Dr. Hawa Abdi - Heroic, Female and Muslim

'But there’s another side of Islam as well, represented by an extraordinary Somali Muslim woman named Dr. Hawa Abdi who has confronted the armed militias. Amazingly, she forced them to back down — and even submit a written apology. Glamour magazine, which named Dr. Hawa a “woman of the year,” got it exactly right when it called her “equal parts Mother Teresa and Rambo.”'

Heroic, Female and Muslim - NYTimes.com

Anuradha Koirala: CNN Hero of the Year

Woman fighting sex slavery named CNN Hero of the Year - CNN.com

Harriet Tubman

Excerpt:

But one night in the midst of the secession crisis, while staying at the house of another black leader, a vision came to Tubman in a dream that all of America’s slaves were soon to be liberated – a vision so powerful that she rose from bed singing. Her host tried in vain to quiet her; perhaps their grandchildren would live to see the day of jubilee, he said, but they themselves surely would not. “I tell you, sir, you’ll see it, and you’ll see it soon,” she retorted, and sang again: “My people are free! My people are free.”

Moses' Last Exodus - NYTimes.com

Why Are Women in Some Countries Oppressed? - NYTimes.com

November 19, 2010, 1:54 pm

By NICHOLAS KRISTOF

There’s much debate about why women in some countries are presidents and business executives, and women in others are locked up in the home and beaten or brutalized if they try to stand up for themselves. Obviously the differences are rooted in culture, but there are diverse theories about why some cultures resulted in more emancipated women and others in more oppressed women.

One theory, which originated with Ester Boserup in 1970, is that it has to do with the emergence of the plow in agriculture. The idea is that in areas (such as Africa or southern India) where plows were little used, women engaged in agriculture and became important to the economy. They became valued by society to some degree. In contrast, where the plow was introduced, such as northern India and parts of the Middle East, women could not compete so readily because plowing required great physical strength. The result was that women were relegated to work in the home, were valued less, and even today women have less labor force participation in those countries.

This issue is the topic of a thoughtful new paper and Aid Watch blog post. Apparently there’s a correlation between plow use and the marginalization of women, and it makes sense to me. But I also think much depends on whether women were part of the cash and trading economy: where they were, they had more economic value, while where they grew vegetables for subsistence they had less value. I also look at China, and it’s not apparent to me that there’s any correlation in terms of the status of women with those parts where the plow was used and those where it wasn’t.

Your thoughts?

Why Are Women in Some Countries Oppressed? - NYTimes.com

Freed Suu Kyi Calls for 'Non-Violent Revolution'

t r u t h o u t | Burmese Democracy Leader Freed, But Next Steps Unsure

BBC News: Burma releases Aung San Suu Kyi

Burma releases Aung San Suu Kyi

Aung San Suu Kyi's first day of freedom | World news | guardian.co.uk

Aung San Suu Kyi release: live coverage | World news | guardian.co.uk

Aung San Suu Kyi

Born 1945, daughter of Burma's independence hero, General Aung San assassinated in 1947
1960: Leaves Burma and is later educated at Oxford University
1988: Returns to care for sick mother and is caught up in revolt against then-dictator Ne Win
1989: Put under house arrest as Burma junta declares martial law
1990: NLD wins election; military disregards result
1991: Wins Nobel Peace Prize
1995: Released from house arrest, but movements restricted
2000: Near continuous period of house arrest begins
Sept 2007: First public appearance since 2003, greeting protesting Buddhist monks
November 2010: NLD boycotts first election in 20 years and is disbanded

Source: BBC News

BBC News - Burma generals 'sign Aung San Suu Kyi release order'

Burma generals 'sign Aung San Suu Kyi release order'

A Girl, a School and Hope - NYTimes.com

The Art of Social Change - Campaigns against foot-binding and genital mutilation. - NYTimes.com

Erin O'Connor: From supermodel to role model - CNN.com

She's been the face of Versace, Dior, Armani, and Gaultier -- and after 16 years commanding catwalks around the globe, the porcelain-skinned belle is still at the very top of her profession.

But beyond the extraordinary physique and angular, painterly features that define her appearance, O'Connor has emerged as a vocal proponent of change within the pressurized, often exploitative industry she inhabits.

Erin O'Connor: From supermodel to role model - CNN.com

Op-Ed Columnist - Making Ignorance Chic - NYTimes.com

Miller once called Marilyn “a poet on a street corner trying to recite to a crowd pulling at her clothes.” - Maureen Dowd

Op-Ed Columnist - Making Ignorance Chic - NYTimes.com

BBC News - Can Chechen President Kadyrov stamp out bride-stealing?

