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Do You Know Women in Power Positions?

CitizenSugar — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 15:20:02 -0800

Do You Know Women in Power Positions? While the US has yet to see a female president, there have been female leaders in countries across the world as long as sources date back. Currently, there are reigning queens in three countries, six female presidents, and seven female prime ministers. Can you recognize them? Take my quiz and find out!

Eight-Year-Old Saudi Cannot Divorce Her 58-Year-Old Husband

LibertySugar — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 13:00:04 -0800

An eight-year-old Saudi girl will not be able to divorce her 58-year-old husband until she reaches puberty. A Saudi court rejected her mother's divorce plea, ruling that the marriage contract — signed by the groom and the father with the verbal condition that the marriage would not be consummated for 10 years — was valid.

In exchange for his child's hand in marriage, the down-on-his-luck father received $7,500. The girl still lives with her mother and attends school.

This story of a legal system tolerating essentially the sale of a young girl to a man 50 years her elder makes me wonder: Of the billions of women in the world, how many must face an unjust life with few opportunities to control their destinies?

Source

Who Is Your Favorite Woman in Power?

LibertySugar — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 10:30:33 -0800

Even though there hasn't been a female US president, the country's women in power remind us that leadership isn't just a man's job. Hillary Clinton took on many roles this year: she was a senator from New York, the wannabe leader of the US, the reluctant leader of the PUMAs, and now know she will most likely be the leader of the US State Department. Current Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, the first African-American woman to serve in the post, traveled around the world signing missile deals with Poland, trying to keep tensions down between India and Pakistan, and playing the piano for the Queen of England.Nancy Pelosi had a good time at the Democratic National Convention before heading back to Washington for a Fall full of bailouts. Sarah Palin's run for vice president made some conservatives give thanks. Another governor, Janet Napolitano of Arizona, got tapped to serve as Obama's secretary of Homeland Security. All the while, Ruth Bader Ginsburg served her 15th year on the Supreme Court presiding over cases about gun control, the death penalty, and Guantanamo Bay. I want to know all you favorites from this year, including your favorite woman in power! Source

Flirting With Jail? 400 Egyptian Teens Arrested For Flirting

LibertySugar — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:30:13 -0800

A not-so-playful police sting in Cairo netted about 400 teenage boys accused of flirting with girls. Just yesterday, law enforcement rounded up the underage wannabe-seducers in front of schools, universities, or other public places where teens hang out. The teens will most likely face fines.

While a crackdown on innocent flirting seems oppressive, something beyond prudish attitudes motivated the sting. Egyptian women deal with an extraordinary amount of sexual harassment and assault in public. In Egypt, two-thirds of men admit to harassing women in public.

Last month, an Egyptian court handed down a sentence of hard labor and three years in jail for a man convicted of groping a woman in public. Now it looks like officials want to teach younger males a lesson before they graduate from flirting to groping. Do you think the Casanova roundup will work?

Source

City of Love Issues Manual to Stop Forced Marriages

CitizenSugar — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 03:00:50 -0800

Paris, the universal capital of love and romance, created a manual on forced marriages this week to help officials spot and prevent cases of young women being forced into matrimony.

An estimated 70,000 young women in France are victims (or potential victims) of forced marriages, according to a government study. City officials who conduct weddings often don't know how to deal with their suspicion — clearly they haven't spent time in Vegas! — so the city created some guidelines.

What are telltale signs? The 32-page book lists clues like when "middlemen fill in the required documents ahead of the wedding, when the woman does not appear at the city hall at any point before the wedding day, or when there is a big age difference between the man and the woman". It also notes signs like bridal distress or submission to relatives, brides that can't answer questions clearly and brides that don't know their fiancé's personal history.

Source

Where the Ladies At? Fewer Girls Going Into Computer Science

CitizenSugar — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 13:30:15 -0800

The number of girls interested in computer science peaked in 1982. Yes, 26 years ago, before people even had computers at home. After a sharp decline, it held steady until 2000 and now it’s at an all-time low — back to where it began in the early ‘70s.

Why? That was the funny part of the New York Times article "What Has Driven Women Out of Computer Science." Nobody actually knows. But everybody speculates! Here’s what was said:

Before the male subculture of gaming, women felt more comfortable pursuing computer science.
The girls game movement of the '90s backfired: It made girls think computers were boy toys and girls didn’t play with computers.
Women went into web design so it all evens out. Nope. Web design and other “nontraditional” forms of computer science don't count to the people counting. The pay is less and the work is less influential on how computers are used.
The perception of being a “geek” or “nerd” that comes with majoring in computer science The theory? Girls don’t want to be that person. I know a geek who would disagree!

