Welcome to the WomanStats Blog!
The WomanStats Blog is an offshoot of the WomanStats Project. This project, begun in 2001, has both a research and a database component. Our research explores the linkage between the security of women and the security of states and the international system. To that end, we have constructed the largest compilation of information on women in the world: over 290 variables for 174 countries. The WomanStats Database is freely accessible online; click on our homepage link above. The purpose of creating a WomanStats blog was to allow project personnel to bring to the attention of readers interesting (and sometimes appalling) facts concerning women, and also to allow them to reflect upon their experiences extracting data for the project. Use the links to the right to access our RSS feed, sign up for email updates, and add our feed to your site. Other functions on site include search, comments, and ShareThis. The posts below are from 2008, and are listed newest to oldest, and we have archives and categories links to the right to assist you in finding particular posts. Enjoy!
Female Priests in India
From time to time when coding, we discover things that make us smile instead of frown. Such was my experience when reading this article about female Hindu priests in Pune, India. Pune is already renowned as a progressive city in India; the article cites the fact that Pune led the way in encouraging and enabling girls to get an education, as well as allowing widow remarriage (which is typically frowned on by traditional Hindu culture). Another article notes that Pune had also been supportive of family planning as early as the late 1800s. Again, Pune leads the way in this "revolution" of culture. Vishwanath Gurjar, head of the priesthood division of an educational institution in the area, says that "women have an equal right to "moksha," the Hindu concept of the liberation of the soul from the continual cycle of birth, life, death and rebirth. According to him, there is nothing in the scriptures to suggest that women are not equal to men." Although not expressly forbidden by Hinduism, women have typically not worked as pandits (priests) and the movement has met with some resistance.
The movement towards female pandits began, according to the article, with Shankarrao Thatte (owner of a major marriage hall in the city) starting a training school for women called the Shankar Seva Samiti. 
Both articles cite the prior "lackadaisical" approach of male priests toward their priestly duties, which included performing several rituals (or puja) in homes. Clients complained that male priests were late, rushed through the ceremonies, and were unwilling to explain the rituals or field questions during or after its performance. Women priests, on the other hand, while still working towards universal acceptance, have been growing in favor by those willing to hire them to perform these rituals. They are reportedly more punctual and willing to explain the meaning of the rituals and as such are often preferred to their male counterparts.
One area, however, where male priests still dominate are with regards to death rituals. This, too has recently become an area of greater debate. In the words of the BusinessLine article:
Gulabbai Tripathi was only 11 when she conducted her first funeral and death rites at the death of her father. She died in 2005, at the ripe old age of 86. For 70-odd years, she was in charge of a crematorium in Allahabad, which she made her home. Marathi writer Mangala Athlekar even penned a book based on her life titled `Gargi'. Says Athlekar, "When I got to know her, I realised that we — women in cities — only talk about women's liberation in our ivory towers. Gulabbai may not have known the jargon of women's rights, but she put this `liberation' into action. "Just as, in Vedic times, Gargi boldly questioned the intellect of Yajnavalkya in a Brahmin gathering, Gulabbai questioned the Brahmin gurus of our era. "Why can a woman not undertake last rites, she asked. She built her own ghat on the banks of the Ganga and served society for 70 years."While the issue of women priests is likely still a rather controversial subject in terms of potential conflict if male priests were to feel challenged in their roles, there was one point in particular made by the eNews article that could be universally applicable. Gurjar, quoted earlier about male-female equality in the scriptures, also said that "[i]t is only the mindset of people that stops them from accepting women in certain roles." This, I believe, is true of many women's issues domestically and internationally. And so, we at WomanStats endeavor to spread awareness of women's issues as well as propose new possibilities in order to enable society and the mindset of the populous to change accordingly.
[photographs are from eNews and BusinessLine, respectively].
