Tag:

women rights

PROFOUND; “Woman, Life, Freedom” in the Iranian Islamic Revolution ©

by Narges Mohammadi February 12, 2023

The role and position of women within the society after the Islamic revolution’s triumph; are very different from before this victory.

IRAN/ Opposition forces of the Iranian rule, who use every opportunity to create chaos in Iran; after the death of Mahsa Amini on 25 September; unveiled the slogan of “women, life, freedom” in their ideology rooms; to start a destructive movement against the Islamic Republic of Iran.

This slogan received huge support from the British media press and became an operative code for riots.

Monarchists, separatists, and hypocrites all got united in shouting this slogan anywhere they could. They wanted to keep the country in the slaughterhouse of insecurity; with the ignorance of the deceived people who chanted this slogan.

A slogan whose deviant message was evident; because if we look at the position of women before the victory of the Islamic Revolution; we see that women did not have such a share in life, nor freedom; because their freedom was limited to nudity; and they did not have equal opportunities for Education and employment and participation in political and social activities.

The number of female MPs; number of women in different governments; plus the number of female doctors and engineers; and the level of literacy among women before the revolution cannot be compared with today.

The widespread presence of women in revolutionary activities resulting in the victory of the Islamic Revolution; shows women’s dissatisfaction with their situation during the time of the Pahlavi dynasty.

After the revolution and with the spread of education; many women started working as university teachers and professors; and become specialist in various fields.

Iranian presidents words

The 13^th Iranian president, Mr. Seyed Ebrahim Raisi; said in the gathering of ambassadors; and members of foreign missions in Iran: “The Islamic Republic; has paid special attention to the promotion of the status of women; from the very beginning.”

The President stated that the statistics of women’s presence and participation in the political; social; and economic fields during the Islamic Revolutionary indicate their position. The significant increase of women as faculty members; and the brilliant presence in sports fields is only a part of the brilliant presence of our women.

The philosophy of Women

In this regard, Dr. Leila Shakeri, a University professor; said: “We should take a look at the slogan of women; life; and freedom that the opposition is using these days in the time before and after our revolution.”

She continued: “In philosophical discussions; an ultimate cause is considered for every phenomenon; that is, the active cause of that phenomenon which is considered an ultimate cause for it.”

This professor stated: “A woman is a phenomenon and a creature for which an ultimate cause is considered. Every sane person knows that the ultimate cause considered for a woman is the human gaze; and it is the same growth that is in the human perfections of every person; and a woman, as a human being, must acquire those perfections and develop her talents.”

Shakeri added: “Woman’s goal as a human being; is to reach the perfection intended for her at the beginning of creation. This perfection is played in different roles. A woman has a maternal, personal, scientific, social, etc, role that she must nurture. These are the items that are considered in the discussion of the perfection and growth of a woman.”

This professor continued: “In the category of life, every woman; from the moment she is created until the time she is in this world; must follow a path to reach perfection and reach its end.

Women before the Revolution

Shakeri clarified: “The concept of freedom is that there should not be any limit to the growth; and flourishing of women’s talents. By analyzing the words that are in the slogan of women, life, freedom; we should examine the status of women before and after the revolution as well.”

She continued: “Before the revolution; we see that the development of women’s perfections in the sense; that it is viewed as human being is very weak. The view is completely gender-based, which is not worthy of a human being. In the cinema and within society, women were more of a tool.”

This university professor said: “Mohammad Reza Pahlavi literally in an international interview said; that we have never had a woman who was superior to men. When this view exists in a government, a girl’s appearance creates value for being a decent girl, that’s all.”

She added: “The king’s polygamy and his view that he should have a male child caused restrictions on the growth; perfection of women; so we cannot say that at that time the platform was suitable for the growth of female individual perfection; just as the statistics show the difference in the status of women before and after the revolution.”

Shakeri stated: “If we go through the number of female faculty members in universities before and after the revolution; we can see that the number of female faculty members; who can be the helmsman of a country’s education after the revolution is 33 percent. After the revolution, women make up 40 percent of only the medical community.”

These statements show that there was no value for women in the pre-revolution government; which also affects the executive body of women; and the fact that they were just a tool in the hands of men.

Women in Iran after the Revolution

This faculty and university professor said at the end: “After the Islamic Revolution; we can see in the attitude of Imam Khomeini; and Ayatollah Khamenei how beautifully they treat their wives and daughters; and what a beautiful attitude they have towards women in general. They both insist on the maternal, political, and social roles of women that must evolve more day by day.

A woman is supposed to reach perfection as a human being; she must follow the path in every stage of her life. There should not be any restrictions on this matter. For example, when saying that a woman does not have the right to education; she should only be active in the field of art and aesthetics because she is a woman. Any woman first of all has the right to education; and the right to choose any road that she wants to take to reach perfection. Now, this is the true meaning of WOMAN, LIFE, FREEDOM.

The opposition groups against the Islamic Republic of Iran; thus; want to force their idea of FREEDOM; and do not care about the benefits of others and what exactly the Iranian women want.

If any woman in Iran shows a small sight of disagreement towards their so-called ideology; they immediately insult and smash them like a bug.

