https://www.scmp.com/rss/322405/feed Melissa Stevens is the Post's Digital Editor. She joined the SCMP in 2018 and previously worked in Australia for News Corporation, where she edited two daily publications. She was also Features Editor of Sydney's Daily Telegraph. She began her career as a reporter for the West Australian newspaper. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Each year, World Breastfeeding Week is held in August by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action, to raise awareness and support for breastfeeding. The alliance’s vision is a world where breastfeeding is a cultural norm and enabling environments exist for parents. It works to support the World Health Organization target of increasing the number of babies being exclusively breastfed in the first six months of life to at least 50 per cent by 2025. Here in Hong Kong, the breastfeeding rate at... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3144284/really-encourage-breastfeeding-hong-kong-needs-better-maternity?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3144284/really-encourage-breastfeeding-hong-kong-needs-better-maternity?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Aug 2021 22:45:10 +0000 When news broke that Bill and Melinda Gates had filed for divorce, the global reaction was one of utter fascination. What had gone wrong in a marriage which had weathered 27 years, the raising of three children and the creation of a global empire which provided a cushion of immense wealth and privilege to buffer the couple from the stresses and strains that test the far less fortunate? A statement that the Gates’ marriage was “irretrievably broken” gave no real clues. Across offices and homes,... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3135000/why-celebrity-divorces-bill-and-melinda-gates-tong-liya-are-source?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3135000/why-celebrity-divorces-bill-and-melinda-gates-tong-liya-are-source?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 27 May 2021 05:15:14 +0000 The 1990s are widely recognised as the time when red-carpet dressing for women in Hollywood went into overdrive. It was a development largely attributed to the rise of the celebrity stylist and the eagerness of fashion designers to leverage the brand exposure they gained by having one of their pieces worn by a star. But it must also be recognised that this “new normal” of celebrities decked out in catwalk-level couture at movie and music industry awards shows gained traction during the 90s... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3131555/academy-awards-best-director-chloe-zhao-why-her-oscars-outfit-was?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3131555/academy-awards-best-director-chloe-zhao-why-her-oscars-outfit-was?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 29 Apr 2021 06:15:18 +0000 It has been a year since Hong Kong children were plunged into remote learning and virtual classrooms as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. My primary-school-aged daughter and her friends were initially introduced to instant messaging to allow direct contact with teachers and classmates to ask questions about lessons being delivered over Zoom and on Google slides. But what began as a way to support home learning quickly turned into a tool for isolated children who were missing their friends... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3130633/amid-rise-cyberbullying-we-owe-our-children-digital-detox-schools?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3130633/amid-rise-cyberbullying-we-owe-our-children-digital-detox-schools?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Apr 2021 06:30:13 +0000 https://www.scmp.com/economy/article/3126525/womens-rights-asia-how-far-have-we-really-come-improving-gender-equality?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/article/3126525/womens-rights-asia-how-far-have-we-really-come-improving-gender-equality?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 20 Mar 2021 12:00:00 +0000 If ever there was a resounding rejection of the idea central to countless fairy tales and romantic films – that marrying a handsome prince is the pinnacle of achievement for a woman – then it has been surely come from Meghan Markle. The decision by Markle and Prince Harry to walk away from royal life, leave Britain and “become financially independent” has caused widespread consternation and condemnation. Whatever the machinations behind the move, part of the outcry can certainly be attributed to... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3046947/why-megxit-win-women-and-girls-theres-lot-more-real-life-being?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3046947/why-megxit-win-women-and-girls-theres-lot-more-real-life-being?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Jan 2020 13:00:06 +0000 The year my daughter turned five, I expected the milestones we would mark would be learning to ride a bicycle, being able to swim with confidence and settling into “big” school as she started Year 1. What I did not expect was having to decide what my policy would be on how much homework she should do. The excellent staff at her school identified early on in the school year that her foundations in reading and mathematics were not as solid as those of her peers. Having moved from overseas, it was... https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1983937/should-five-year-olds-hong-kong-really-be-getting-homework?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1983937/should-five-year-olds-hong-kong-really-be-getting-homework?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 Jul 2016 04:19:24 +0000 Hong Kong is one of the most bustling cities in the world and, as any parent will tell you, it offers plenty of high-quality activities for children, including Hong Kong Disneyland. With a five-year-old, my family is right in the Disney target demographic and we have enjoyed several pleasant visits, with my daughter delighting in the park’s attractions, particularly getting to see her favourite characters “in the flesh” during the parades. Every outing culminated in the fireworks display around... https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1935643/why-hong-kong-disneyland-loses-its-magic-rain?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1935643/why-hong-kong-disneyland-loses-its-magic-rain?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 Apr 2016 05:47:23 +0000