far. An estimated 66,000 cases have occurred in Britain, primarily among immigrant communities where the custom is practiced in the sending nations.
• The Nazareth-based organization Women Against Violence, as a direct result of media coverage of the rape case against former Israeli president Moshe Katsav, reports that the number of Arab women seeking assistance in dealing with sexual assault rose 23 percent in May and June, compared to the same period last year, Ha’aretz reported July 10. About 100 Arab women approached the group, director Aida Toma-Suleiman said, noting that Arab women are often reluctant to report sexual crimes.
• An anonymous student Web site in Spain has launched a “Cows Want to Run” petition to demand gender equality at Spain’s most famous festival, the annual San Fermin running of the bulls in Pamplona, the Associated Press reported July 10.

Jeers

Dr. Richard Carmona, the former U.S. surgeon general, has accused the Bush administration of political interference, such as censoring his speeches and preventing him from speaking publicly on issues such as contraceptives and abstinence-only sex education, Reuters reported July 10.

“I was blocked at every turn . . . Anything that doesn’t fit into the political appointees’ ideological, theological or political agenda is ignored, marginalized or simply buried,” Carmona testified before Congress. “The problem with this approach is that in public health, as in a democracy, there is nothing worse than ignoring science.”

Carmona’s term expired in July 2006. The nominee to replace him, Dr. James Holsinger, has been denounced by the Human Rights Campaign, the HIV Medical Association and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force for authoring a 1991 paper that made a medical argument against homosexuality. The American Public Health Association is also “very concerned with Dr. Holsinger’s past writings regarding his views of homosexuality, which put his political and religious ideology before established medical science.”

More News to Jeer This Week:

* One in 20 pregnant women in the United States are abused or killed during their pregnancies, Newhouse News Service reported July 7, totaling 324,000 each year. Four pregnant U.S. women–Tasha Nowlin, Dawna Wright, Jennifer Nielsen and Jessie Davis–were killed in a six-day span in June, highlighting the level of violence. Women in abusive relationships often experience escalating violence during their pregnancy.

* A South African female AIDS and gay rights activist, Sizakele Sigasa, and her friend Solome Masooa were killed July 8. Sigasa was bound and shot six times in the hate-motivated crime, her employer, the Pretoria-based Positive Women’s Network said. The group noted that the stigma of living with HIV-AIDS combined with discrimination against women and lesbians results in the rape of a South African woman every 26 minutes and a death at the hands of a male partner every six hours.

* The president of the International Olympic Committee acknowledged that there are not enough female members on the committee, the AP reported July 7. Sixteen of the 115 members are female; only one woman sits on the 15-member executive board. Anita L. DeFrantz, the first woman to serve as vice president, lost her bid to join the executive board last week. At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, 45 percent of athletes will be female, up from 42 percent at Sydney in 2000.

* After a group of women were invited by a cleric to pray in a mosque in Howli, India, the mosque’s board issued a fatwa order declaring that women could not pray there, the Times of India reported July 10. During the June 29 prayers, the women were careful to stay in a separate enclosure from the men, but the fatwa said it was un-Islamic for them to pray in the mosque at all.

* Nguyen Ba Thuy, Vietnam’s deputy director of the National Committee for Population, Family and Children, warned that a serious gender gap among newborns faces the country despite a ban on selective abortions, the Vietnam News Service reported July 10. In the northeast, there are 122 boys born to every 100 girls; the ratio is 114 to 100 in the north central regions and 110 to 100 in the Mekong Delta.

Noted:

* India’s government has proposed that all pregnancies be registered with the government in an effort to thwart gender-selective abortions, the Hindustan Times reported July 13. Women would also need the permission of a doctor in order to get an abortion. India has a skewed sex ratio, with 927 girls born for every 1,000 boys.

* Nicknamed the “Romeo and Juliet” defense, an Indiana state law has modified the way a person who has sex with a minor who is 14 or 15 years old can be charged, FOX News reported July 8. The defense can prevent a felony sex charge if the person is under 21, is no more than four years older than the victim and is involved in a dating relationship.

This week’s great woman in history is:

Lady Bird Johnson - Environmentalist and Feminist
1912-2007

Environmentalist and Feminist Lady Bird Johnson Dies at 94 - Feminist Daily News Wire

Former First Lady Lady Bird Johnson, a supporter of women’s rights and a passionate environmentalist, died last night of respiratory failure at the age of 94. Born in Karnack, Texas in 1912, the former first lady spent her life as an advocate for important social causes, including environmental protection, civil rights, the eradication of poverty, and women’s equality.

