The WAF Blog
KAMPALA: “I KNOW NOW HOW TO AVOID DANGEROUS PLACES”
Kampala, the capital of Uganda, is the city where Ugandan girls are most at risk of kidnapping and murder, according to a recent research by Plan International.
Fisherwomen of this Island in Mexico Are at the Forefront of Gender Equality
Mitzy and Elsa live on Isla Natividad, an island of 500 inhabitants located in Baja California, Mexico. They are both members of a fishing cooperative called Buzos y Pescadores, 15% of whom are women who work in fisheries.
My encounter with the Aymara Women
When I asked an Aymara woman merchant her opinion of women’s empowerment, she answered without hesitation: “What is that?” recalls Carolina Balta, professional tourist guide in Cuzco
The Mexican Guelaguetza Festival And the Increasing Power of Indigenous Women
The Guelaguetza festival is an example of the equality and value of gender roles, says local volunteer Mariana Garcés.
YOUNG VOICES
Un Gender Me
“There is no day that I do not think about my gender expression and the implications of actively dismantling the gender binary.”
International Women’s Day in Sudan: Violence, Not Celebrations
“There is a lot to be said about these incidents… They show how difficult the fight for women’s rights is in Sudan… and how quickly things can go from support to aggression,” says Sudanese activist and Fulbright scholar Wala Ali Abdelbassit Zaid.
Fear of Powerful Women Keeps Witch Hunts Alive
“If people and cultures were more accepting of women’s empowerment, then witch-hunting would not be so rampant, but the fear of women having power is so intimidatory that it fuels suspicions that result in violence.”
Meet The Socially Conscious Young Generation
“The call for reform is being made on so many levels, but what role is there for a student in all of this?,” senior high school student Madeline Hartog interviews fellow students from the NY city area.
A Fight for Mother Nature: Why Female Students Are Now Leading the Climate Movement
A Q &A with young female students about their activism on climate change.
Feminism As An Intersectional Issue
“When discussing the intersectionality of my Judaism and my feminism, I find a place where there are many similarities and differences,” says a young student as she struggles to come to terms with her different, conflicting identities.
Three Generations of Women Discuss Their Views On Voting
“The importance they gave to being a woman in terms of their political activism varied generationally, but all believe showing up and making your voice heard is critical,” says Maddie.
“Most Girls at My School Don’t Even Understand How Pregnancies Happen”
“How are we meant to protect ourselves if we don’t have that information?”, says Marjorie, 16, who lives with her mother in the district of Carabayllo in Lima, Peru and is eager to spread knowledge about all kinds of safety.
Young Refugees in Baltimore Taught Me The Lessons of a Lifetime
“Denying a child a hug, to sit on your lap, or even to hold your hand as you accompanied him or her to the restroom would result as the most difficult challenge of my experience”, says a high school volunteer at the Refugee Youth Project in Baltimore.
A documentary that spreads the word against femicide
”Why is it important to understand the thin line between love and hate?”, the theme of a short film created by high school students from Texas.
Raising Cusco’s Next Generation
The transformative experience of a high school girl from New York as she volunteers for a children’s organization in Peru.
Young Women at the Forefront of Fighting Alzheimer’s Disease
Sweet Readers Inc.’s mission is to bring middle schoolers and adults with Alzheimer’s together through art based programs in museums, care centers and schools.
WAF Blog Issue 6
Defending Reproductive Rights: What Uruguay Can Teach Us
As we in the United States prepare ourselves for the forthcoming assault on reproductive rights by the Trump administration, we can learn a lot from the recent gain in Uruguay.
“Welcome to Baby Jail” Follow up: Dispatches from the Field
Claire Thomas, WAF author and volunteer attorney at CARA Pro Bono Project, sends daily dispatches from “Baby Jail”. Follow along in her journey.
The Dilemma of Abortion in Latin America in the times of Zika
As the Zika virus has received growing international attention, proponents of abortion throughout Latin America have defended the practice of abortion, while opposing forces have successfully battled for banning abortion’s legality.
