Africa | South Africa | Media

Really Bic? South Africa sends mixed messages to women, even on National Women’s Day

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When it's National Women's Day in South Africa and you're a multinational corporation trying to reach, well, South African women, you might be advised to focus on women. But that's not how Bic South Africa went about it. A controversial ad on their Facebook page tried to graft a stereotypical Y chromosome onto a stereotypical X chromosome: A beautiful, young, smiling woman in a suit gazes out. The accompanying copy: "Look like a girl. Act like a lady. Think like a man. Work like a boss." "I did a double-take," says journalist Pearl Boshomane of The Sunday Times in South Afri
International | Media

The most successful female athlete of all time got body shamed in the New York Times – Shame on them

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As a woman in the public eye, it seems like even being one of the most gifted athletes isn't enough to stop the media from calling you fat. On Friday, just as Serena Williams was preparing to clean up her historic sixth Wimbledon victory, the New York Times decided it was a good time to critique her body: Williams, who will be vying for the Wimbledon title against Garbiñe Muguruza on Saturday, has large biceps and a mold-breaking muscular frame, which packs the power and athleticism that have dominated women’s tennis for years. Her rivals could try to emulate her physique, but mos
Middle East | Iran | Culture

Iran women’s magazine forced to close

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When the Zanan-e Emrooz magazine started publishing again in June 2014, after eight years of suspension, women’s rights activists in Iran felt a spark of hope that there would be further opportunities to demand women's rights. However, the life of the magazine was short-lived. After less than a year and only publishing 11 issues, the Press Supervisory Council ordered its closure on April 27, 2015. The council's speaker said the suspension was due to Zanan-e Emrooz “encouraging the anti-social and religiously unsanctioned phenomenon known as white marriage.” In Iran, "white m