Johnson’s pursuit of equal rights for women began during her time in the White House and continued after her husband’s death. A passionate supporter of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), she made use of her political background and experience to fight for women’s rights. In 1977, Johnson attended the International Women’s Year Conference in Houston which addressed issues including the ERA, lesbian and gay rights, and abortion. In 1981, Johnson stood with fellow first lady Betty Ford to address a crowd at the National Organization for Women’s national conference about the ratification of the ERA.

Johnson is well-known for her devotion to environmental preservation. Lobbying for the Highway Beautification Act, the first lady sought to push billboards 50 yards away from roadsides and insisted junkyards be screened from view. The legislation represented only one of the 150 environmental laws enacted with her support during Johnson’s presidency, including the landmark Clean Air Act. After her husband died in 1973, Johnson continued her environmental work, raising $10 million for the National Wildlife Research Center and sitting on the Board of Directors for the National Geographic Society.

While Johnson contributed a great deal to the environmental movement, she also worked address the nation’s problems related to poverty, racism and women’s equality. During the 1964 election, Johnson made a tour of eight Southern States to garner support for the Civil Rights Act. Despite warnings that the trip would be unsafe, the first lady was resolved to spread her message that “the Civil War should at long last come to an end, which could only happen if the South shed its racist past and moved into the modern world,” Jan Jarboe Russell wrote in her biography of Johnson.

Lady Bird Johnson will be buried on Sunday beside her husband at a family cemetery in Texas. She is survived by her two daughters, Lynda Bird and Luci Baines, and seven grandchildren.

women, feminist, environmentalist, activist, Former First Lady, Lady Bird Johnson

No, it’s not what you think. But there does seem to be some gender role reversal going on with the Democratic presidential candidates. As most of you know, gender itself is about the cultural views of the roles of men and women and less about the actual biological sex of the person. Terms like masculine and feminine refer to personality traits commonly associated with one gender or another.

Here is what some are saying about the gender roles of the two Democratic front-runners:

Hillary is from Mars, Obama is from Venus - Salon.com

Clara Oleson, an Iowa Democrat and former labor lawyer, explained all these distinctions on a riverbank in Iowa City last week, while waiting to hear Clinton speak to a crowd of about 1,000. “Obama is the female candidate. Obama is the woman,” she said, after admitting that she was one of his supporters. “He is the warm candidate, self-deprecating, soft, tender, sad eyes, great smile.”

So what does that make Hillary Clinton? “She is the male candidate — in your face, authoritative, know-it-all.” To be clear, Oleson was not doubting the symbolic power that Clinton retains as a woman. But she was calling it as she saw it, using the language of Iowa City, a university town. “It’s what the academes would call the difference between sex and gender,” Oleson explained.

So who will America choose? It’s an anomaly of sorts. Does America want a sensitive man or a powerful woman? I think this election will more of a determining factor than people think. This will show whether it is the gender qualities (such as power normally associated with men, and sensitivity normally associated with women) that people vote for. Or will biological sex always be a factor? 2008 will be a banner year for gender dynamics.

women, men, gender, sex, presidential candidates, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, politics

The running of the bulls in Spain. An event internationally known for its exciting atmosphere and historic traditions. From what I have seen and heard it sounds like good fun for all right? Well a women’s group this year isn’t happen with the festivals tradition of running only bulls. They are calling for cows to run as well. Yes, that is right, an anonymous group is calling for the equality of the bulls and the cows. The article in the Washington Post shows the women are quite serious about their stance.

Of course the notion is being dismissed as absurd since women and men are both allowed to run with the bulls. But is it so far-fetched to think that cows should be allowed to participate as well? It might actually be safer for the participants since they won’t have to worry about being shanked with a bull horn.

I guess the point that this group is trying to make is that gender equality doesn’t extent to the animal kingdom. Even if the idea is a little out there, I think the point was to make people take notice. At the very least, it got a laugh.

bulls, cows, running, Spain, gender equality

Talk about a man’s world. An article in the People’s Daily Online shows that China is the most gender imbalanced nation in the world right now. Currently, there are 37 million more males than females. And the ration of girls born compared to boys is at 100:116 and expected to climb. The story cited three major reasons for the problem: “a long period of paying more attention to men than women, an incomplete social security system, and the abuse of ultra sound technology.” That is a polite way of putting it I think. Years of systematically aborting, murdering and neglecting baby girls seems like a more direct way of stating the cause.

