Gender in the News #7

More evidence that men have a biological clock too! This should cause some angst among the ranks of aging dads-to-be. It'll be interesting to see how they can take the turnabout in criticism that for so long has been exclusively for older women. And, maybe now they won't be able to flaunt their extra years of singledom as a male-only option. Do cougars really have smarter kids?

Gender in the News #6

Lots of motherhood issues in the news. Makes one ponder some of those sex vs. gender issues and what it means to be a woman. How does society reward or punish women for the possibility of conceiving (e.g., menstruating), for having lots of children or not (Quiverfull), for breastfeeding or using formula?

And, on fatherhood, the assumption that child custody should go to the mother even after death devastates David Goldman (though high-level help may be on the way).

Iraqi Women's Ministry to Rely on Volunteers?

This seems like a classic good news bad news story: The good news is that the Minister of Women's Affairs will return to work, having withdrawn her very principled resignation based on the failure of the government to provide the necessary resources to meet the mandate of the office. So, you assume that the problem has been resolved? Yes and no. Yes the resources have been found. But, the bad news is that rather than the government committing national resources and prioritizing women's issues (yes, more than half of their constituency!), the resources are in the form of foreign aid organization pledges and 50 IRAQI WOMEN VOLUNTEERS. Isn't enough that women are volunteering in their community each and every day to solve the community problems.... now they have to volunteer at the Women's Ministry?!

Gender in the News #5

Change is on its way! Great news on Obama setting up the government mechanisms necessary to promote and monitor gender equality in the US. Only 29 years after President Carter signed CEDAW (the Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women) and nearly 14 years after Beijing, we may actually be ready to move forward on women's rights as human rights.

On the domestic front, President Obama creates a Council on Women and Girls that will work throughout the executive branch. This is precisely the requisite gender machinery that the rest of the world has in place, including the many developing countries where I conduct gender assessments.

And internationally, the President names an ambassador-at-large for international women's issues. Melanie Verveer, a Clintonista of Vital Voices fame.

Why should we care? SF experience makes the case for the US to finally ratify CEDAW. Of all the nations in the world, the US is the only industrialized nation not to ratify CEDAW. And the company we keep in this failure? Iran, Nauru, Palau, Qatar, Somalia, Sudan and Tonga.

Other gender news of note:

Muslim women in the US are already trying to promote more gender equality in their communities. Trying to shatter the "Glass Minaret."

Change continues with the FDA approving the next generation of the female condom. I was skeptical when I first heard about it, but in the field - especially in many heavily HIV-affected countries in Africa - the female condom has been welcomed as a way for women to better control the risk of STDs/STIs when they cannot always control the decision to have sex.

Obama Making the Grade?

MSNBC asks its viewers to grade Obama's first 50 days in office in their Live Vote. Not exactly a representative sample, since the latest was 58% for an "F" with 84,338 votes. Go ahead and let your voice be counted... VOTE!

Broken Hearts and Bicycle Parts

Sopo Bikes had their annual fundraiser, Broken Hearts and Bicycle Parts this weekend. The main event is an evening scavenger hunt bicycle ride around the city. Didn't ride this year - still working on fixing up a bike. Check out the Memorial Tatoo checkpoint and see if you find a familiar face:)! And, before friends and family start freaking out: no, I didn't get a tat (although they were pretty cute).

Celebrating International Women's Day

Happy International Women's Day! More background info here. This year's theme is "women and men united to end violence against women and girls." I enjoyed my first time hosting a radio show - it was a one-hour segment on Repression and Violence Against Women as part of WRFG's 6-hour IWD celebration. The guests were Moya Bailey, Glory Kilanko and America Gruner. Great conversation though quite a depressing topic.... as seen in some recent articles on women's issues:

• UN chief urges: End violence against women

• Worldwide downturn 'to hit women'
  

• What would a real life Barbie look like?
  