The Female Factor - A Woman Rises in Brazil - NYTimes.com

Heroine: Sheryl WuDunn

Tens of millions of 'missing' girls - CNN.com

During their time as correspondents in China, WuDunn and Kristof learned of the phenomenon of an estimated 30 million "missing" baby girls in the nation.
WuDunn says part of the gap could be attributed to infanticide by families who were determined to have a male child under China's one-child policy and in part to the development of the sonogram. That medical device can be used to determine the gender of a child before birth, prompting some parents to obtain abortions.
"One peasant in the southern part of China once told us, 'The sonogram's great, we don't need to have baby girls any more.'

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Iran: women on the frontline of the fight for rights | World news | The Observer

Half the Sky: combating "gendercide"

Half the Sky: how the trafficking of women today is on a par with genocide | Books | The Guardian

Patricia Neal, an Oscar Winner Who Endured Tragedy, Dies at 84 - Obituary (Obit) - NYTimes.com

Iranians still facing death by stoning despite 'reprieve' | World news | The Guardian

BBC News - Iran woman escapes stoning death for adultery

Graphic account of Anne Frank story set for debut - CNN.com

GAP Fall 2010 Campaign

Another image from GAP's fall campaign appeared on newsstands today... Here is Shu-Pei, photographed by Craig McDean and styled by Karl Templer.

Giuseppe Zanotti Fall 2010 Campaign

Anja Rubik once again landed Giuseppe Zanotti's campaign; photographed by Inez and Vinoodh in Paris.

Chinese Vogue Covergirl

Karlie Kloss lands her second Chinese Vogue cover for the August 2010 issue. Peter Lindbergh photographed the cover and the upcoming inside story, styled by Nicoletta Santoro.

Gap Campaign

Craig McDean shot the GAP's Fall 2010 advertising with Anja Rubik. The campaign was styled by Karl Templer.

Chanel Campaign

Abbey Lee was photographed by Karl Lagerfeld on the Lower East Side of NYC for Chanel's Fall/Winter 2010 campaign.

Karlie Kloss - Dior Campaign

Karlie is a Dior girl twice over... Here she is for their Fall/Winter 2010 campaign, photographed once again by Steven Meisel. Pat McGrath and Garren are the genius hair/makeup team, and Edward Enninful styled the campaign.

Ruby Aldridge - Marc by Marc Jacobs

Juergen Teller shot Ruby Aldridge outside of Rome for Marc by Marc Jacobs' Fall/Winter 2010 campaign.

Anja Rubik - Lanvin

Steven Meisel's legendary team of Guido Palau for hair and Pat McGrath for makeup photographed Next's Anja Rubik in NYC for Lanvin's Fall/Winter 2010 campaign.

Tati Cotliar - Valentino Campaign

Tati Cotliar appears in the Fall 2010 Valentino campaign, which was photographed by David Sims and styled by Karl Templer in Paris this past April.

Karlie Kloss - Donna Karan Campaign

Karlie Kloss's Donna Karan campaign for Fall 2010 was revealed this morning... The advertisement was photographed by Patrick Demarchelier at NYC's iconic Met Life building. Nicoletta Santoro styled the shoot, which celebrates Donna Karan's 25th anniversary.

Lady Power - Opinionator Blog - NYTimes.com

South African doctor invents female condoms with 'teeth' to fight rape - CNN.com

Meghan Collison - Moschino

Inez and Vinoodh photographed Meghan Collisonin NYC for Moschino's new watch and jewelry campaign for Fall 2010. The ad was styled by Anna Dello Russo.

Karlie Kloss - Aquascutum Campaign

Karlie Kloss was photographed in London by Willy Vanderperre for the Fall 2010 Aquascutum campaign. Edward Enninful styled the new campaign.

Tati Cotliar - German Vogue

Ben Hassett photographed Tati Cotliar in Paris this past May for the newest issue of German Vogue. Claudia Englmann styled the futuristic and sporty story.

Katie Fogarty - Sonia Rykiel Campaign

Katie Fogarty appears in Sonia Rykiel's Fall/Winter 2010 campaign, photographed in Paris by Horst and styled by Camille Bidault Waddington.

Abbey Lee - Japanese Vogue Cover

Once again Abbey Lee lands a Japanese Vogue cover, photographed by Inez & Vinoodh in NYC.

Abbey Lee - CK Campaign Preview

Abbey Lee will appear in CK Calvin Klein's Fall 2010 advertising, photographed in Los Angeles by Fabien Baron and styled by Olivier Rizzo.

Here's the preview of the campaign:

Tati Cotliar - 10 Magazine

Andrea Spotorno photographed Tati Cotliar in Paris for 10 Magazine's Summer 2010 issue. 10 Jodie Barnes styled the beautiful couture story.

"Our Mountain" at Piano's

Last night "Our Mountain" performed at Piano's in NYC with Abbey Lee guest starring on tambourine... The music was incredible and everyone had a ball. Thanks to our friends at NY Magazine, Modelinia, V, and Allure coming out to the show. Check out their music. Here are photos from the performance...