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Women and gender

Women and gender
News and analysis on women's rights, the gender gap, LGBTQ issues, sexual harassment, sexual minorities and masculinity in Asia and beyond.
Iranian human rights activist Narges Mohammadi in a hospital in Tehran on Saturday. Photo: Narges Foundation Archive via AP
Middle East

Jailed Iran Nobel laureate transferred to hospital after medical crisis

Narges Mohammadi’s transfer comes after days of pleading by her family and others who described her condition as critical.

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The Philippines

‘Foreigner won’: Filipinos divided over pageant winner’s US roots

Trending in China

‘Female Knights’: China mums reshape food delivery by juggling freedom and family

Wellness

Why are we still judging how mothers feed their babies?

Between Hewitt’s essay on choosing formula and Willis breastfeeding her toddler, the ‘breast is best’ conversation remains loaded with judgment.

Pete Davidson’s girlfriend Elsie Hewitt, who gave birth in December, wrote candidly about choosing formula over breastfeeding in an essay for Elle. Photo: @elsie/Instagram
United States

US Supreme Court restores access to abortion pill mifepristone

Women seeking abortions will be able to obtain the pill at pharmacies or through the mail, without an in-person visit to a doctor.

Gender

Helping the families of the domestic helpers killed in Tai Po fire

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Africa

‘A lot of suicide’: Sudan war’s sexual violence sparks mental health crisis

The horrific scenario includes the shooting and raping of a health worker - with a woman in labour dying - and many suicides to avoid rape.

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A 17-year-old from Sudan holds her child in her arms in a refugee camp in Chad. She became pregnant after being raped outside the refugee camp. Photo: dpa
New Zealand

New Zealand officials reject statue remembering Japan’s WWII sex slaves

The government said feedback for the statue application included formal representations from Japan.

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Fashion

Mark Gong – loved by Rihanna and Lisa – on designing for the modern woman

The Shanghai-based designer is inspired by female stars like Taylor Swift and Sabrina Carpenter – and is all for women embracing their ‘nasty, messy’ desires.

Religion

Pope meets first female Archbishop of Canterbury in symbolic Vatican encounter

Sarah Mullally, the first woman to serve as spiritual leader of the Church of England, and the pope exchanged gifts and prayed together.

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Pope Leo meets Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally at The Vatican on Monday. Photo: Simone Risoluti / Vatican media / AFP
Trending in China

China Gen Z snipers nicknamed ‘Sweetheart’, ‘Gun Queen’ challenge gender stereotypes

Female sharpshooters go the extra mile physically and mentally to become the very best at handling heavy weapons.

Meet two Chinese Gen Z female snipers who are challenging gender stereotypes: “Sniper Sweetheart” and “Gun Queen,” who outperformed male soldiers. Photo: SCMP composite/Weibo/RedNote

Hong Kong’s Denise Yeung to become first Chinese woman to race in Road to Le Mans

Competitive mother of three in her 50s says she entered the gruelling race in France in June to tell her children ‘age is just a number’.

South Korea

How a dropped sex assault case cost an aspiring South Korean officer her life

Thousands sign petition demanding a new probe into the woman’s death after police dismissed her case, igniting public fury.

Food and Drinks

Meet the women in whiskey breaking the glass ceiling in male-dominated industry

A growing number of women are becoming leaders in the traditionally male-dominated US whiskey industry, from making it to promoting it.

Meghan Ireland blends whiskey in the lab at the WhistlePig whiskey distillery in Shoreham, in the US state of Vermont. Photo: AP
Sexual harassment and assault

Weinstein preyed on aspiring US actress, court told in rape retrial

The Hollywood mogul took advantage of Jessica Mann by enticing her with a film role she had no chance of getting, prosecutors say.

Former Hollywood film producer Harvey Weinstein appears in Manhattan Supreme Court on Tuesday. Photo: AFP
Trending in China

China eatery hit for ‘beating wife’ sales slogan hinting at domestic violence approval

Other offensive sayings surface, like ‘a wife cannot be beaten to death and peppers cannot burn in the sun’, ignite online anger.

Japan

Video | Is Japan ready for a female emperor?

A new poll shows most Japanese support a woman ascending to the Chrysanthemum Throne, even as the prime minister proposes a plan that preserves the male-line succession.

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Trending in China

‘Fire Roses’: China only female cremation team attacks stereotypes, alters mortality views

Women face mental and physical rigours of dealing with death on a daily basis, say it gives them a better understanding of life.

China’s only all-female cremation team, the “Fire Roses”, works tirelessly in Beijing’s extreme heat, cremating bodies and meticulously cleaning bones. Photo: SCMP composite/QQ.com
Lunar

The palaeontologist making her mark in what was a ‘gentleman’s science’

Indonesia

University of Indonesia suspends law students for sexually explicit group chat

The students are accused of having made vulgar and explicit sexual jokes about female peers and lecturers in an online conversation.

Iran

Jailed Iranian Nobel winner ‘critical’ after heart attack

Supporters say the life of 2023 peace laureate Narges Mohammadi is at ‘immediate and irreparable risk’ in an Iranian prison.

Iranian rights campaigner Narges Mohammadi. Photo: Narges Mohammadi Foundation via AFP
China society

Opinion | By voicing their needs, Chinese women are normalising them

In films and on social media, women in China are openly advocating for themselves and fighting taboos around women’s health.

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Women eat lunch in a female co-living space in Hangzhou, in eastern China’s Zhejiang province, on July 14, 2025. Photo: AFP
Trending in China

Ice cream brand hit over ‘soft porn vibes’ after comparing product to ballet shoes

Dessert company receives ‘foot fetish’ criticism amid accusations that it used Chinese word for ‘sexual pleasure’ in controversial ad.

Wellness

‘I was taught to shrink’: rugby player fights against Asian beauty standards

German-Chinese national athlete Sofie Fella urges girls and women to transcend traditional Asian femininity norms and build strength.

Sexual harassment and assault

Harvey Weinstein rape retrial begins in New York

The film mogul, who is accused of raping actress Jessica Mann, is being retried after a mistrial was declared last June.

Harvey Weinstein appears at Manhattan Supreme Court for the start of jury selection on Tuesday. Photo: Reuters
Sexual harassment and assault

‘Truly monstrous’: Germany jails Chinese student in Pelicot-like rape case

Zhongyi J. repeatedly drugged, assaulted and filmed his girlfriend, sedating her so heavily that her breathing repeatedly stopped.

A protester at a March rally against sexual violence in Hanover, Germany, holds a sign with the Gisele Pelicot quote ‘shame must change sides’. Photo: dpa
Australia

‘Deeply historic’: Australia appoints first-ever female army chief

Susan Coyle will become the first woman to lead the army in 125 years as the military aims for one in four personnel to be women by 2030.

Sexual harassment and assault

Threat to women’s safety? Meta’s smart glasses stir privacy worries

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