Coping with Breast Cancer in Japan
Breast cancer is an urgent public health challenge in Japan, and both the younger and older generations of women are faced directly with this disease.
A Conversation with Two African Women Community Leaders
Meet Mariam Savadogo from Burkina Faso and Matida Komma from Gambia as they introduce their inspiring women’s initiatives.
1000+ Songs of a Former Caged Bird
The story of how Amani Rohayyem became a photographer in Saudi Arabia.
Shilan’s Story: A Yezidi Woman, Displaced from Sinjar
Shilan Khemo, a mother of three sons and four daughters, all under the age of thirteen, miraculously escaped death with her family when dozens of ISIS gunmen suddenly invaded their hometown, Sinjar, on August 3, 2014.
WAF Blog Issue 5 (October 2016)
Defending Reproductive Rights: What Uruguay Can Teach Us
As we in the United States prepare ourselves for the forthcoming assault on reproductive rights by the Trump administration, we can learn a lot from the recent gain in Uruguay.
“Welcome to Baby Jail” Follow up: Dispatches from the Field
Claire Thomas, WAF author and volunteer attorney at CARA Pro Bono Project, sends daily dispatches from “Baby Jail”. Follow along in her journey.
The Dilemma of Abortion in Latin America in the times of Zika
As the Zika virus has received growing international attention, proponents of abortion throughout Latin America have defended the practice of abortion, while opposing forces have successfully battled for banning abortion’s legality.
Coping with Breast Cancer in Japan
Breast cancer is an urgent public health challenge in Japan, and both the younger and older generations of women are faced directly with this disease.
A Conversation with Two African Women Community Leaders
Meet Mariam Savadogo from Burkina Faso and Matida Komma from Gambia as they introduce their inspiring women’s initiatives.
1000+ Songs of a Former Caged Bird
The story of how Amani Rohayyem became a photographer in Saudi Arabia.
Shilan’s Story: A Yezidi Woman, Displaced from Sinjar
Shilan Khemo, a mother of three sons and four daughters, all under the age of thirteen, miraculously escaped death with her family when dozens of ISIS gunmen suddenly invaded their hometown, Sinjar, on August 3, 2014.
WAF Blog Issue 4 (June 2016)
Brazilians Are Leaving. This Time, For Good.
An increasing number of wealthy Brazilians are leaving their country for places that offer their families better opportunities.
Dominican Republic: What Would Juan Pablo Duarte Do?
More than 250,000 Haitian-Dominicans are left in legal limbo and without social rights after a 2013 Dominican Supreme Court decision.
WAF Blog Issue 3 (March 2016)
Climate change, indigenous women and the fight to save the Amazon
Indigenous women make up a visible contingent of activists within environmental and human rights movements.
A Small Hand in a Larger One
Joanne Pilgrim recounts her experience volunteering on the Greek island of Lesvos, in the Moria refugee camp.
Reflections: Poems by a Pakistani Teen Poetess
Reflections by Iqra Rehman. This anthology has poems from her amateur years as a teenage poetess who had it as a medium of expression for the classes she didn’t enjoy and some social norms she couldn’t bring herself to adhere to.
WAF Blog Issue 2 (November 2015)
Barbie’s New Campaign May Be Missing the Point
The new Barbie’s campaign brings red sneakers instead of stilettos and a lot of controversies.
These Political Parties Are All about Women
A new generation of women’s political parties aims for gender parity at the polls.
When Iraqi Men Leave for Europe; Women Are Left to the Unknown
Some 10,000 Iraqi refugees have made it over land to Europe this year. Another 400,000 are making their way by sea. And these numbers are expected to rise to 450,000 next year.
Patti and Me
I first heard of Patti Smith in a mimeographed, hand-drawn fanzine that I must have picked up in some record store. Soon thereafter I heard her on the radio. Punk rock was like some brand-new creation, an antidote to the disco that was taking over popular culture.