Women in the 44th annual national celebration

On February 11^th; which was the 44^th anniversary of Iran’s Islamic Revolution; all men and women across Iran took part in the annual rally that is held every year on this day.

For many of the ones who refused to attend before; this year was their first time taking part in this national march. After what happened in September 2022 in Iran; and all the chaos that went down in the name of “the freedom of Iranian Women”; they all chose to come and join this celebration.

They all expressed to the news reporters that no matter what the circumstances they will always stand by their country; and cherish their religious and cultural values.

In the video below, you see a message from young women who attended this national celebration. This message is to anyone around the world; who uses Iranian women as a tool to attack and weaken the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Source: Javan News Reporters

February 12, 2023 0 comment

Culture Women in Islam

NEW; Women’s rights in Islam & the Iranian society from Ayatollah Khomeini’s perspective©

by Narges Mohammadi February 8, 2023

IRAN/From Ayatollah Khomeini’s point of view, a woman is a man’s teacher; and the embodiment of the fulfillment of human hopes. The Ayatollah believes that Islam pulled women out of the mire of ignorance. Through the Islamic Revolution, women found their place as effective members of society to some extent.

On the upcoming of the 44th anniversary of Iran’s Islamic Revolution’s triumph, let’s have a look n what the leader of this revolution has said about women.

Article

Dr. Najmabadi in an important article wrote: “Women were in 2 situations before Islam. In Islamic historical sources; some say that Arab women have benefited from freedom, independence, and will.”

She continued: “According to other views, women had a low status in this period. The function of women in the family was only reproduction and giving service to men. Among these, we can mention inheritance or the father’s right that he could give his daughter in exchange for wealth.”

This young researcher said: “First we understand from the verses of the Quran; women did not have a proper value position before Islam. Among its shreds of evidence, we can mention the phenomenon of burying girls alive in that era; or their wrong traditions regarding marriage and divorce.”

What is Islam’s opinion about women’s human rights?

She clarified: “With the advent of Islam, a different view of women emerged; which believed that men and women are created from the same soul and have the same human value. According to this view, Muslim women can progress to the point where they reach high spiritual positions; and become role models for all women and men in the whole world. As some of the Qur’anic idols are women.

Najmabadi added: “ Having in mind the equality of men and women in terms of human status; and many physical and mental characteristics, there are differences in their rights. Islam has enumerated the rights and duties of women and men; which are based on the alignment of legislation with development; and gender equality and these legal distinctions are aimed at the strength; and excellence of the family, educating healthy and decent people, etc.

She stated: “In Islam, there are many rights for women, which include individual, family, economic, cultural, social, and political rights. The right to enjoy life, to have respect, safety, property, and social justice.

Other rights

The right to guardianship, the right to marry by choice, the right to gain support; and the right to benefit from governmental benefits. In addition, rights related to family issues and a woman’s allegation against her husband; the rights of a mother against her child; and the rights of a daughter against parents are also among the rights of women in the family.”

This doctoral student of jurisprudence and family law stated: “In Islam, a woman has economic independence; which can be due to inheritance or income from her employment; or due to dowry and divorce settlements. Therefore, the right to own assets; the right to enter into a contract; and the right to employment are among women’s economic rights that are said in Islam.”

She added: “Also, the cultural and social rights of Muslim women include things such as the right to education; and acquiring skills; the right to enjoy physical and mental health. Their political rights include freedom of expression; participation in elections(voting or becoming candidates), and active participation in assemblies. For a more detailed analysis of women’s rights in Islam; you can refer to the Charter of Women’s Rights and Responsibilities in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Imam Khomeini considers a woman to be a man’s teacher

Najmabadi explained: “Ayatollah Khomeini, one of the great contemporary jurists; and the founder of the Islamic Revolution, has a valuable view of women. From his point of view, a woman is a man’s teacher and the embodiment of the fulfillment of human hopes. The Ayatollah says; “If brave and human-building women are taken from the nations; the nations will be led to failure and degeneration”. Through the Islamic revolution, women found their position as effective members of society to some extent.

She pointed out: “The Grand Ayatollah answered the question of whether Islam; and the Shiites seek to withdraw women from social scenes by saying; He says that Shiism does not exclude women from the scene of social life. Islam wants women to be in their highest human position. From Islam’s view and based on Ayatollah Khomeini’s points; a woman should be involved in determining her destiny and participating in social affairs.”

Women within the Society in Ayatollah Khomeini’s words

This researcher stated: “Ayatollah Khomeini considers the role of women in this regard to be a sensitive; and important role and says that women should interfere in the basic functions of the government. With their human position, they can take some responsibility for building the Islamic government. They believe that the goodness or corruption of our society originates from the goodness or corruption of women.”

She stated: “In the early years after the revolution’s triumph; Ayatollah Khomeini strongly considered the essential role of women in the victory achieved. He said that today women in the Islamic Republic are working side by side with men; putting effort to build the country. Ayatollah Khomeini always asked women to be involved in different matters; that regards the country everyday.”

Najmabadi clarified: “Sometimes it can be seen in the statements of Ayatollah Khomeini that beyond the discussion of rights; he considers many matters as duties for women. Among the duties of women in social and political participation; which he believes should be done with respect for chastity; he wants women to take up the weapon of faith and commitment to advance the Islamic revolution; and be its support.”