The one thing everyone can agree on is that the younger girls are when introduced to computers, the better. Expect to see video games for newborns soon!

Source

First Female Four-Star General For US

CitizenSugar — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 09:00:43 -0800

Ann E. Dunwoody became the first woman ever to achieve the rank of four-star general in the US Army on Friday, after 33 years of service. At the ceremony Dunwoody, 55, said she is shocked to make history in a male-dominated military. She said:

"Thirty-three years after I took the oath as a second lieutenant, I have to tell you this is not exactly how I envisioned my life unfolding. Even as a young kid, all I ever wanted to do was teach physical education and raise a family. It was clear to me that my Army experience was just going to be a two-year detour en route to my fitness profession. So when asked, 'Ann, did you ever think you were going to be a general officer, to say nothing about a four-star?' I say, 'Not in my wildest dreams.'"

To watch a clip of her touching acceptance speech,

Do You Know Women in Power Positions?

LibertySugar — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 00:01:00 -0700

While the US has yet to see a female president, there have been female leaders in countries across the world as long as sources date back. Currently, there are reigning queens in three countries, six female presidents and seven female prime ministers. Can you recognize them? Take my quiz and find out!

Question 10

10 of 10

Guess which prime minister was one of the key leaders of the Orange Revolution? Hint: In this period, some Western media publications dubbed her as the "Joan of Arc of the Revolution."

The Correct Answer:

Prime Minster Yulia Tymoshenko of the Ukraine

Yulia Volodymyrivna Tymoshenko is a Ukrainian politician and current prime minister of Ukraine. She is leader of the All-Ukrainian Union "Fatherland" party and the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc. Source

Thank Your Uterus? Women Pay More For Health Insurance

LibertySugar — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 11:00:00 -0700

Affordable healthcare should be of particular importance to women this election season, as new insurance-company data dissected in today's New York Times reveals that women pay much more than men of the same age for individual insurance policies providing the same coverage.

When women (who have lost their jobs or do not receive employer-based insurance) shop for an individual plan, they are offered higher premiums than men. Insurance companies explain that this makes total sense because women 19-55 years old cost more, for reasons such as childbirth. However, even women without maternity coverage get charged higher rates. To see why,

Do You Know Women in Power Positions?

LibertySugar — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 09:55:57 -0700

Do You Know Women in Power Positions? While the US has yet to see a female president, there have been female leaders in countries across the world as long as sources date back. Currently, there are reigning queens in three countries, six female presidents and seven female prime ministers — how much do you know about these gals in charge? Take our Women in Power Positions quiz and find out!

Hasselbeck Campaigns for Palin: Is the Clothes Issue "Sexist?"

CitizenSugar — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 07:39:46 -0700

Is it the metaphoric "Emperor's New Clothes" of the campaign or just blatant sexism in disguise? The seeming wardrobe malfunction of the McCain campaign, the $150,000 spent on outfitting Gov. Palin has been elevated from campaign curiosity to full-blown talking point. This weekend the View's Elisabeth Hasselbeck campaigned for Palin in Florida where she addressed the furor over the cash spent on costuming the family for the convention. Hasselbeck admonished the attention paid to the price saying, “Now, with everything going on in the world, seems a bit odd. But let me tell you, this is deliberately sexist.” Her point being more or less, 'Hey Joe! How much did your suit cost?'Either ironically or pointedly, Hasselbeck continued the gendered theme as she made her case for Palin saying, “Did I mention that this woman, she’s got a real knack for cleaning. She cleaned up house in Alaska. Yup. All that corruption went out with the trash.” Hasselbeck concluded, “It’s getting hot up here, and I promise you, when it gets hot in the kitchen, she may be from Alaska, but this woman can take the heat.”

Palin continued to address the sartorial snafu yesterday saying, "This whole thing with the wardrobe, I try to just ignore it because it's so ridiculous. Those clothes, they are not my property, just like the lighting and the staging and everything else the RNC purchased. I'm not taking them with me. I'm back to wearing my old clothes from my favorite consignment shop in Anchorage, Alaska."Is the very fact that the issue has to be addressed on the campaign trail, clear proof that it's sexist?

Hasselbeck Campaigns for Palin: Is the Clothes Issue "Sexist?"

Yes! She needed an appropriate wardrobe. She's not keeping it, and the men get a pass?