Because of the growing problem a number of laws have been implemented to curb the problem. Just to name a few: “ Population and Family Planning Law, A Regulation on Banning Non-medical Need of Identifying the Gender of a Fetus, and Sexually Discriminative Artificial Suspension of Pregnancy. The Care for Girls Activity was also launched to advocate the idea that men and women are equal, in order to deal with the gender imbalance.” So the conclusion can be drawn that the country is taking positive steps to educate their citizens.

It still leaves me to wonder how difficult it will be to break the tradition. Boys are favored because they will care for their parents when they are older, while women will marry into another family and do nothing to support their family. If that tradition alone changed there wouldn’t be much of a problem. Women could grow up and get an education and help support her parents the same as her male counterpart if women were given the opportunity for success the same as men. Another issue raise in the article was social security. These parents rely on their sons to take care of them when they are older because the government has nothing else in place. Wouldn’t some sort of social security program or retirement education benefit in this case?

China is headed down a slippery slope if changes aren’t made in how women are viewed. They aren’t just risking the present security of the women and children that will become the victims of the societal chaos but they are also risking their future. If some have forgotten how valuable women are to a society let me refresh you memory: women are the ones that carry, birth and raise the children, male and female. So this leaves a society such as China’s in a catch-22. In order to continue their sexist traditions of valuing men over women, they will need to take a step back and start valuing women enough to close the gender gap.

women, China, gender, abortion, human trafficking, social security

An article on ScienceDaily.com shows a connection between weight-loss and race. The study shows that Caucasian women are more likely to seek outside help from a nutritionist, personal trainer or support group than their African-American counterparts. So why the difference?

As a Black woman, I can say I agree with this study for the most part. I have tried dealing with weight-loss on my own for most of my life. I do think that at times when dealing with weight-loss issues ethnic factors aren’t always taken into consideration. Factors such as ethnic diet, income level, geographic location and family history have to be considered when you look at effective weight-loss. In my opinion, body type is one major factor. While a specific diet and exercise routine may work well for one body type it may not work well for another. For instance, I have a large amount of muscle mass compared to most women my age. Most of this is due to genetic and ethnic factors. A workout program that would require a great deal of strenght training would only make me bulk up (which I don’t want!) while a program more geared toward aerobic fat-burning or toning would be less likely to create a bulky physiche. So in my opinion, there is lots more to learn about the way our bodies work in order to effectively manage weight-loss across the races.

women, health, weight-loss, exersice, race

This weeks cheers and jeers brought to you by Women’s eNews.

Cheers

The presidency is attracting more of the world’s women.

India’s Pratibha Patil is running for president in the world’s largest democracy. Appearing at a massive women’s rally in Chennai, she said that women, “the backbone of every home,” were significantly supporting the progress and development of the nation, the Times of India reported July 1. If elected as expected on July 19, Patil will be India’s first female president, a ceremonial yet still powerful post.

South Korea’s Han Myung-sook, a lawmaker with the pro-government Uri Party and the first woman to serve as prime minister, announced her candidacy for the presidency, the International Herald Tribune reported June 18. Han promotes economic cooperation with North Korea as a way to help South Korean companies, sandwiched between advanced and developing nations, compete. Han is considered a minor candidate in Korea’s presidential field, with less than 10 percent in polls.

In Argentina, President Nestor Kirchner evoked memories of Evita Peron by announcing that he would not run for another term and naming his wife, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, as his replacement in the October election, the Economist reported July 2. Early polls indicated she will lead a field of candidates that also includes Elisa Carrio, a congresswoman from an opposition party.

More News to Cheer This Week:

MSNBC’s Mika Brzezinski surprised her “Morning Joe” co-anchors, producers and viewers June 26 when she refused on air to read a story about celebrity Paris Hilton because it was not newsworthy enough to lead the newscast. Brzezinski said a story from Iraq was more important and first ripped the script by hand, then attempted to burn it, then finally put it in the shredder. “We need to have an open discussion about what is news and what is not,” she said.