She emphasized: “According to Ayatollah Khomeini, there is no difference between men and women in terms of human rights. Among the rights he said; are the rights to set conditions in a marriage, the right to vote; the right to choose a job, the right to political participation, and many other things.”

Final Word

In the end, this doctoral student of Jurisprudence and Family Law said: “Knowing the views of the great Islam; and Ayatollah Khomeini regarding the position of women; and their rights will help women to choose their path with more diligence and accuracy.”

Stay tuned for more.

Source: ISNA News Agency

February 8, 2023 0 comment

Europe Politics

SHOCKING; “Watch this Creep”- Women Exposing Gym Harassments on TikTok

by Narges Mohammadi February 7, 2023

BRITAIN/Women have long been hyper-vigilant about unwanted male attention at the gym. But before smartphones, the sense they were being stared at was more of a feeling than a certainty.

Catching perceived offenders in action has become its own sport on TikTok; with women covertly leaving their phones on record; and then watching the resulting video to see who was staring at their behind while they were doing squats.

On the app, the pitiless hashtag “gym weirdos” has over 1.9m views; with videos showing men attempting to flirt with or pick up women; who just want to get through their sets unbothered.

Gina Love is one such TikTok detective. She goes to the gym at least four times a week, because the endorphin boost that comes from a good deadlift counteracts the stress of life.

“Watch this creep come over to my personal bubble while doing [Romanian deadlifts],” Love wrote in the caption of an encounter she posted on TikTok, which was liked over 50,000 times. “The gym was practically empty, and so many corners to be in and he chose this one.” In the clip, the man stands directly behind Love as she lifts dumbbells before deciding to leave.

“I would say I experience creeps 15% of the times I work out,” Love, who is 29 and lives in Atlanta, told the Guardian. This usually manifests as a man staring at her for an “uncomfortably long” amount of time. “It’s almost like they’re trying to undress you in their heads,” Love said.

Further Information

Some might say inappropriate looks or creepy comments are as much of a feature; in the gym for women as broken workout equipment or crowds. One study from 2021 found that 76% of women feel uncomfortable exercising in public due to harassment. In another survey from Run Repeat, 56% of women reported facing harassment during their workouts.

Love sometimes leaves the gym when the staring is too much. “It makes me feel disgusted, anxious and my survival instinct kicks in,” she said. “I’ll typically cut my workout short because I can’t get back into feeling comfortable with that person around me.” Love swaps stories with friends; one recently told her that a man had tried to secretly record her during a workout.

Comments on her videos, and others posted by women with similar experiences, elicit different reactions. Some commenters agree that gyms feel like predatory spaces. But others dismiss the women’s complaints as overreactions.

“It’s not your personal space,” one person wrote in reply to Love’s clip. “WTF is a personal bubble at a public gym?” another asked.

Joey Swoll is a male trainer and TikToker who calls himself the “CEO of gym positivity”. He frequently reposts these videos with commentary on gym etiquette, either exonerating the so-called “creep” or validating the frazzled woman’s feelings to his 6 million TikTok followers.

Last month, an influencer named Jessica Fernandez posted a video from the gym showing a man glancing in her direction as she worked out. “I hate this, I hate when there are weirdos,” she said under her breath in the clip. “Feral, feral, feral, like fucking feral.” The man then asked her if she needed help with weight, and she declined.

What happened after?

Swoll responded to her video, writing; “Women are harassed in gyms and it needs to stop, but you are not one of them. An act of kindness or a glance does not make you a victim.” The video was liked over 812,000 times; and Fernandez ultimately apologized for her post. Swoll and Fernandez did not respond to requests for comment.

Why can’t men mind their own business at the gym? Natalia Mehlman Petrzela, a historian and author of the new book Fit Nation; The Gains and Pains of America’s Exercise Obsession, said that gyms had long been gendered spaces. Historically, separate men’s and women’s gyms existed, or health clubs hosted intentional “ladies’ days”.

“When I hear about men ogling or hitting on women at the gym; I am often reminded of how for decades, women exercising was considered a kind of sexy spectacle,” Petrzela said.

In June of 1972, for instance, New York held its first Mini-Marathon; which was televised and hosted by the hosiery brand L’eggs. Playboy Bunnies flanked the starting line of the race. “It’s clear from the footage that some of the male spectators were there to leer at; rather than cheer on, the women’s athletes,” Petrzela said. Even as second-wave feminism of the 1970s and 80s encouraged women to sign up for workout classes en masse; late-night hosts constantly joked about watching Spandex-clad personalities like Debbie Drake or Jane Fonda gyrate on TV for something “other than the exercise”.

Media-Press Reports

In the 1980s, after co-ed gyms became the norm, columnists wrote articles about how gyms were “the new singles bars”, a concept that powered the 1985 romantic comedy Perfect, starring John Travolta as a reporter who falls for a perpetually sweating health coach, played by Jamie Lee Curtis.

The majority of today’s gyms are co-ed, and the idea of going back to women-only workout spaces remains controversial. Last year, Connecticut’s supreme court ruled that these areas violated a state law banning discrimination based on gender. Despite this, certain sections of the gym tend to be unofficially sex-segregated.