The whole issue is ridiculous: the amount spent, the attention paid to it — stop it!

No! The amount spent important as it's contradictory to her whole argument, not sexism.

Other. I'll outfit my opinion in the comments.

Egyptian Groper Receives Hard Labor, Jail Sentence

LibertySugar — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 03:00:37 -0700

Sexual harassment in Egypt won't get you a slap on the wrist, but it will get you years in jail time and a sentence for hard labor. In what was most likely the first jail sentence for sexual harassment in Egypt, defendant Sharif Gomma was also ordered to pay his victim $895.

While in his car, Gomma drove slowly next to his victim, groping her as she walked on a sidewalk. The victim fought back, eventually hauling him into the police station herself. After much media attention showered on the case, the judge handed down a harsh sentence to prove that such behavior will not be tolerated in Egypt, where two-thirds of men admit to harassing women in public.

In New York City, one chronic groper, arrested 53 times, faced life in prison for his latest offense on the subway. Do you think three years in prison and physical labor for a first sexual harassment offense would count as cruel and unusual punishment in the US?

Source

Front Page: India Launches Moon Orbiter, Palin Gives Speech Advocating Women, EU Protests US Death Sentence

CitizenSugar — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 07:00:27 -0700

India Launches Moon Orbiter:
India has launched its first unmanned spacecraft on a mission to the moon, in an effort to assert its power in space. The mission is set to last two years and will prepare a three-dimensional atlas of the moon as well as survey the lunar surface for usable natural resources like uranium, a coveted fuel for nuclear power plants.

Palin Gives Speech Advocating Women:
At a rally in Nevada yesterday, Sarah Palin gave a speech advocating for women's rights the world over. She said, "there are still places where women are subjugated and persecuted as they were in Afghanistan, places we’re they’re bullied and brutalized and murdered in honor killings. . . if I am elected, these women, too, will have an advocate and a defender in the 47th vice president of the United States. She also gave her first interview to CNN.
EU Protests US Death Sentence:
The European parliament is protesting the execution of a prisoner in the US after seven of the nine key witnesses recanted their testimony against him. The head of the EU parliament says that all executions are a violation of human rights and that the prisoner symbolizes all death row inmates. He says he "will fight against the death penalty under any circumstances everywhere in the world."

Source

Candidates Differ on Drafting Women — Where Do You Stand?

CitizenSugar — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 09:00:21 -0700

While neither candidate is anticipating reviving a draft any time soon, they disagree on one key component: whether to require women to register for Selective Service. Obama supports a requirement for both men and women to register for the draft while McCain doesn't. The Selective Service system was revived by Jimmy Carter in 1980 to require all men between the ages of 18 and 25 to register, just in case a massive expansion of the military is necessary. Keeping women out of the Selective Service has long been controversial among women's rights groups as well as men who've faced penalties for not registering. While Congress and the Supreme Court have exempted women using the military's combat rules, Obama's national security spokeswoman says, "Women are already serving in combat [in Iraq and Afghanistan] and the current policy should be updated to reflect realities on the ground. Barack Obama would consult with military commanders to review the constraints that remain." McCain is in favor of the current Department of Defense restrictions on women in combat units. A campaign spokesman says of his position on the Selective Service, "Sen. McCain strongly believes that an all-volunteer force is preferable to a conscripted force. The tools available to recruiters have historically enabled the all-volunteer force to attract sufficient numbers of qualified recruits."Source

Candidates Differ on Drafting Women — Where Do You Stand?

I'm all for women being required to register. It's both fair and progressive.

I think an examination of combat roles is OK, but women shouldn't be drafted.

No way. Combat roles and registering for the draft are inappropriate for women.

Other. I'll tell you what I think in the comments.

Subtle Sexism in Shots of Sarah Palin's Shoes?

CitizenSugar — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 07:00:00 -0700

I don't know if you've heard, but Sarah Palin is a woman. That's not such a secret. What's interesting about her persona and candidacy is that she makes no effort to downplay her femininity or her role as a super hands-on mother — she's not pantsuiting it up or hiding her feminine ways (no judgment on Hillary, of course. Some gals like a good pantsuit.).

I've been noticing the different style of photos of Palin from the get-go, but uproar over one particular photo — one showing a male supporter's face looking up through the legs of the governor — this week sent me on a hunt to see just how prevalent the trend might be. There were not just a couple, but a shoe-store full of 'em.

