International Women ’s Day, 2021#MarchWithUs: 5 Activists on Dismantling “Gender Lies”

Protest for women's rights in Kathmandu, Nepal. Credit: Sanjog ManandharBy Bibbi Abruzzini, Pénélope Hubert and Yohan CambetPARIS, Mar 5 2021 (IPS) Today, despite centuries of activism and mobilisations, women and non-binary people continue to remain disadvantaged in almost every sphere – from “public life” to the “shadow pandemic” of gender-based violence. In light of COVID-19, some struggles have been considered in theory, but most continue to be ignored in practice. How can we dismantle the “gender lies” perpetuating in the 21st century? How do we start taking into account the diverse experiences of women, without excluding black and indigenous voices on the basis of power and privilege? Afghanistan, Nepal, Bolivia, Mexico and Uganda: five activists tell us how they transform the ways their communities think and act around gender. Afghanistan: rap music to save child brides Sonita Alizadeh, is a survivor of two attempts at forced marriage, and now a rapper and activist fighting for the liberation of women against forced marriage. Born in Herat, Afghanistan, under the Taliban regime, she grew up in Iran, as a refugee with her family. At 10 years old, she narrowly escaped a forced marriage. Her family again tried to sell her when she was sixteen, she escaped. Afghanistan has the 20th highest number of women married before the age of 18 in the world, with 28% of Afghan girls married off as minors, according to Girls Not Brides. “My mother was a child bri...
Source: IPS Inter Press Service - Health - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Tags: Civil Society Crime & Justice Economy & Trade Education Gender Gender Violence Global Headlines Health Human Rights Humanitarian Emergencies Inequity Labour Poverty & SDGs TerraViva United Nations International Women's Day 20 Source Type: news