Europe | Germany | Politics

Angela Merkel is finally having her feminist moment (and I’m saying a silent ‘hallelujah’)

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Angela Merkel is the 'most powerful woman in the world'. She’s Chancellor of the country with the fourth largest global economy; she bosses around all the blokes in the European Union; has won three elections; and even has a physics degree in her back pocket. But the extraordinary rise of Germany’s 'Iron Lady' isn’t by default a triumph for women’s rights. From a feminist perspective, she’s Deutschland’s equivalent of Margaret Thatcher: advancing the cause by smashing the glass ceiling of her own career, without making it a priority to give others a helping
North America | United States | Society

Women Are a Driving Force in Nation’s Shift from Gun Control to Gun Rights

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Women have emerged as one of the fastest-growing demographics of new gun buyers and concealed carry permit holders in the country, and in the process, they have become a driving force in the shift in American attitudes from pro-gun control to pro-gun rights. In January, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported that “women [are] buying more guns than ever.” And the result of this surge in women gun buyers has been an expansion of firearms and firearms accessories made to cater to the female market. Many of the accessories are often designed and marketed by fellow women gun owners.
Middle East | Israel | Society

At 65, hassidic woman from Bnei Brak becomes oldest in Israel to give birth

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Haya Shahar, a 65-year-old hassidic woman from Bnei Brak who was unable to have a baby during her 46-year marriage to 67-year-old Shmuel, gave birth on Monday to a healthy baby boy by cesarean section at Meir Medical Center in Kfar Saba. It made her the oldest woman in Israel to give birth – not far behind the world record holder, Spain’s Maria del Carmen Bousada de Lara, who was a few days shy of 67 when she gave birth to twins.
Europe | Great Britain | History

Early men and women had gender equality, say anthropologists

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A study has shown that in contemporary hunter-gatherer tribes men and women tend to hold equal standing and influence, suggesting that sexual equality was the norm for humans throughout most of our evolutionary history. Mark Dyble, the leading anthropologist on the study at University College London, said: “There is still this wider perception that hunter-gatherers are more macho or male-dominated. We’d argue it was only with the emergence of agriculture, when people could start to accumulate resources, that inequality emerged.”
South Asia | New Zealand | Medicine

More single women are turning to fertility services to have children

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The number of single women seeking fertility treatment has almost doubled in two years as career-minded professionals without partners opt to parent alone. Demand at New Zealand's largest private fertility clinic is so high women are waiting 18 months for sperm donors. Fertility Associates' Dr Simon Kelly said numbers of single women wanting fertility treatment had swelled from 80 in 2012 to 156 last year. It was expected to be higher this year. That compared with 56 heterosexual and 88 same-sex couples receiving treatment last year, similar levels to in 2012 and 2013. Donor treatment
International | Culture

7 Things You Don’t Know About Mother’s Day’s Dark History

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The holiday started as an antiwar statement. But battles over who owned Mother's Day kept coming. Mother's Day seems harmless enough. Treat mom to brunch. Buy flowers. Good times. But the story of the modern holiday—which is celebrated this Sunday in the United States and many other nations—is rife with controversy, conflict, and consumerism run amok. Some strange-but-true facts you probably don't know: 1.   Mother’s Day started as an anti-war movement. Anna Jarvis is most often credited with founding Mother's Day in the United States. Designated as the
Africa | Mali | Culture

Mali law would reserve one-third of government jobs for women

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An unlikely battle in an unlikely place has broken out over a bid to guarantee Mali’s women a seat at the political table in this poor, conflict-ridden and heavily Muslim African country. If enacted, a proposed law before Malian lawmakers would reserve one-third of government jobs for women, including in elected offices. Currently, only 14 women sit in Mali’s 147-member parliament, three women belong to President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita’s Cabinet of 33 ministers, and men claim the vast bulk of civil service positions. Activists see the quota idea as a way to jump-start the drive for
Europe | Germany | Society

Success of ‘baby hatches’ law in Germany

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When a woman gives up her newborn for adoption, she usually has very serious reasons to do so — violent husband, conception during assault, no financial support, etc. For such cases Germany offers so-called “baby hatches” where young mothers can anonymously and safely leave their babies. A study strongly criticized this practice a couple of years ago, and resulted in a new law that came into effect last year. It is known as the law of confidential birth. It allows young mothers to go to a hospital and give birth in a safe environment without having to state their real name or addres
Europe | Great Britain | Religion

​Having nun of it: Growing numbers of British women take up habit

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The number of women becoming nuns has trebled in the last five years as more and more opt for a religious lifestyle. Last year 45 women became nuns, compared to just 7 in 2004. The Catholic Church said that of these, 14 were 30 years old or younger. The rise in popularity of nunnery contrasts with the findings of recent studies which indicate the UK is becoming less religious. Earlier this month Win/Gallup International polling suggested more than 50 percent of Britons do not believe in any religion, 13 percent were committed atheists and the rest were unsure how to define their belie
North America | United States | Society

115-Year-Old Inkster Woman Now Listed As World’s Oldest Person

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A 115-year-old Detroit-area woman is listed as the world’s oldest living person following the death of a 116-year-old Arkansas woman. Jeralean Talley of Inkster is atop a list maintained by Los Angeles-based Gerontology Research Group, which tracks the world’s longest-living people. Gertrude Weaver, who was the oldest documented person for a few days, died Monday. Talley was born May 23, 1899 in Montrose, Georgia and moved to Michigan in 1935. When asked for her key to longevity, she echoed previous answers on the topic. “It’s coming from above,” she said. “That’s the
Europe | Ukraine | Culture

Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite hailed as ‘Person of the Year’ in Ukraine

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Whilst on a working visit to Ukraine over the weekend Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite took time out to receive Ukraine's Person of the Year Award. The award made to Grybauskaite was organised by the Ukrainian Higher Academic Council. The Lithuanian president has endeared herself to the Ukrainian people since Ukraine's pro-Kremlin president Viktor Yanukovych last ousted last year and a Russian-backed insurgency began in the east of the country.
North America | United States | Business

Havas CEO Yannick Bolloré thinks women are ‘too cautious’ in business

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Havas chief executive Yannick Bolloré has called on women to be "less cautious" in their approach to business in order to bolster the number of females acting in senior roles. The recently appointed agency boss told the audience at Advertising Week Europe in London on Monday (23 March) that the reason there is a disparity between males and females in top jobs in the industry "lies with the persons themselves". "I’m a huge believer in gender equality and it’s very important to be able to find a way to integrate more women into top management," he said. "[But] the problem lies in the
Hillary Clinton
North America | United States | Politics

Poll: Hillary Clinton top-rated 2016 candidate among women

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Hillary Rodham Clinton’s standing with women will give her a “decided advantage” in the 2016 presidential race, according to a new Gallup Poll. Nearly 6 in 10 women, or 56%, have a favorable opinion of Clinton — the highest for any Democrat or Republican considering a White House bid. That compares to 44% of men who rate her favorably. A gender gap has existed in every presidential election since 1980. Women were the majority of voters in the 2012 presidential election, and President Obama won 55% of their votes while Mitt Romney garnered 44%.
International | Business

Uber partnership with UN women’s group hits dead end

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It looks like a United Nations group devoted to women's rights won't be partnering with controversial car-hailing service Uber after all. "UN Women will not accept an offer to collaborate on job creation with Uber, so you can rest assured about that," the group's executive director, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, said last week during an event at the UN's 59th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW59), which wrapped up yesterday in New York after a two-week run. A short clip of Mlambo-Ngcuka's remark surfaced on YouTube earlier this week. In a statement sent to various news outle