• Aid Group Says Rape Growing Problem Around Globe
  

On Twittering, Blogging, Google and Facebook

Yes, I must confess I tweet. Joined the Twitter craze after SoCon 09 and having fun with it so far. And it's catching on in the mainstream too - even politicians at Obama's national address were twittering. Maybe it's at the tipping point.?

But there can be downsides to all this new media stuff. Having problems concentrating on a long article of news or analysis... or anything more than a 140-character tweet? Maybe Google's Making Us Stupid!

Don't forget Facebook, the leader of the pack in social marketing. Here's a look at a few features some find annoying.

And what about blogging. Are bloggers really just parasites? Maybe that's a compliment.

Gender in the News #4

OK, maybe this isn't so serious... Enjoy:)! Will women's choices change with the economy?

The 'Real' World

Although today is the birthday of map-maker Mercator, I'd rather celebrate with 'real' maps to get a perspective on how the world reallylooks.

Avoiding Cultural Gaffes

Here are some fun facts to avoid insulting people from cultures other than your own.

I'd also add a few others from my travels:

• Avoid shaking hands across a threshhold in Russia or Ukraine - it means you will break your connection with that person and will end up in a fight.
• Don't leave an empty bottle on the table in Eastern Europe - as soon as the last drop is poured, place the bottle on the floor.
• Teacups and glasses in Central Asia should be filled only halfway; filling a cup/glass all the way means you want the person to leave.
• It is expected that you will refuse an offer at least two times in some countries in the Middle East - it the offer is made the third time it is a genuine offer and not just a social courtesy.
• Never agree to pay the first price offered in a Turkish market - bargaining is an expected part of the transaciton. However, if you start bargaining, you are expected to carry through to purchase the item. Walking away after the bargaining begins is considered rude.
• Avoid using a finger to motion someone to come to you in the Middle East - this is an obscene gesture.
• Use a full hand downward motion to call a taxi or a bus to stop in Turkey or Russia. Raising your hand is a gesture of greeting.
  
• The number of kisses for greetings varies by countries and cultures - in much of Europe it is one or two cheek kisses (often just cheek to cheek, rather than lips to cheek), but some areas use three or four. Men greet each other by kissing on the lips in Bulgaria and some other Eastern European countries.
• Patting a child on the head is considered very rude in most Asian countries.
• Showing the bottom of your shoe/foot is considered rude in the Middle East, so men should be careful about sitting with their legs crossed with their foot resting on their knee. President Obama sat like this with Senator McCain in their first post-election meeting - which was likely to be seen as a sign of disrespect by those in the Arab world.
  

Georgia Republicans' Latest Poll Tax Effort

Today, the Georgia State Senate took a step backwards in time. In its ongoing struggle to stop the tide of change. the Republicans passed SB 86 that would require documentary proof of citizenship in order to register to vote. Here's how the issue really breaks down (thanks to the Polly McKinney, ED of the League of Women Voters!):

The new law will mean that in order to register to vote, one must present a birth certificate, passport, naturalization papers or driver's license which proves citizenship.

You can expect that countless U.S. citizens will be needlessly inconvenienced and, as a result of the increased hassle, simply choose not to register to vote.

In addition to the cumbersome nature of the bill, there are other problems with such legislation:

• Requiring documentary proof of citizen violates the National Voter Registration Act.

• Creates a Poll Tax by forcing people who are missing their birth certificates or naturalization papers to have to buy new ones.

• Those registering to vote are already required to take an oath of citizenship.
  

• Birth certificates are the easiest documents to forge, and possibly the least checked.

• It is a felony to photocopy or fax naturalization papers.

• Citizens with comparatively low incomes are less likely to possess documentation proving their citizenship.

• Documentation proving citizenship often does not reflect the citizen's current name.

Sadly, we can expect more efforts to thwart democracy in Georgia by those who are afraid to have an empowered electorate. But, as Dr. Lowery said today, "We are at the beginning of a change in Georgia politics - it's coming." I can hardly wait.