I'm no wacky feminist conspiracy theorist, but I will say, this photo of Palin's gams snapped at the veep debate, shown above . . .? No corresponding calf shot of Biden, you can bet on that. Here's my question: Are these just artsy shots, a different way to cover a candidate — one who makes no effort to conceal her legs or girlishness (see: Pit bull in lipstick, hockey mom, etc.)? Or is there a subtle (or not-so-subtle) sexist undermining aspect to the shoe shots?

To see the rest of the shoe snaps,

Silver Lining? Afghanistan Women Are Quietly Gaining Ground

LibertySugar — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 10:00:40 -0700

Since the fall of the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2001, a lot has changed. Maybe the most obvious and notable has been the change in women’s roles in that nation.

While under the Taliban, women were strictly relegated to traditional, some would say, oppressive functions under pain of death should they refuse. This resulted in staggering illiteracy rates, mortality rates, and no opportunities to play any part in the governing of their nation.

But somewhat surprisingly, in the middle of a nation of continuing strife, that is changing rapidly. To see how,

Man Fined For Taking "Unchivalrous" Photo: Snap Judgment?

CitizenSugar — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 15:45:53 -0700

Ever been tagged in an embarrassing Facebook pic? In the UK you might just have a legal leg to stand on to stop those pictures from ever being taken. One 28-year-old mailman was just fined $200 for snapping what the judge deemed an "unchivalrous" photo of a woman. . . . decorating the gutter outside of a bar. The woman's friends called the police after the man took the picture and he was charged with breach of the peace.The judge says of the fine levied, "I'm going to impose a fine to remind him chivalry is not dead and when somebody is in distress you leave them to it." His lawyer says he regrets the "error of judgment." Of snapping the puking pic his lawyer says, "It was ill-judged, it was a spontaneous act and entirely inappropriate. He accepts it was conduct liable to cause upset and did in fact cause upset. It's been a matter of severe regret for him. He's extremely anxious and very contrite about the affair." Source

Man Fined For Taking "Unchivalrous" Photo: Snap Judgment?

He totally deserved the fine. Consequences encourage people to behave better.

"Unchivalrous?" Is this the Middle Ages? She was the one misbehaving, not him.

Other. I'll reserve my judgment for the comments.

You Can Fight for the International Violence Against Women Act!

CitizenSugar — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 05:45:30 -0700

At least one out of every three women globally will be beaten, coerced into sex, or otherwise abused in her lifetime, according to estimates from the United Nations Development Fund for Women.

October is Domestic Violence Prevention Month, and we are proud to be partnering with the Family Violence Prevention Fund to raise awareness about sexual assault and take a stand against child abuse.

The Family Violence Prevention Fund helped create a campaign for the International Violence Against Women Act, which would authorize $200 million annually in foreign assistance for international programs that prevent violence, support health programs and survivor services. The act encourages legal accountability, a change in public attitudes, the promotion of access to economic opportunity projects and education, and addresses violence against women in humanitarian situations.

You can get involved by researching the effort and, assuming you agree with it, urging your member of Congress to co-sponsor it.

You can also take the part in the RESPECT! campaign by sending your respect in a text or support the cause by buying the RESPECT! bracelet.

Source

Judge Throws Out Case Against "Ladies' Night": Right Call?

CitizenSugar — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 12:15:54 -0700

A judge in New York City has thrown out a lawsuit alleging that "Ladies' Night" pricing at bars and nightclubs discriminates against men. The lawsuit was brought by an attorney known for his fight against gender-specific constructs like suing Columbia University for its Women's Studies department. (Have you heard the one about the Men's Studies department? It's called "History." But I digress.) Now the gender-equalizer is taking his fight to the $3 cosmo. The judge tossed the case saying that bars and nightclubs have a right to price their product any which way they'd like because they're not acting as representatives of the state. The attorney's case tried to prove that through the state-run liquor license program, it does just that. After losing, he called the judge a feminist and said that the toss-out was right on par with the deeply embedded gender discrimination in tons of American institutions. It makes one wonder if this crusading lawyer has ever gotten his hair cut or clothes dry-cleaned. I reckon he makes back the difference in "Ladies' Night" at the bar right there . . . Does any gender preference signify discrimination? Drinks aside, is the lawyer fundamentally wrong? Source

Judge Throws Out Case Against "Ladies' Night": Right Call?

Yes. Private institutions can deal with gender as they see fit.

It's tricky because the case seems silly, but the argument really isn't. I don't know.