KAMPALA: “I KNOW NOW HOW TO AVOID DANGEROUS PLACES”
Kampala, the capital of Uganda, is the city where Ugandan girls are most at risk of kidnapping and murder, according to a recent research by Plan International.
Fisherwomen of this Island in Mexico Are at the Forefront of Gender Equality
Mitzy and Elsa live on Isla Natividad, an island of 500 inhabitants located in Baja California, Mexico. They are both members of a fishing cooperative called Buzos y Pescadores, 15% of whom are women who work in fisheries.
My encounter with the Aymara Women
When I asked an Aymara woman merchant her opinion of women’s empowerment, she answered without hesitation: “What is that?” recalls Carolina Balta, professional tourist guide in Cuzco
The Mexican Guelaguetza Festival And the Increasing Power of Indigenous Women
The Guelaguetza festival is an example of the equality and value of gender roles, says local volunteer Mariana Garcés.
YOUNG VOICES
Un Gender Me
“There is no day that I do not think about my gender expression and the implications of actively dismantling the gender binary.”
International Women’s Day in Sudan: Violence, Not Celebrations
“There is a lot to be said about these incidents… They show how difficult the fight for women’s rights is in Sudan… and how quickly things can go from support to aggression,” says Sudanese activist and Fulbright scholar Wala Ali Abdelbassit Zaid.
Fear of Powerful Women Keeps Witch Hunts Alive
“If people and cultures were more accepting of women’s empowerment, then witch-hunting would not be so rampant, but the fear of women having power is so intimidatory that it fuels suspicions that result in violence.”
Meet The Socially Conscious Young Generation
“The call for reform is being made on so many levels, but what role is there for a student in all of this?,” senior high school student Madeline Hartog interviews fellow students from the NY city area.
A Fight for Mother Nature: Why Female Students Are Now Leading the Climate Movement
A Q &A with young female students about their activism on climate change.
Feminism As An Intersectional Issue
“When discussing the intersectionality of my Judaism and my feminism, I find a place where there are many similarities and differences,” says a young student as she struggles to come to terms with her different, conflicting identities.
Three Generations of Women Discuss Their Views On Voting
“The importance they gave to being a woman in terms of their political activism varied generationally, but all believe showing up and making your voice heard is critical,” says Maddie.
“Most Girls at My School Don’t Even Understand How Pregnancies Happen”
“How are we meant to protect ourselves if we don’t have that information?”, says Marjorie, 16, who lives with her mother in the district of Carabayllo in Lima, Peru and is eager to spread knowledge about all kinds of safety.
Young Refugees in Baltimore Taught Me The Lessons of a Lifetime
“Denying a child a hug, to sit on your lap, or even to hold your hand as you accompanied him or her to the restroom would result as the most difficult challenge of my experience”, says a high school volunteer at the Refugee Youth Project in Baltimore.
A documentary that spreads the word against femicide
”Why is it important to understand the thin line between love and hate?”, the theme of a short film created by high school students from Texas.
Raising Cusco’s Next Generation
The transformative experience of a high school girl from New York as she volunteers for a children’s organization in Peru.
Young Women at the Forefront of Fighting Alzheimer’s Disease
Sweet Readers Inc.’s mission is to bring middle schoolers and adults with Alzheimer’s together through art based programs in museums, care centers and schools.
WAF Blog Issue 6
Defending Reproductive Rights: What Uruguay Can Teach Us
As we in the United States prepare ourselves for the forthcoming assault on reproductive rights by the Trump administration, we can learn a lot from the recent gain in Uruguay.
“Welcome to Baby Jail” Follow up: Dispatches from the Field
Claire Thomas, WAF author and volunteer attorney at CARA Pro Bono Project, sends daily dispatches from “Baby Jail”. Follow along in her journey.
The Dilemma of Abortion in Latin America in the times of Zika
As the Zika virus has received growing international attention, proponents of abortion throughout Latin America have defended the practice of abortion, while opposing forces have successfully battled for banning abortion’s legality.