“Women are overrepresented in the studios and on cardio equipment while men disproportionately flock to the weight floor,” Petrzela said. “But the boom in popularity of women weightlifting, and thus being more present in a part of the gym that has traditionally been more male, means that there are probably more instances of those unwanted advances.”

This means that women like Love, who find so much joy in working out, have to negotiate with their sense of safety whenever they want to head to the gym. “This behavior from men encourages me to work out at the earliest time possible, typically when the gym opens,” she said. “I tend to go with a friend because creeps are timider when there are two girls together. I try to keep my clothing incognito: an oversized hoodie and a hat. Sadly, girls can’t be comfortable wearing whatever they please to work out without being harassed.”

Source: The Guardian

February 7, 2023 0 comment

Culture North America

EXCLUSIVE; Hollywood Female Celebrities in a World of Discrimination & Incertitude ©

by Narges Mohammadi February 6, 2023

HOLLYWOOD/Jane Fonda, who is also a women’s rights activist; said in an interview that was published on BBC website; “Given the gender perspective that dominates the cinema and the emphasis on the representation of women in sexual fields; it has become Terrible to be a young actress. She added that she once lost her job because she ignored her boss’s request for sex.

Fonda revealed that she was sexually abused and raped as a child and that her mother; Frances Ford Seymour, was sexually abused when she was eight years old; and as a result killed herself at the age of 42.

Jane Fonda has been nominated for the Academy Awards 7 times; won the award for Best Actress twice in 1971 and 1979. Some actors involved in this so-called dream-making factory have tried to answer where this amount of sexual assault; and slavish view of women in Hollywood comes from.

The answers that now come from a group of the most prolific; and prominent Hollywood actresses who do not fit into the form of gender discrimination; in any way can invalidate all those claims of equality between men and women in the liberal ideology of capitalism.

Where did it all start?

In one of the famous Hollywood actresses’ round tables; after the 2017 Oscar ceremony; all of these actors emphasized the existence of “sexism, misogyny, depression, immorality, and rape” in Hollywood.

In this round table, famous actors such as “Nicole Kidman” (Oscar winner of the best actress ceremony in 2017); “Jessica Lange” (another Oscar winner); “Reese Witherspoon” (another Oscar actress), and “Oprah Winfrey” (the so-called woman powerful American media) were present.

Following the presence of an Israeli actor named Gol Gadot; (who was also a major in the Israeli army during the invasion of Lebanon); in the lead role of one of the expensive Hollywood projects called Wonder Woman; a wave of protests and criticism happened in the American cinema.

(The showing of the mentioned film was banned in some Islamic countries; and sometimes it was controversial in the United States as well). In a part of this roundtable that discussed; “the power and suffering of women in the discriminatory culture of cinema industry”; Jessica Lange said: “I don’t think that today, we have seen this amount of misogyny and gender discrimination!”

She added that the producer of her TV show was supposed to make an episode about; “misogyny, sexism, ageism” or all of these in the run-up to the US presidential election; but she failed to do so!

Others in the panel

Oprah Winfrey (who ran one of the most popular television shows in America for 25 years; and recently founded a television network herself); confirmed Jessica Lange’s statement and added; “I was a person who valued acting a lot, and spent years playing actors. Well, I could see the woman, but I didn’t feel any progress. It was scary for me to do it and look stupid.”

In response to Winfrey’s confession and the surprise of those present; Nicole Kidman said: “I feel the same way every day!”

Then Reese Witherspoon stated: “In fact, we are alive. We are living in insecurity.”

Christine Metz, another actress present at the roundtable, confirmed what others said; “For me and other women who are under makeup and artificial hair, there is a question; why? Why should we be judged by our appearance when our appearance is the only body we fit into; and it changes with the tides.”

Metz continued: “I’ve never seen my body on TV because I knew it wasn’t mine!”

Black theme at the Golden Globe Awards in protest of sexual assaults

The public protest, even in Hollywood, became wider and wider with the spread of successive revelations and scandals of those involved in this so-called dream-making factory. On Sunday, January 8, 2018, in Los Angeles, the actors and actresses present at the 75th Golden Globe ceremony (Hollywood Foreign Press Association Awards) appeared on the red carpet wearing black clothes in protest of the sexual assault crisis that has engulfed Hollywood.

This strange reaction was followed by the disastrous news that was published in 2017; and showed that many well-known and famous agents of Hollywood companies were involved in assaulting; and raping women as well as actresses.

Although knowing about the issue of promiscuity and illicit relationships in Western cinema, especially Hollywood; as seen many times on the screens of the films of this so-called dream-making factory, this matter is not a strange thing.

During the years of 2015, several reports and documentaries were published by some social, academic, and research institutions in the West, which provide very shocking statistics about the growth of this disaster. Statistics that, in addition to Hollywood, academic, sports, artistic, and even political centers such as the European Parliament are all included in this report as well.

Famous Hollywood filmmaker deadlocked by sexual accusations

Accusations and news of sexual assaults in Hollywood didn’t limit to old and young, famous and anonymous people; and almost included many different ranges of cinematographers, actors, and producers. Immoral relationships were not a new thing in Hollywood, but they had never reached this record of such a dirty and unbridled level.