No, the lawyer's right. How is preferential gender treatment OK, but the reverse isn't?

Other. Is it "Ladies' Night" in the comments? I'll head in there.

McCain: More Women in Top Jobs, Pays More Than Obama

CitizenSugar — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 14:30:51 -0700

Remember when Obama said, "now is the time to keep the promise of equal pay for an equal day's work, because I want my daughters to have exactly the same opportunities as your sons?" It was in the big speech, just for the record.

Um, awkward then to read this afternoon that apparently in Obama's own office, he pays his female staffers, on average, 78 percent of the amount he pays men working for him. Of the top 10 highest paid positions, in Obama's office women hold five of the positions, and Obama pays all his female staffers an average of $12,472 less than the average male salary.

Meanwhile over in the McCain camp seven women occupy the top 10 wage-earning slots and make, on average, 101 percent of the male salary. The women working for McCain earn 24 percent more than those working for Obama, interesting given the controversial position McCain took earlier this year to oppose legislation expanding the ability to sue for equal pay. For what it's worth, women outnumber men on both staffs, and all numbers came from the Report of the Secretary to the Senate.

To see what NOW has to say about the situation,

Girl Power! More Women Than Men Rule in Rwanda

LibertySugar — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 11:00:00 -0700

Rwanda is the first country where women outnumber men in parliament. Following horrific genocide in 1994, Rwanda adopted a new constitution. Among other things, it guarantees 30 percent female representation in parliament.

Thus, even before the latest election of 44 women to fill 80 seats, Rwanda held the world's record for most women to men in parliament. But now, that rate has risen from 48 percent to 55 percent. In honor of the election, test how much you know about the landlocked African country.

Source

The "Lipstick on a Pig" Riff: Pretty Funny or Ugly Politics?

CitizenSugar — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 07:27:24 -0700

Dare I ask? The second the quote hit, the media machine and political fans everywhere blew a collective gasket. "Oh Mybama! Did you hear what he just said?" Is the outrage justified? The McCain campaign thinks so and has responded in full-force to this comment by Obama yesterday: You can put lipstick on a pig. It's still a pig. You can wrap an old fish in a piece of paper called change. It's still going to stink after eight years.

The McCain campaign immediately released an ad condemning the remark which CBS has since pulled over footage of Katie Couric contained within. The ad is still available on his website. In addition, the McCain camp called the comment "offensive and disgraceful," while the Obama campaign says it wasn't referring directly to Gov. Sarah Palin in the comment. The audience present laughed at the line, perhaps tying the cosmetic chuckler to Palin's own joke about the difference between a Pit bull and a hockey mom being the aforementioned. Is this a newsworthy event? According to the reaction to it, yes. Everyone has Google working overtime to see just who else besides your grandma has used the pig-in-lipstick cliché. Apparently, McCain used it to describe Hillary's health care plan and Dick Cheney can't stop using it. What do you make of it?

The "Lipstick on a Pig" Riff: Pretty Funny or Ugly Politics?

Ugly politics. It can't get any lower. Obama knew exactly what he was saying. Gross.

Pretty funny. He was probably referring to the Pit bull joke, and big deal. It's a saying.

This is not news! The campaign has gone on way too long if this is what it's reduced to.

Other. Oh, I've got a big "other" for the comments.

Day 2: Woman and the Economy — What We're Seeing Today

CitizenSugar — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 05:55:15 -0700

As Liberty and I were walking and chatting with David Brooks last night (Not telling lie! David Brooks! He was wearing a pink tie, and couldn't be lovelier in person) he asked how many of you all were Hillary supporters. There are certainly Hillary supporters here (more on that soon) and she features prominently in the day's activities:

EMILY's List is sponsoring a gala with Senator Hillary Clinton, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Michelle Obama.
Hillary is speaking tonight on the convention floor, along with a keynote by Gov. Mark Warner, and speeches by Govs. Kathleen Siebelius and Janet Napolitano. The topic tonight is the economy.

We have news from last night's events, including, "you'll never believe who we saw sing a duet," and a couple of crack interviews by Liberty, and our report on the truth about the Hillary supporters here, all coming soon!

Quiz Nation: Happy Anniversary, Women's Suffrage!

LibertySugar — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 03:00:00 -0700

Hillary Clinton's speech tonight at the Democratic National Convention coincides with the anniversary of women's suffrage.

It's crazy to think only 88 years ago women could not vote in the United States. Today, American women hold powerful positions in government and vote at a higher rate than men. Take this quiz to find out what you know about the road to women's suffrage!

