Gender

Uganda Women Birders tackles limiting gender taboos by giving women the experience and resources they need to prove they can do the job.

‘Birds are everywhere!’ Women bird guides in Uganda set a global example

Birdwatching is a rapidly growing and lucrative part of the tourism sector worldwide, but women make up a very small minority of professional guides. Uganda Women Birders, a bird guide club, is revolutionizing the industry by encouraging and supporting women who want to get into the business. Anita Elash reports from the town of Entebbe, Uganda.

‘Birds are everywhere!’ Women bird guides in Uganda set a global example
Nathalie Vilgrain, sixth from left, is the head of Marijàn, a feminist organization in Port-Au-Prince that is sheltering about 150 women who have been displaced by sexual violence.

In Haiti, sexual violence is devastating women and girls

In Haiti, sexual violence is devastating women and girls
Clarissa Bitar plays the oud, a classic string instrument.

How the oud brought this Palestinian American musician closer to their culture, family and history

How the oud brought this Palestinian American musician closer to their culture, family and history
The site of a music festival near the border with the Gaza Strip in southern Israel, on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023.

Rape is ‘the most neglected war crime,’ sexual violence expert says

Rape is ‘the most neglected war crime,’ sexual violence expert says
Pope Francis arrives for leading a prayer for peace inside St. Peter's Basilica, at The Vatican, Friday, Oct. 27, 2023. 

Roman Catholic Church remains inconclusive about reforms for women, LGBTQ after monthlong meeting wraps

Roman Catholic Church remains inconclusive about reforms for women, LGBTQ after monthlong meeting wraps
Intricate carvings adorn the marble pillars inside a Jain temple in Ahmedabad, western India. Jainism is an ancient religion whose followers often renounce the world to lead a life of extreme austerity. Most of them are women, some as young as 8.

‘Happiness is in your hands’: Young Jain women continue to renounce the world

The Jain religious community in India makes up less than than 1% of the population. A steady number of them — even children — are renouncing the material world to join Jain monasteries.

‘Happiness is in your hands’: Young Jain women continue to renounce the world
portrait photo of a woman

'She is the evolution of reggaeton': The rise of trans Puerto Rican artist Villano Antillano

Puerto Rican rapper Villano Antillano is a leading voice in a new generation of LGBTQ artists subverting traditional gender norms in reggaeton and reclaiming the political roots of the genre.

'She is the evolution of reggaeton': The rise of trans Puerto Rican artist Villano Antillano
Women rush out of a train during peak hours at Churchgate station in Mumbai, India, Monday, March 20, 2023.

Indian women do less paid work. It’s bad news for the economy.

Across the world, higher economic growth has seen a rise in women’s employment, according to the United Nations. But India is bucking that trend, where educated women are working less in paid positions.

Indian women do less paid work. It’s bad news for the economy.
The capital Quito is the city in Ecuador that has received the biggest numbers of Venezuelan migrants. 

As Ecuador’s political crisis deepens, Venezuelan LGBTQ migrants feel the pain

Ecuador is in the throes of political turmoil and discrimination against foreigners is on the rise. This is affecting gay and transgender Venezuelans particularly hard.

As Ecuador’s political crisis deepens, Venezuelan LGBTQ migrants feel the pain
woman facing camera

A traditional Iranian sport has been closed off to women. One activist wants to change that.

Varzeshe Pahlavani is a mix of martial arts, wrestling and calisthenics. It has deep roots in Persian tradition going back centuries. The sport is officially closed off to women, but one female Iranian activist is trying to change that.

A traditional Iranian sport has been closed off to women. One activist wants to change that.
close-up shot of Honduran President Castro wearing a mask

Honduras' first female leader faces tough times

A year and a half into her administration, many say Xiomara Castro has yet to live up to expectations. But as Honduras’ first female president, those expectations are higher than usual. Much of the criticism against Castro comes from machismo and gender discrimination. She’s just one of two female heads of state of a Latin American country.

Honduras' first female leader faces tough times
wall with women's faces marked out

Women in Afghanistan are devastated by the Taliban’s ban on beauty salons

The Taliban have given all women’s beauty salons in Afghanistan one month to close down. The ultraconservative group, which took power by force in 2021, has consistently chipped away at women’s rights and freedoms in the country. 

Women in Afghanistan are devastated by the Taliban’s ban on beauty salons
two women

'It's time that we face the issue': #MeToo movement gains momentum in Taiwan

Although the movement began within political parties, it’s since spread to many other sectors of society such as entertainment and academia. And in some cases, there’s even been a backlash.  

'It's time that we face the issue': #MeToo movement gains momentum in Taiwan
two men and a baby

Italy debates new anti-surrogacy law 

Surrogacy is banned in Italy, but the government of Giorgia Meloni is now trying to go further: outlawing the practice of having babies through surrogacy abroad. This will likely have an outsized impact on members of the LGBTQ community, which many believe is the point.

Italy debates new anti-surrogacy law 
Photo of Taiwan's Vice President Lai Ching-te

Taiwan's political parties beset by sexual harassment allegations

Taiwan is having a #MeToo reckoning about sexual harassment in politics, several years after other parts of the world. Despite the relatively high number of women in public office, many instances of sexual harassment in the political scene have been ignored or covered up.

Taiwan's political parties beset by sexual harassment allegations