Gender & Sexuality

The UAE, a Pioneer in Women’s Empowerment – But the Struggle Is Far from Over

May 4, 2021May 6, 20215 min read Aakanksha Mathur

Through a developmental lens, the UAE’s forward-thinking leadership subverts orientalist depictions of the Middle East, bound by the West’s artificially constructed binary between the "rational" West (us) versus the "irrational" East (them).

A Dangerous New Silence: The Implications of Turkey Withdrawing From the Istanbul Convention

April 20, 2021April 20, 20215 min read Emily Duecker

The ratification of one treaty may not have a significant impact on the overall status of women in society, but withdrawal from that same treaty, especially one as central as the Istanbul Convention, is a clear sign of deteriorating women’s rights

The Myth of the Oriental Beauty: The History of the Hypersexualization of Asian Women

April 9, 2021April 8, 20214 min read Ruolan Ma

After nearly 200 years, Asian women are still not being given the respect and dignity that they deserve, all because of a sick and incorrect stereotype. When will the world stop seeing Asian women through this hypersexualizing and dehumanizing filter?

A Struggle For Acceptance: The Lingering Impacts of Colonialism on the LGBQT+ Community in Africa

April 8, 2021April 9, 20215 min read Emily Duecker

The current restrictions on both the rights and protections of the LGBTQ+ community as seen with the closing of the centre in Ghana only contribute to a climate of intolerance and enforces colonial-era ideas on the norms of sexuality.

Sarah Everard and Dismantling Harmful Rhetoric on Gendered Violence

April 5, 2021April 5, 20216 min read Claudia Velimirovic

The kidnapping and murder of Sarah Everard sparked national outcry, evident in the protests, social media posts, and media articles written in response to her death. Her death quickly became a symbol of the violence that women face at the hands of men, and the system that upholds it.

Candid – Episode 3: Agricultural Inequality Freestyle

March 23, 2021March 23, 20211 min read Alexander Taurozzi

Join us for episode 3 of the Candid podcast. Jasmine and Alex discuss the world of agricultural inequality, delving into methods to develop better societal and technological practices for increasing the involvement of women in agriculture.

The Double Standard of Free Speech

March 16, 2021March 16, 20216 min read Maeve Williams

The American people and their Senators must reckon with the fact that white men’s bad behavior is overlooked and forgiven far more often than that of women, particularly women of color.

Honduras’ “Shield Against Abortion”: A Black Mark in Latin America’s Green Wave

March 8, 2021March 8, 20215 min read Emily Duecker

Constitutional change in Honduras stands out in the “green wave” of pro-choice campaigning currently taking Latin America by storm. The advancement of anti-abortion legislation in Honduras threatens to undermine any regional progress.

Rape as a Weapon of Genocide: Systematic Sexual Abuse Within China’s Internment Camps

March 2, 2021March 19, 20217 min read Jemima Maycock

If there is no meaningful action taken, China risks becoming another country on a list that remains too long to begin with. The costs of this failure will, most likely, be borne first and foremost by Uighur women.

A Look at the Impact of Period Poverty on Girls in Kenya

February 26, 2021February 28, 20216 min read Claudia Velimirovic

Girls in Kenya will miss about four days of school each month, or an average of 20% of the school year, because they are on their period. Across the globe, period shame and period poverty contributes to health complications, humiliation, poor access to employment, and other challenges for women.