Source

Women-Only Beach in Egypt Allows Modesty and Tanlines

CitizenSugar — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 11:00:42 -0700

Long Muslim scarves and lots of clothes worn on the beach can make a woman feel like a fish out of water. One resort in Egypt is making it safe to dive in. Called "La Femme," its women-only status means that women can swim, breast feed, and lounge in bikinis safe from the prying eyes of men.

Given the guidelines of the growing conservatism in the mostly Muslim country, more and more women opt to follow the strict Muslim guidelines of covering their heads and skin. This beach is one of the only ways they can frolic and still be fiercely religious. One woman in her 60s basking in the sun says, "Sometimes I turn around and look behind to make sure there are no men. And, thank God, there aren't any. It is 'haram' (forbidden in Islam) to strut around in front of men in a swimsuit. It is an excellent idea to have a beach reserved for women only."

To see how they guard the women,

Front Page: Russia Orders Halt to Fighting, More Women in Government, Israel Proposes Deal

CitizenSugar — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 07:01:52 -0700

Russia Orders Halt to Fighting:
Russian President Dmitri Medvedev announced today that he's ordered a halt to the military action in Georgia. He did not say whether the troops are pulling out and was clear that Russian forces are still authorized to fire on enemies. Medvedev said that Russia had achieved its military goals during the five days of intense fighting. Georgia claims that raids are still ongoing despite the official halt.

More Women in Government:
A study has found that the number of women in state government leadership positions is on the rise. The number of women leaders almost matches their representation in the general population in six states. The study's author adds, ''the most important thing is the fact that in 36 of the states, women are doing better than they were in 1997, and by better I mean as a comparison of the percentage of women in leadership posts compared with the percentage of women in the state."
Israel Proposes Deal:
Israel has offered up a peace deal to the Palestinians which would annex 7.3 percent of the West Bank while keeping the largest settlements. The Palestinians would be given in return, 5.4 percent of the West Bank. The Palestinians have not formally received the offer but call it totally unacceptable. About 500,000 Israelis live among 2.5 million Palestinians in land that was occupied by Israel in the 1967 war. The two sides have been in US-sponsored peace talks since November.

Source

Against All Odds Teen Somali Sprinter Heads to Olympics

CitizenSugar — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 03:00:58 -0700

Getting to the Olympics is tough for anyone — imagine training in a country in the midst of 17 years of civil war and chaos, where militia men try to prevent you from training. That's the case for 16-year-old Somali sprinter, Samiya Yuusf Omar. Battling her way up from poverty with a single mother, and facing pressure from friends and relatives who tell her that running will prevent her from marrying and from a better life, she's qualified to represent her country in Beijing.

Despite literal roadblocks that prevent her from going to practice, and when she does get to it, training at a track pocked with mortar holes, Samiya runs through all of the insults and warnings. She may come by her speed naturally; to see how,

No Girls Allowed? Women Stumble On All-Male Mount Athos

CitizenSugar — Tue, 27 May 2008 08:00:56 -0700

Are there any ladies in the house? Accidently, yes. Breaching a ban on women dating back to 1060, four Moldovan women were dropped off on the Greek monastic peninsula of Mount Athos over the weekend.

The unexpected/unwelcomed female visitors told police they had sailed from Turkey after paying $6,300 to two Ukrainian people smugglers, and were unaware they were breaking Greek law.

The four women are aged between 27 and 32, (and were accompanied by one Moldovan man, 41) were discovered by the monks over the weekend. A responding police officer said, "They told police and the monks they were sorry but they couldn't have known this was a no-women area. They were forgiven."

It's a good thing the monks were feeling friendly! To find out why,

How Women Will Change The World

CitizenSugar — Sun, 25 May 2008 12:55:11 -0700

How Women Will Change the World The women of Rwanda are behind one of the most inspiring comeback stories of national transformation in recent history. And while their story is dramatic, it's not unique. Indeed, in the field of international development, women have emerged as the not-so-secret secret to changing the world. As former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has said, "If there is one lesson we in the United Nations have learned over the years, it is that investing in women is the most productive strategy a country can pursue" — to raise economic productivity, improve nutrition and health, and educate the next generation.

Democratic Presidential Primary: Sexist or Racist?

LibertySugar — Wed, 21 May 2008 00:00:18 -0700

This week, Hillary Clinton told the Washington Post that she believes sexism has negatively impacted her campaign.She said: It's been deeply offensive to millions of women. I believe this campaign has been a groundbreaker in a lot of ways. But it certainly has been challenging given some of the attitudes in the press, and I regret that, because I think it's been really not worthy of the seriousness of the campaign.