The first shelter in Vietnam to aid women and children afflicted by domestic violence and human trafficking has opened, Viet Nam News reported June 29. A four-day training course for police and other government workers has also been established to raise awareness.

United Arab Emirates investment firm Forsa is eager to target the largely ignored market of rich Gulf Arab women–who hold more than $40 billion of the region’s wealth–with the start of a $68 million investment fund for women only, Reuters reported July 3. Shamsa Noor Ali Rashid, Forsa CEO, said the firm hopes to change traditional attitudes about female entrepreneurs and to enhance the management capacity of Arab women.

New Hampshire became the first state in the nation to repeal a law that requires minors to obtain parental consent before having an abortion, the Associated Press reported June 29. The law was not in effect because it was being challenged in state courts.

Jeers

Women currently make up 48 percent of global HIV cases, and 60 percent of cases in sub-Saharan Africa, where 3 of 4 infected youths are female, Xinhua news agency reported July 5.

Placing more women in leadership roles in global HIV prevention programs is key to effectively combat the spread of the virus, concluded United Nations officials at the 2007 International Women’s Summit on HIV and AIDS in Nairobi, Kenya.

The July 1-11 conference, organized by the World YWCA, is the first international event to focus on women and AIDS and gathered more than 1,500 AIDS policymakers, global leaders, community health workers, celebrities and advocates.

World Health Organization Director-General Margaret Chan and Peter Piot, UNAIDS executive director, stressed the importance of prevention and early detection. Progress has been made in terms of treatment, but prevention efforts–such as access to female condoms–are still lacking, Piot told Xinhua.

Chan and Mwai Kibaki, president of Kenya, both indicated that the lack of women’s rights and gender inequality is a contributing factor in the spread of the disease. Chan noted that poverty and intimate partner violence fuel the pandemic. Kibaki, however, said governments must first deal with how society casts women as subordinates.

More News to Jeer This Week:

The Houston-based firm, KBR, a former subsidiary of Halliburton and a contractor for the U.S. government in Iraq, is facing a lawsuit from four women who charge that they were sexually harassed by co-workers, Reuters reported June 29. Two of the women say they were raped by co-workers; one woman said she needed surgery after she was drugged and gang raped. KBR said its employees are trained in sexual harassment issues but declined to discuss the case.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., the government’s banking insurance agency, is investigating the misconduct of several of their top officials at an event promoted in the workplace. The employees reportedly took the day off to visit Penderbrook Golf Club in Fairfax, Va., got drunk and had two female golf course employees provide lap dances. The men also tipped the women $10 to remove their blouses, the Examiner.com Web site reported June 30.

Sajani Shakya–a 10-year-old Nepalese girl worshipped by Hindus and Buddhists as one of the three most highly-revered Kumaris–lost her distinction as a “living goddess” because she went to the United States to promote a documentary film, the BBC reported July 3. Kumaris are chosen as toddlers to attend festivals and bless devotees; most leave their palace a few times a year, but the top few are forbidden to travel.

Title IX, which bars sex discrimination at federally funded institutions, has increased the number of female athletes and teams in the past 35 years, but the percentage of women coaching women’s teams is at its lowest point ever, the Associated Press concluded in a review of statistics. In 1972, when Title IX was passed, 90 percent of women’s teams were coached by women; in 2006, the figure fell to 42 percent.

A multi-year study from Stanford University’s business school found that, among high-technology startups, only 4 percent had women in senior technical positions and 10 percent had a female CEO, president or founder. Women filled 94 percent of clerical positions at the 186 firms included in the study. When women held senior roles, however, researchers reported a significant increase in other women in high positions at those firms.

Half of England’s and Wales’ 32 rape crisis centers may be closed in the next year due to governmental delays in allocating funds, the Guardian reported July 3. The centers provide support for 80,000 rape victims annually. Other services such as self-help groups, in-person and phone counseling, and Asian and youth outreach also face cuts.

Iranian lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh said that a court has sentenced her 24-year-old client, Delaram Ali, to nearly three years in jail and 10 lashes for attending a peaceful rally in June 2006, Reuters reported July 3. Ali was convicted of participating in an illegal gathering, propaganda activities against the system and disrupting public order and peace. On July 5, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei responded to criticism that Iran’s crackdown on women has been too harsh by signaling that some Islamic laws relating to women could be reinterpreted, the AP reported.