Coping with Breast Cancer in Japan
Breast cancer is an urgent public health challenge in Japan, and both the younger and older generations of women are faced directly with this disease.
A Conversation with Two African Women Community Leaders
Meet Mariam Savadogo from Burkina Faso and Matida Komma from Gambia as they introduce their inspiring women’s initiatives.
1000+ Songs of a Former Caged Bird
The story of how Amani Rohayyem became a photographer in Saudi Arabia.
Shilan’s Story: A Yezidi Woman, Displaced from Sinjar
Shilan Khemo, a mother of three sons and four daughters, all under the age of thirteen, miraculously escaped death with her family when dozens of ISIS gunmen suddenly invaded their hometown, Sinjar, on August 3, 2014.
WAF Blog Issue 5 (October 2016)
Defending Reproductive Rights: What Uruguay Can Teach Us
As we in the United States prepare ourselves for the forthcoming assault on reproductive rights by the Trump administration, we can learn a lot from the recent gain in Uruguay.
“Welcome to Baby Jail” Follow up: Dispatches from the Field
Claire Thomas, WAF author and volunteer attorney at CARA Pro Bono Project, sends daily dispatches from “Baby Jail”. Follow along in her journey.
The Dilemma of Abortion in Latin America in the times of Zika
As the Zika virus has received growing international attention, proponents of abortion throughout Latin America have defended the practice of abortion, while opposing forces have successfully battled for banning abortion’s legality.
Coping with Breast Cancer in Japan
Breast cancer is an urgent public health challenge in Japan, and both the younger and older generations of women are faced directly with this disease.
A Conversation with Two African Women Community Leaders
Meet Mariam Savadogo from Burkina Faso and Matida Komma from Gambia as they introduce their inspiring women’s initiatives.
1000+ Songs of a Former Caged Bird
The story of how Amani Rohayyem became a photographer in Saudi Arabia.
Shilan’s Story: A Yezidi Woman, Displaced from Sinjar
Shilan Khemo, a mother of three sons and four daughters, all under the age of thirteen, miraculously escaped death with her family when dozens of ISIS gunmen suddenly invaded their hometown, Sinjar, on August 3, 2014.
WAF Blog Issue 4 (June 2016)
Brazilians Are Leaving. This Time, For Good.
An increasing number of wealthy Brazilians are leaving their country for places that offer their families better opportunities.
Dominican Republic: What Would Juan Pablo Duarte Do?
More than 250,000 Haitian-Dominicans are left in legal limbo and without social rights after a 2013 Dominican Supreme Court decision.
WAF Blog Issue 3 (March 2016)
Climate change, indigenous women and the fight to save the Amazon
Indigenous women make up a visible contingent of activists within environmental and human rights movements.
A Small Hand in a Larger One
Joanne Pilgrim recounts her experience volunteering on the Greek island of Lesvos, in the Moria refugee camp.
Reflections: Poems by a Pakistani Teen Poetess
Reflections by Iqra Rehman. This anthology has poems from her amateur years as a teenage poetess who had it as a medium of expression for the classes she didn’t enjoy and some social norms she couldn’t bring herself to adhere to.
WAF Blog Issue 2 (November 2015)
Barbie’s New Campaign May Be Missing the Point
The new Barbie’s campaign brings red sneakers instead of stilettos and a lot of controversies.
These Political Parties Are All about Women
A new generation of women’s political parties aims for gender parity at the polls.
When Iraqi Men Leave for Europe; Women Are Left to the Unknown
Some 10,000 Iraqi refugees have made it over land to Europe this year. Another 400,000 are making their way by sea. And these numbers are expected to rise to 450,000 next year.
Patti and Me
I first heard of Patti Smith in a mimeographed, hand-drawn fanzine that I must have picked up in some record store. Soon thereafter I heard her on the radio. Punk rock was like some brand-new creation, an antidote to the disco that was taking over popular culture.