When asked if the campaign had been racist, she said no, adding: The manifestation of some of the sexism that has gone on in this campaign is somehow more respectable, or at least more accepted, and . . . there should be equal rejection of the sexism and the racism when it raises its ugly head. It does seem as though the press at least is not as bothered by the incredible vitriol that has been engendered by the comments by people who are nothing but misogynists.

Hillary's surrogates have gone so far to say that Barack Obama has in fact benefited from the fact that he is black. Meanwhile, others argue that far from sexist, the Democratic primary has broken sexist barriers for a new generation of women leaders.Should Hillary have delivered a defining "gender" speech, as Barack Obama gave his race speech and Mitt Romney gave a religion speech? Do you agree with Hillary Clinton? Has she been a target for sexism, more than Barack Obama has suffered from racism?

Democratic Presidential Primary: Sexist or Racist?

Sexist! Hillary's been criticized for things (e.g. her fashion, laugh) a man never would be.

Racist. The Clinton camp straight up said that only she can win white votes.

Both. Campaigns always bring out an ugly side. Both suffered here.

Neither. Everyone else is over it, she keeps bringing up her gender.

Other. I'll tell you in the comments.

Dude. What's the Deal With The Political Frat House Mentality?

CitizenSugar — Thu, 01 May 2008 09:00:36 -0700

Yay, I love that women get to be in politics, it's sooo awesome and we have it way, way better than a lot of ladies — but what the heck is going on with all of the dude behavior?

In Australia, Opposition leader Troy Buswell admitted to sniffing the chair of a female Liberal Party staffer. Um, ew. He turned suddenly sensitive however when he had to own up to the act, broke down in tears at a press conference and had to compose himself before telling the media that his shenanigan was inappropriate. Surely just a one-off joke gone wrong? Eh, he'd apparently also snapped the bra of a colleague inspiring a whole new slew of laws banning MPs from sexually harassing parliamentary staff. That's one way to inspire quick change in government I suppose.

Even the most prominent lady in politics at the moment, Ms. Hillary Clinton isn't safe from dude-ness. Right on the heels of the "pansy" situation, a local labor leader introducing Clinton and perhaps trying to pay her a compliment (?!) said the nation needed a leader "that has testicular fortitude." That's right. Testicular. Fortitude. Right or wrong, do people even say that? I say keep your fortitude in your pants, sir.

Have we become so comfortable with women in leadership roles, that the polite censoring has gone out the window, like gals are just "one of the guys," or do gaffes like this show something else? Are we really not as close to integrating women into power positions as we'd like to think? To check out Hillary's reaction to the labor leader's ballsiness,

Afghan Women Fleeing Abuse Often Wind up in Jail

CitizenSugar — Thu, 01 May 2008 06:00:24 -0700

When the Taliban fell six years ago, it was thought that a new government would offer women in Afghanistan a greater freedom since their rights are now guaranteed in the new Afghani constitution. The women of Afghanistan can now go to school and find employment, yet except for a small number of wealthy, urbanites, a woman who escapes a setting of domestic horror can end up in jail.

The reality for most women parts of Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan is less than free: a woman who runs away from home is usually assumed to have taken a lover and can be prosecuted for adultery. Simply leaving her house without her family's permission may be deemed a jailable offense. To see what's happening,

Was McCain Right to Oppose Equal Pay For Women Bill?

LibertySugar — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 15:45:00 -0700

John McCain opposed a bill today, which would have given women suffering pay discrimination more time to sue their employers. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton both supported the bill, which was defeated by Senate Republicans. McCain said: I am all in favor of pay equity for women, but this kind of legislation, as is typical of what's being proposed by my friends on the other side of the aisle, opens us up to lawsuits for all kinds of problems. This is government playing a much, much greater role in the business of a private enterprise system.

McCain also said that what women really need is access to education and training, not access to the court system.Do you agree with McCain? If employers are not susceptible to lawsuits, do they have any incentive to close the pay gap? If women can't realistically turn to the courts to stop pay discrimination, something that does happen in the US, where can they turn?Source

Was McCain Right to Oppose Equal Pay For Women Bill?

Go McCain. The government needs to stay out of private businesses.

McCain is right. The bill doesn't pay women, it pays trial lawyers.

He's wrong, the law is necessary. If a women sues before retirement, she risks her job!

