Editorial

EDITORIAL
We're sorry to announce that due to ill-health November's issue is suspended. At the moment it is next to impossible to use the computer. There may also be no issue in December, or a very limited one, but we hope to return at full strength in the new year. Apologies too for the lack of main features in September and October - delayed for the same reasons. Please stick with us, we will be back.
Navigation
A word on navigation. There's a lot here, and a lot to post each month. To help you, the archive is at the top right of the page, just under this editorial. You'll see posts listed by month and topic. If you want to skip straight to Sport, or Arts, you can do so using these links. Otherwise you'll have to scroll down through more than one page to read everything each month. Please note that any queries about content or other matters should be directed to the original publications of linked articles as WHTW? can't be responsible for fact-checking and vetting sources of all of them.
This month's issue
While you are waiting, October's issue is full of fascinating articles. We are asking is child labour wrong? Girls in Bolivia's new child union don't think so (see Women/Work) and are demanding respect from society for their labour (and give us your view in our poll at the foot of the page). In Politics, Denmark has a new woman prime minister and you can read a statement on increasing women's political participation from UN women leaders, and research on peace and gender. In Family and society, there's a list of the best and worst countries for women and an article on the pros and cons of pirate husbands in Somalia. In Arts there's a comment on the furore over pop-star Rihanna's in-your-face raunch. And in Science and technology we celebrate Thai and Kenyan women's scientific achievements. In Health, there's a warning about injectable contraceptives and HIV infection, and a rise in breast cancer in UK Asian women. In Law, a US lawyer is protesting at the treatment of jailed women in childbirth. In the Mind, body and spirit post you can engage in debate over the Pill - or the lack of it - and its transformative effects on society. And, for a giggle, look at the men in pin-up poses in the And another thing section of this blog.
Our special feature this month will be a collection of links on Women in the Arab Spring. Look out for it coming soon!
We hope you will find this blog a useful resource and a provocative and productive place for debate. We look forward to your comments and feedback.
Anna Purna

Monday, 19 September 2011

Women/Economy and finance

Women's unemployment
Women are faring badly in economic stakes at present, not just in the UK but in many parts of the world.     The current recession has seen unemployment figures for women in the UK reach their highest for 23 years at 1.05 million: http://www.fawcettsociety.org.uk/index.asp?PageID=1241 , while in early September, UK labour market statistics showed that the number of UK women made redundant in the latest quarter of 2011 increased by 72.3% over the previous quarter: http://networkedblogs.com/n58GH .

But the shift away from women in recession isn't only confined to Britain or the West. The recession is having the same effect in Nepal: http://www.ekantipur.com/2011/09/03/business/industries-closure-hits-women-the-most/340176/ . 

UK government's plan for women
The UK Conservative-led government clearly has a 'blind spot' when it comes to women. UK single mothers are the hardest hit by cuts, job losses and welfare changes: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2011/jul/30/coalition-cuts-mothers-childcare-maternity-leave?CMP=twt_gu. A feeble memo has recently been leaked from the UK government to show that the Conservatives are aware of their failings and listing a series of measures – mere spin and tinkering at the edges – to win back women's support: http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/interactive/2011/sep/13/leaked-memo-women-coalition-government. Ascerbic comment from columnist Suzanne Moore here:  http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/sep/16/coalition-smacked-down-women-message and from The F Word here: http://www.thefword.org.uk/blog/2011/09/how_could_the_g.

Christine Lagarde
Christine Lagarde has now taken over as the head of the IMF http://www.forbes.com/sites/mahaatal/2011/08/24/it-takes-courage-christine-lagarde/. Forbes ranks her at number 9 on its annual list of the world’s most powerful women: http://www.forbes.com/wealth/power-women.  But the Daily Mail (UK) concentrates on her femininity for all the wrong reasons: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2009973/Christine-Lagarde-Secret-life-new-IMF-boss.html, though we do learn she was once a synchronised swimmer, is vegetarian (!) and thinks women bring a “more inclusive” approach to power. 

No comments:

Post a Comment