One of those filmmakers was Woody Allen. A famous Hollywood filmmaker exposed such immoral and illegitimate relationships in some of his films; including the latest one in the movie Café Society. In this film, an uncle and his nephew the owners of one of the Hollywood studios, at the same time, have an affair with one of the studio’s secretaries.

Now the same relations have plagued him outside the movies; so that after 40 years, when he released a movie almost every year, due to the sexual accusations against him, in 2017, he failed to release another work of his.

While he had his new movie “A Rainy Day in New York” ready to show for a year, American distributors such as “Amazon” refused to distribute and show this movie during that one year. The reason for this was due to the sexual assault cases filed against this famous filmmaker, including the rape of his adopted daughter at the age of seven and several other cases.

As a result of Woody’s case

Woody Allen’s sexual assault cases reached a new peak after widespread sexual scandals in the West, especially in Hollywood, and the establishment of the “#MeToo” movement. It was then that Woody Allen decided to go to the European producers to show his film, that is, the same ones that he once ridiculed in one of his films called “The End of Hollywood”.

Ending

It should be noted that after the huge wave of criticism and protests against the high level of sexual assaults and crimes in Western countries; strange revelations in Hollywood against the filmmakers and those involved in this film production center were done in America. This brought many famous filmmakers and actors such as “Harvey Weinstein”, “Roman Polanski”, “Kevin Spacey” and “Sammy Davis” to court and banned them from film activities, and even caused them expelled from the Oscar Academy.

On the other hand, Tom Hanks, the famous Hollywood actor, and producer who received America’s highest medal of honor from Obama; said a few words in defense of sexual assaults in Hollywood. He said in a discussion of sexual assaults with 40 women; the percentage of women who experienced sexual harassment from the deviant people above them was 100%!

Source: Jam-e-Jam News Agency

February 6, 2023 0 comment

Europe Politics

NEW; “A woman’s place is in the home”_ Ireland votes for an outdated law

by Narges Mohammadi February 5, 2023

Dublin seeks to modify a constitutional article stipulating domestic chores are a woman’s ‘life and duties’

IRELAND_DUBLIN/Men and women enjoy more equality in Ireland than in almost any other country on earth; there was a female head of state in Dublin for longer than in all but three other capitals; and the share of women on corporate boards is rising faster than the EU average.

Yet according to the Irish constitution, a woman’s life and duties are in the home.

It adds that the state will endeavor to ensure that mothers shall not be obliged by economic necessity; to engage in labor to the neglect of their duties in the home.

The coalition government headed by Leo Varadkar has committed to holding a referendum on the issue this year. But he has not set a date yet, despite pressure from activists, politicians, and rights defenders.

The failure to update the constitution on this matter is a glaring omission.

“It’s a key marker in terms of moving away from the old Ireland and the place where it put women,”; said Orla O’Connor, director of the National Women’s Council.

A new public holiday will be inaugurated on Monday in honor of Ireland’s “matron” saint; the first holiday to celebrate a woman and the result of a long campaign that included an online petition. Saint Brigid was born to unmarried parents in the fifth century, and she was forced to work as a servant to her father. She went on to gain vast power and influence in Ireland after founding a major monastery.

New Propose

Plenty of groundwork for a referendum has already been done: a citizen’s assembly. forum used to prepare for other progressive constitutional changes; recommended introducing gender-neutral language that would also recognize the value of all caregivers; and broaden the definition of family as an institution based only on marriage.

A parliamentary committee in December published proposed new wording — which will need approval from the attorney-general, cabinet and the Dáil parliament — to recognize and support “care within and outside the home and family including, but not limited to the marital family”.

She said the current wording was not only “transparently sexist”; an update would be “a symbolic reparation for what was done to unmarried women and children in this country; such as the Magdalene Laundries”, she said; referring to institutions run by religious orders.

The 1937 constitution was controversial from day one: Hanna Sheehy Skeffington, a suffragette and activist; blasted the text as a “fascist model in which women would be relegated to permanent inferiority”.

In the following decades, progress on women’s rights was slow: only in the last half-century have Irish women been able to drink a pint in a pub, serve on a jury, collect family allowance or refuse sex with their husbands.

Further Details

Current-day politicians and commentators are taking nothing for granted. Labor party leader Ivana Bacik, who chaired the parliamentary committee, said public opinion favored the change, but “nothing is inevitable”.

Maria Steen, a conservative Catholic commentator, barrister and stay-at-home mother to five children under 16, opposed any amendment. She called it a “misconception” that the constitution confined women to the home. The gender-neutral language was an attempt “to erase women who choose a different way of life, and any praise or acknowledgement for the work that they do”, she added.

But Linda Doyle, Trinity College Dublin’s first female provost, said she had personally “benefited from women being in much better positions now”.

At an event to unveil the first statues celebrating inspirational women in the university’s famous Long Room, she added: “Yes there’s progress, yes, it’s fantastic…, but things don’t change unless you say ‘I want that change’ and then you go and do something about it.”

What we see here is the absolute double standards of the western policy when it comes to women working or staying at home.