What is he talking about? Women with education and training suffer discrimination.

Other. I'll tell you in the comments.

Guess Who?

LibertySugar — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:00:01 -0700

Who is speaking out on violence against women? One in three women will encounter violence in some way, shape or form against them in their lifetime. That's an extraordinary statistic. Yet do we ever hear it?

US Marines Make a Direct Appeal to Women

LibertySugar — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 03:00:30 -0700

The US Marine Corps is taking on its recruiting challenge the American way — with a targeted advertising campaign. Moving away from its nondescript demographic of "young men," the Marines launched sophisticated ads specifically appealing to women, Latinos, and Arab Americans.

The New York Times advertising section profiled the women-focused campaign:

In the latest campaign, a print ad shows a female marine striking a martial arts pose in front of a crowd of men who are looking up to her as their leader. The tag line: “There are no female marines. Only marines."

These ads run in magazines like Shape , Self, and Fitness, titles likely to be read by young athletic women. Instead of the usual commercials during a NBA game, female-friendly TV spots appear during American Idol. The Marines admitted women for clerical duties in 1918, and today women make up 6.2 percent of the Corps. As seen in this historical gallery, the appeal to women has become much more complex over the years, moving away from flowery brochures.

According to the NY Times, ads running in the La Raza Spanish-language newspaper emphasize family, with the slogan “Each unit in the Corps is a family, and each member knows they never stand alone." The message to Arab Americans? — “I am American. I am Arab. I am a Marine ... I know where I stand.”

Will an appeal to nontraditional demographics change the culture of the military? Do you think the type of woman who would join the Marines needs a direct appeal?

Source

Texas Town Where Women Run the Whole Shebang

CitizenSugar — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 10:00:26 -0700

As a kid weaned on The Dukes of Hazzard and Ann Richards, I love this story — though I think it might have larger implications on the roles of women in leadership everywhere. See if you agree?

In the town of McLean, TX, the good ol’ boy network is being swept aside as women take the reins of almost all branches of town governance. Peggy Baer was elected in May 2007 as the town’s mayor, supervising a five-person board of aldermen who just also happen to be women. Also included in the new matriarchy are the city secretary, the justice of the peace, and the postmaster. So to what do the women attribute their success? To find out, and to see how Hillary fits in,

Somali Women in the US Join Together for Business Success

CitizenSugar — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 00:00:32 -0700

Somali women living in Minneapolis, one of the nation's largest concentration of Somali immigrants, are using a custom of home to great business success. Though the women have owned small shops for years, they're pooling their money and moving on up. Relying on a collective model used in Somalia — plus two years of planning — 21 women have socked away $500 apiece. Adding donations of two business groups of $20,000 they're ready to develop their very own mall of shops.

Their mall will be the first such women's Somali cooperative in the country, according to people involved in the enterprise. It gets even more impressive, just

Teen Wins Silver Star For Bravery in Afghanistan

LibertySugar — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 11:00:02 -0700

Army Spc. Monica Lin Brown has received the Silver Star for her valor in Afghanistan. In an interview on CNN this morning, the 19-year-old Texan told how she used her body to shield five injured comrades, after a roadside bomb struck her convoy last spring. Running through insurgent fire to get to the injured, she administered aid and dragged her fellow soldiers to safety.

Monica is only the second woman since World War Two to receive the Silver Star, one of the army's highest medals. Though Pentagon policy prohibits women from serving in front-line combat roles, the unique nature of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, (without formalized front lines) accounts for more women soldiers taking part in close-quarters combat than in previous conflicts. With the goal of getting a college degree, Monica joined the army with her brother in 2006. Next month, she is expected to return home from Afghanistan, where she is serving as a medic. I hope she enjoys her hero's welcome!

Do you think this is a phenomenon we'll see more often? Does the changing face of war amount to equality of the battlefield? Are women serving different roles in the military than they have in the past?

Miniskirt Sparks Women's Rights Protests in South Africa

LibertySugar — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 10:00:12 -0800

Last week taxi drivers and street vendors attacked a South African women wearing a miniskirt, because she was indecently dressed. Those passing by laughed and cheered. The incident has sparked an intense debate and passionate protests over women's rights and public decency in the country.

Women protesters, who have been marching since last week, believe that women have the right to wear what they want. During a demonstration on Friday, women exposed their breasts and thighs, a traditional protest of the powerless. Some taxi drivers responded by pulling down their pants. What's going on here? To find out,