The Bride Price in Afghanistan

The bride price sparked competition between Zeba’s mother and aunt. Whose daughter was worth more? Zeba’s mother won the battle this round, but kept in mind that Zeba’s dowry set the precedent for future daughters.

Birth is a Dream

Maternal mortality and reproductive health are rarely-discussed social issues. Yet, women — mothers — die every day in a silent…

Honor Crimes in Jordan

Honor crimes are nothing new, and neither is the manipulation of religion to justify these crimes.

BY: Molly Lower

Honor Killings: The Frightening Reality

Honor violence sheds light on the larger issues of gender inequality, and lack of free choice for women in some of these communities. Women themselves — not families and tribes — should own their bodies.

The Village in Afghan Society

When NATO pulls out of Afghanistan in entirety, the practical and simple skills, like midwifery or sewing, taught to the women in my village, will prove to be much more valuable than mathematics or a push toward village leadership.

Zunn: Showgirls of Pakistan

The sexual culture of Pakistan is fascinating, reflecting a deep patriarchy. While women observe purdah (veiling and segregation from men) at home, Punjabi men, mostly of lower social strata, flock regularly to sexual innuendo-filled theaters without any moral qualms.

Stories of Memory and Passion During the 1947 Partition of India

The Half Widows in Kashmir

In conflict zones men are celebrated, decorated, and revered for their heroism; women and children are often just referred to as the bystanders of the discord. Yet, the first and the last victims of war are always the women and the children. Due to this, they are also the…

Women’s Shelters in Afghanistan

According to tribal codes, the penalty for fleeing one’s home without a male escort could be death; running from a marriage — especially taking one’s children with her — could result in an honor killing.

Comfort Women

Referred to as Wianbu in Korean and “Comfort Women” in English, on August 14, 1991, a woman named Hak Soon Kim came forward to denounce the Japanese for the sexual enslavement of more than 200,000 women during World War II.