Source: Financial Times

February 5, 2023 0 comment

Asia Politics

INTERESTING; US envoy claims “PROGRESS” made on Afghan women’s situation

by Narges Mohammadi January 30, 2023

AFGHANISTAN/UN delegation Amina Mohammed, who held talks with the Taliban, tells Al Jazeera some progress in the health sector made but much remains to be done.

A UN delegation, which held talks with senior Taliban officials in Afghanistan, has made headway on women’s rights. The UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed said a week ago, cautioning that much remains to be achieved.

The high-level meeting earlier this week comes amid widespread criticism of the governing Taliban; for banning women from universities and NGOs last month. Millions of high school girls have already been confined to their homes as schools remain shut. The Taliban has gone back on its promises of women’s rights; and media freedom since they stormed to power in August 2021 after the West-backed government collapsed.

What did the UN delegation say?

“There has been some progress. Some exemptions have been made to the edicts that have covered the health sector,” Mohammed, who led the delegation, said, referring to the resumption of work by three NGOs last week.

“I think that’s because the international community, and particularly the partners who are funding this; were able to show the implications and the impact of the woman-to-woman services, particularly childbirth,” she added.

Not enough, she said, adding that was just the very beginning. “We’ve opened up a crack and we hope that through the reversals we can eventually get to a stage. A stage where you neutralize those edicts; and women are back in school and girls and of course in the workplace.”

The 61-year-old UN diplomat said her delegation met with cabinet members; including the foreign minister, deputy prime minister, and the minister of refugees and returnees.

The group also met the governor of Kandahar, as well as the Shura; (leadership council) that is responsible for taking many key decisions in the country.

“I was always very clear that I am going there as an opportunity to air the voices of Afghan women. We heard from young women who said; ‘We do not need your voice, what we need is you amplify ours,’” Mohammed said in an interview.

“I was very focused on getting those messages across.”

‘Important to have a conversation

Mohammed, the UN’s top-ranking female official, described the current laws on women’s education; and workplace as an “aberration” to the teachings of Islam but emphasized the need to engage with the Taliban.

“It’s very important to go in there and try to have a conversation with them, and they did,” she added.

“What we did see was an understanding … of how important it was for girls’ rights and women’s rights in education. They all didn’t … didn’t push back on that. But what they said was that … it is a work in progress and they’re going to come back to us with the new framing; around which they would protect women that would be accessing education and also the workplace,” Mohammed, said.

Last week, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres denounced the “unprecedented, systemic attacks on women’s and girls’ rights”; which he said, “are creating gender-based apartheid”.

Abdul Qahar Balkhi, the spokesman for the Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs; said some NGOs were trying to create what he called ‘social change’ in Afghanistan.

But he says the Taliban is allowing organizations to operate if they align with the country’s values.

Those NGOs which were committed to the “cardinal principle of NGO work [such as] impartiality and neutrality” were given exemptions in some areas, including health, Balkhi said last week.

OIC Cooperation

Mohammed, a former minister of environment in the Nigerian government, before she visited Kabul; reached out to the 57-member Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which expressed concern about restrictions on women.

The OIC, the grouping of Muslim nations; issued a statement saying that what is happening in Afghanistan is against the holy Quran and Islam.

Moreover, Mohammed, said she was “surprised” by the Taliban’s “need and want to be recognized”.

To date, no country in the world has recognized the Taliban-led government since they stormed to power 17 months ago weeks in advance of the withdrawal of US-led foreign forces after 20 years of war and occupation.

Asked if the UN itself would recognize the group, Mohammed, the UN envoy, said, “I hope there is a day that we do recognize this government, provided it is based on the principles that they need to understand and uphold as part of the international family.”

“But I do fear that what we are doing is having women and girls caught in the crossfire, and it’s really important we don’t do that. We heard the stories of many Afghan women who, because of this, are not able to feed their children,” she added.

“They’re painful stories of women who don’t know where the next meal is coming from.”

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) the humanitarian crises in the country were affecting 28 million people.

Dozens of Afghans have died in the severe cold wave sweeping the country.

Source: Al-Jazeera

January 30, 2023 0 comment

Asia Women Pioneers

SMALL businesses, BIG dreams; These are Iraq’s female entrepreneurs

by Narges Mohammadi January 28, 2023

IRAQ/The sewing machines and fabric that surround Alaa Adel at her “Iraq couture” studio in Baghdad; are a testament to her success in deeply patriarchal Iraq.

Adel, 33, counts herself among a limited number of female entrepreneurs; in a country where most women don’t work outside the home.

“We have a social tradition that prevents many women from working,” Adel said at her studio in Baghdad’s Karrada commercial district.

Even for those who do, “it is not always that easy,” she added.

The International Organization for Migration said in an October report; that “prevailing customs and traditions… limit women’s activities to their domestic and nurturing role”.

Adel said such prejudices, as well as practical difficulties, posed a challenge to fulfilling her dream.

A graduate of the University of Baghdad who specialized in fashion and design; Adel wanted to create her own fashion house.

“I went to see the patrons of organisations that support art and culture. But my idea was systematically rejected because I had no experience in the conception of projects,” she said.

