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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.
Annie Yi, a well-known 58-year-old Taiwanese singer and actress, recently took to social media to advocate for an end to “female competition”, saying that she does not seek validation for looking “as youthful as a teenager.” Photo: Weibo
Trending in China

Taiwan actress, 58, praised for ‘youthful’ looks opposes ‘female competition’

Former teen idol says she strives to be a ‘radiant mum’; calls on women to find partners who respect them for who they are.

Style Edit

Style Edit: Chanel’s CC League empowers women athletes on and off the field

Trending in China

China actress, 75, sparks debate playing teen, kissing much younger actor in TV drama

Food and Drinks

Your Hong Kong weekend drinks guide for March 6-9

Celebrate International Women’s Day with unDer Lab’s scientific cocktails, Jin Bo Law Skybar’s city-inspired menu, and women bartenders’ star turns.

Jin Bo Law’s new menu features drinks inspired by Hong Kong, like the Kai Tak Airport. Photo: Handout
Australia

Australia’s best-paid jobs are twice as likely to go to men as to women

Industries that pay the most, such as mining and construction, tend to have the largest gender wage gaps, according to a report.

Trending in China

China entrepreneur, abandoned as child, owns fashion brand with US$36 million sales

Driven woman who came from parents who rarely remembered her name, dumped her on a mountainside, tells young women ‘there is hope’.

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United Nations

UN rights chief slams violence against women, calls it ‘a global emergency’

Volker Turk highlights the segregation of women in Afghanistan and sex trafficking cases against US financier Jeffrey Epstein as examples.

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UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk speaking at the opening of a session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva last September. Photo: AFP
Wellness

It’s not ‘all in your head’: women’s pain really lasts longer, study finds

Myth-busting findings that immune system differences cause chronic pain to persist longer for women highlight the need for better treatment.

Artificial intelligence

‘Digital public shaming’: Chinese AI tools under fire for pornographic deepfakes

Grass-roots group warns AI platforms have ‘sacrificed women’s right to safety’ as non-consensual sexualised images proliferate.

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Donald Trump

US women’s ice hockey captain responds to ‘distasteful’ Trump remark

Hilary Knight, who led her squad to an Olympic gold medal, says the president’s joke overshadowed the achievements of American athletes.

Hilary Knight celebrates during the medal ceremony for Women’s Ice Hockey in Milan, Italy, on February 19. Photo: TNS
Reality TV

Korean reality dating show reignites discussion on gender norms

Korean reality dating show reignites discussion on gender norms
Malaysia

The silent crisis facing Malaysian women stranded in Indonesia

Trapped by financial woes after marrying local men in Lombok, many Malaysian women struggle to return home.

Chinese culture

Opinion | Lunar New Year doesn’t need a home-cooked feast to be full of flavour

The most important thing isn’t if you cooked the food yourself or followed tradition to the letter – it’s being with people you care about.

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France

French rape survivor Pelicot says mindsets need to change

On the eve of her memoir’s release, Gisele Pelicot gives candid interviews about the druggings and rapes that shocked the world.

Gisele Pelicot. Photo: AFP
Britain

Social media ‘weaponises’ children, says UK expert on gender healthcare

The ‘tiny’ number who will ‘never be comfortable’ with their biological sex need support as well as those who will ‘grow out of this’.

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Children hold signs and transgender pride flags during a transgender rights rally in 2024 in Washington. Photo: AP
Wellness

8 hot wellness trends in 2026, from women’s longevity to ‘health raves’

Here are some of the top wellness trends predicted for 2026, including a focus on women’s health, ‘neurowellness’ and reducing over-tracking.

Entertainment

Hong Kong’s Miss Nepal hopeful follows in mother’s footsteps

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Trending in China

China exit of top German lingerie brand as women prefer comfort, reject male gaze

Popularity of going braless plus growing desire for practicality sees purveyors of wire-free underwear brands push up sales.

German lingerie brand Triumph recently left the mainland China market, highlighting a trend where women are opting for comfortable, wire-free and sports bras over underwire styles. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/cb.com.cn
Hong Kong population

Opinion | Boost birth rates? Governments should focus on the population they have

Instead of growing the population at all costs, governments should be practically addressing longer life expectancies.

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Iran

Iran sentences Nobel laureate to 7 more years amid stand-off with US

As Iran extends the jail term for Narges Mohammadi, its foreign minister strikes a maximalist position after US talks.

Malaysia

Woman ejected from Malaysia biker event over ‘too revealing’ dress

Some 30 women were also given headscarves at the RXZ Forever Legend motorcycling rally in Kelantan.

Participants at the RXZ Forever Legend motorcycling event in Kelantan, Malaysia. Photo: Facebook/RXZ-Forever-Legend
Trending in China

China women pay for ‘companions’ in role-playing games, spark love debate

Sociologists suggest that many Chinese women view role-playing games as a safe, low-risk opportunity to ‘rehearse romance’.

A trend is growing among Chinese women that involves hiring a “love companion” during script-killing games where participants engage in a fictional scenario, often with a male host. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/RedNote
Hong Kong society

Hong Kong’s Miss Nepal hopeful follows in mother’s pageant footsteps 32 years on

Hong Kong-born Deepmala Kharel Dhakal’s national crown bid highlights pride and spirit of city’s Nepalese community.

Lunar

‘Family reunion’ case in China reveals troubling concerns

Middle East

Road to equality? Iran formally allows women to ride motorcycles

In a country where women’s public presence is heavily regulated, the right to operate a vehicle is a powerful indicator of shifting social boundaries.

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Maryam Talaie helps actress Katayun Riyahi during Iran’s first official women’s motorcycle training near Tehran in 2018. As of Wednesday, women in the country can officially get motorcycle licenses. Photo: EPA-EFE
Nordic nations

Norway royal’s son pleads not guilty to four counts of rape, amid Epstein link scandal

Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s son Marius Borg Hoiby faces 38 charges, including rape and assault, risking 16 years in prison.

Marius Borg Hoiby, son of Norwegian Crown Princess Mette-Marit. Photo: AFP
Germany

Chinese man on trial in Munich for raping sedated partner, echoing Pelicot case

The 27-year-old faces trial for drugging, raping, and filming his Chinese girlfriend, and is charged with attempted murder and aggravated rape.

Japan

Do voters expect smiles? Why masks hurt female politicians in Japan

While there was no decline in support for masked male politicians, their female counterparts saw a significant drop, the survey showed.

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