Thanks to an Iraqi foundation, The Station, and its “Raidat” (Female Entrepreneurs) programme financed by the French embassy in Baghdad; Adel got training which, she said, gave her the confidence to start her own business.

Obstacles

Iraq’s private sector is still embryonic, making more tedious and lengthy the steps to set up a company.

The country, which is trying to move past four decades of war and unrest, is also plagued by endemic corruption, widespread unemployment and a poverty rate of around 30 per cent.

Almost 38 per cent of people with jobs work in Iraq’s public sector — one of the highest rates in the world, according to the International Labour Organization (ILO). Adel eventually secured a loan from a private bank and created her “Alaa Adel” brand last summer.

In the beginning, she had to deal with sexism from some fabric suppliers who were reluctant to do business with a woman, she said.

Then there was a lack of public childcare facilities, in a country where tradition says children should be taken care of at home — by the mother — until they go to school.

Adel got help from family members who look after her two boys, aged nine and four, while she is at work. Iraq has 13 million employment-aged women “yet only around one million are working”, said ILO country coordinator Maha Kattaa, presenting a report in July last year.

Complications in business

The female labour force participation rate “was particularly low” at 10.6 per cent, the ILO report said, compared with 68 per cent for men.

In contrast, neighbouring Saudi Arabia — until a few years ago one of the world’s most restrictive countries for women — had a female workforce participation rate of 35.6 per cent in the second quarter of 2022.

Most of Iraq’s working women are teachers or nurses. A rare few are members of the police or armed forces.

For Shumoos Ghanem, men “dominate numerous sectors whereas women are relegated to the margins”.

The 34-year-old is the owner of a dietary food business and founder of the Iraqi Women in Business initiative; which provides professional guidance to women online. She is also a mother to a 14-month-old son.

Ghanem says most of those she advises are mothers. Mothers who have been out of the workforce and “wonder if society will accept them” again as working women. Over the past five or six years, Iraqi women have had increased opportunities; she said, but the space for them “to develop is very limited still”.

“Some regions are more traditional than others,” she added, which further restricts women’s chances to have “careers or to open projects”.

Surrounded by men, Ghanem said she experienced sexism and was worried about harassment.

“When I went to see suppliers for the first time, I saw how complicated it was,” she recalled.

Now she works from home, but she too has a dream ; to have her health, conscious restaurant where she can help bolster the ranks of female Iraqi businesswomen.

“I want to make it a place to support women who want to work in this sector,” she said.

Source: Al-Monitor

January 28, 2023 0 comment

Europe Health

NEW FOUND; UK poorly Falls behind China & Saudi Arabia on Women’s Health Index

by Narges Mohammadi January 26, 2023

A new survey shows that women’s health care in the UK worsening and has sunk to a level on par with Kazakhstan.

The UK ranked 30th out of 122 countries in the latest Hologic Global Women’s Health Index; falling behind China and Saudi Arabia. Hologic Inc. and its partner Gallup interviewed women to rate multiple measures from mental health to prevent care.

The report strikes a chord in the UK, where the cash-strapped National Health Services is battling staff shortages and massive backlogs; raising concern about healthcare quality and its funding. Ambulance workers held their biggest strike on Monday; while junior doctors voted for industrial action last week.

The US ranked 23rd in the report, behind Germany, New Zealand, and Singapore but ahead of France. Taiwan and Latvia scored the highest and Afghanistan the lowest. The survey showed a decline in women’s ability to meet their basic needs as well as record levels of stress, worry, and anger.

“Women’s health has taken a back seat to nearly everything else going on in the world”, said Stephen MacMillan; chairman of Hologic, a US maker of medical devices and diagnostic products.

The UK dropped three points in the latest index; ranking on par with Poland, Slovenia, and Kosovo besides Kazakhstan. It was among the fastest-declining countries for emotional health.

The US meantime remained an exception because higher health spending didn’t translate into better outcomes, the report said.

The 2021 findings are based on interviews with almost 127,000 women and men; with questions encompassing preventive care, emotional health, opinions of health and safety, and basic needs. The higher the score, the more women reported positive experiences.

Source: Bloomberg

January 26, 2023 0 comment

Asia Society

by Narges Mohammadi January 22, 2023

The first international congress of influential women was held in Tehran on Friday, January 20, 2023; with the official welcome of Iran’s vice president for women’s affairs guiding to the honorable guests of this event.

In this ceremony the current, former 1st and 2nd ladies of Armenia, Burkina Faso, Kyrgyzstan, Serbia, Guinea, and Niger attended. Adding to that, the special envoy of the 1st lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the wife of Sri Lanka’s ruling party’s leader; and representatives from Syria and Turkmenistan attended.

In the session of the first day of this congress, which started on Thursday, January 19, 300 foreign guests, including 70 female officials and activists from various fields, including ministers, vice presidents, and parliamentarians, had come to Iran, without the retouching of Western media listened to Iranian women.

Foreign women who participated in this congress were active in various fields, including science, research, innovation, economy, health and treatment, art, social and economic activism, civil activists, environmental activists, lawyers, media activists, etc.

In this specialized meeting, 1^st ladies and prime ministers of foreign countries commented on the field of women and how to implement the joint memorandum. In this meeting, women emphasized that the Islamic Republic of Iran has an effective role and great potential for the global community.

Matters that were discussed

Defending women’s rights and expanding the opportunity for their presence, in political, economic, and social fields; and fighting injustice against women; were other approaches mentioned by the participants.

The respected women stated in this congress that we should unite to overcome women’s problems and prepare a proper road map. All speakers reminded that women need a big view instead of an isolated view to cooperate.

In this specialized meeting, the spouses of the heads of state of foreign countries said that we must find a solution for peace. The participants thanked the president of our country. They believed that Ayatollah Seyed Ebrahim Raisi recognized the great and important role of women in society.

In this meeting, there was a discussion about establishing of the International Association of Influential Women.

The Iranian vice presidential office of women and family affairs is trying to establish a connection between influential women around the world and influential Iranian women to create synergy for the country’s progress.

Appreciation of top and influential women in the international congress

At the end of the program, seven outstanding women from different countries were awarded. They were:

Mrs. Lee; an outstanding researcher in the field of chemistry and a professor at the University of Thailand
Sudeh Ghafouri; a doctor of medical genetics from Iran
Mrs. Elina; one of the leading ladies in Russia
Zahra Imam Juma; an Iranian scientist
Maria Beatriz Yunes; the influential woman of Argentina
Mojgan Zandi; the author of various articles in the field of Iranian chemical industries
Panabe Shiami from China

The wife of Armenia’s prime minister, the wife of Burkina Faso’s president, the first lady of Kyrgyzstan, the wife of Serbia’s president; and the 2^nd lady of Iran the wife of the Iranian president, Dr. Jamila Alamolhoda were on the stage to present the awards. Zeinab Nasrallah, the daughter of the secretary general of Lebanon’s Hezbollah, was also a special guest of this ceremony.

In the end, on behalf of all Iranian women (living in Iran!!!), we would like to give our gratitude great ladies that accepted the invitation and came to hear our voice. Thank you for not falling for the media propaganda against Iran and choosing to come and see the true Iranian women. The women who are strong and successful; but silenced and censored by the western media.

Source: ISNA News Agency

January 22, 2023 2 comments

North America Politics

Debates on Imposing Stricter Dress-Codes on Female-Lawmakers in U.S.A

by Narges Mohammadi January 22, 2023

AMERICA/The new year is already off to a perfect start for women in this country—Roe v. Wade is history, pro-rape mesosphere bloggers are more popular than ever. Furthermore, if you’re a woman in Missouri’s state legislature, there’s no greater clarity as to what you can and can’t wear on the state House floor.

Last week, state lawmakers kicked off this year’s legislative session with a prolonged debate to amend the dress code for women lawmakers, who make less than of the state legislatures. The legislature debates changes to House rules at the start of the General Assembly every two years. Wednesday’s debate largely hinged around women’s right to bare arms, on the House floor.

Previously, House rules stated that “dresses or skirts or slacks worn with a blazer or sweater and appropriate dress shoes or boots” were permissible for women on the floor. Rep. Ann Kelley, a Republican, proposed an amendment to explicitly require women legislators to wear blazer jackets on the House floor; calling this “essential to always maintain a formal and professional atmosphere.” She was backed up by another Republican lawmaker who argued that the amendment was perfectly reasonable. As this would simply clarify previous rules that might have allowed women to—god forbid—wear a cardigan.

Twitter reactions

Yep, the caucus that lost their minds over the suggestion that they should wear masks during a pandemic to respect the safety of others is now spending its time focusing on the fine details of what women have to wear (specifically how to cover their arms) to show respect here.

— Rep. Peter Meredith (@PeterforMO) January 11, 2023 said on twitter

MO State Rep. Proudie (D) goes after GOP House members pushing a dress code for women — requiring they wear jackets — in a rules bill.

“I spent $1,200 on a suit, and I can’t wear it in the People’s House because someone who doesn’t have the range tells me that’s inappropriate.” pic.twitter.com/uORB2OWTXW

— Heartland Signal (@HeartlandSignal) January 11, 2023

According to Merideth, engaging with other Twitter users on the matter, Republicans proposed these changes this week because they were particularly miffed by “a couple women last year didn’t dress nicely enough for their standards.”

Actually just tweaking the dress code because they thought a couple women last year didn’t dress nicely enough for their standards.

— Rep. Peter Merideth (@PeterforMO) January 11, 2023

What happened in the end?

All of this ultimately prompted a morning spent discussing the true enemy in a state ranked among the most impoverished in the nation, with among the highest maternal mortality rates in the nation: light layers. Clearly, the real problem is that the legislature’s narrow minority of women are not suitably covering their arms with formal enough outer apparel.

After thoroughly wasting a morning, the House landed on a new dress code for women, ultimately compromising to allow cardigans so long as ladies just put their damn arms away: “Proper attire for women shall be business attire, including jackets worn with dresses, skirts, or slacks, and dress shoes or boots,” the new policy states.

Mind you, just last year, 15 mass shootings took place in the state, including one at a school in St. Louis. But, sure! The real problem worth cracking down on is women’s right to freely bare their arms, as opposed to, say, endemic gun violence.

Source: Yahoo News

January 22, 2023 1 comment

Newer Posts

Older Posts