Posted by CF on 31 December 2008; Women (General); Positive Change
Peace on Earth: The WomanStats Christmas 2008 Message
The earliest religious texts we have available to us from the Bible, to the Four Vedas of Hinduism, to the five classic of Confucianism, all carry with them the laws required in order to have peace in this life. The Utopian literary genre built on these traditions now comprises thousands of volumes covering more than 1000 years of history. The idea that there could be peace on earth spans the globe, and is found among nearly all cultures and religions. More modern Utopian texts date from 1516 with Moore's Utopia. Although he was not the first to write about the ideal society, he was one of the most influential. Texts before and after it are judged to be Utopian based on his model.
Although the mechanism for attaining this perfect society differs among religions and cultures, there is a general consensus on what makes up a Utopian society, and what is necessary to achieve it. It includes equitable laws for all people, the abolition of class, full employment, high education, is generally agrarian in nature and has top down management -- even, for some authors, becoming totalitarian in order to maintain the peace. Much of the modern critique on the idea of Utopia center on the lack of freedom seemingly advocated in order to attain peace.
There are few if any individuals or societies that would say that they did not want peace. The complication arises in how to obtain it.
I came across a tradition that outlines much different mechanism for obtaining Utopia, which is very different from the traditional top-down approach. These are the element of its history:
1) The ideal condition is established that governs both the mind and the heart -- there is to be no contention, and we are not to see each other as more or less valuable.
2) Individuals are taught these conditions and are asked to accept them and live according to them
3) As they do so of their own free will and choice they find peace in their life and continue in that path and help others see it.
Positive natural consequence of inner peace are felt by those who follow the law. Those who chose to not adopt the law are allowed to continue in their path -- but must face the consequences of their decisions.
4) Individuals have to learn to keep the law as individuals and obtain that peace first.
5) Once they do they are married and then learn to keep the laws of peace within their marriage
6) Extending from the marriage, the children are taught the same.
7) This peace within individuals, then between men and women in marriage, and then between generations begins to radiate out until it affects the entire society.
How that all happens exactly is obscured by history. We only see the result, not how it was achieved exactly. But that was less important to me than how the end result was described . . . Utopia was a place where "there were no envyings, nor strifes, nor tumults, nor whoredoms, nor lyings, nor murders, nor any manner of lasciviousness... there were no robbers, [or] murderers." What struck me was how many of these evils are particularly important to women. Most of the Utopian societies described in the traditional literature may be a good place for men to exist, but most of the conditions would not be considered ideal for women.
But in this special Utopia, not only are all things common so there there are no poor, no war, and there is freedom in education, etc., the text also describes removing personal attitudes that too often break homes and marginalize women. The text describes the people as the happiest on Earth -- both the men and the women. I think ths is unique in Utopian literature, because so often it is just man's world that has been perfected, often at the expense of the women themselves.
Here is what I take home from these passages.
1) There was no fighting. They had learned to air their differences in a way that did not disrupt the peace. I imagine this is because they had put away their pride and could discuss topics based on their merit and not on the emotional connection to one idea or another.
2) All things were common between them. Regardless of being a man, woman, child, divorced, sick, widowed, etc., ALL things were equal before them. How they managed to do it is not explained, but the result was peace. One person did not put himself or herself above another. They did not think they deserved more. In sharing and in equality they were all free.
3) Marriage was central to the peace. But these were not your average marriages. For one they were established among people that were absolutely equal in every way. Based on that foundation and then learning to keep the commandments as a couple ensured that there was no contention in the land.
4) This equality and love started in the individual, moved to the family, and then spread to the nation - it can and should permeate the heart and mind of all those who desire to be a part of it.
Although each individual and family cannot affect the world in its entirety on their own, it is possible to have a major influence, on that which we do have some control over. As an individual I can develop a truly altruistic heart and learn to minimize my negative impact on society and the demands I place on it. As I get married I can ensure that I treat my wife as a full partner in the marriage and then do my part to ensure that our marriage is based on equality. This is an ideal world to raise children in and give them the best shot at achieving peace and perpetuating the ideal found in the original parental example. It may not fix the world tomorrow, but it will be getting better.
Anyway, my point is that we can achieve at least 2 out of the 3 levels of peace. And, as the saying goes, 2 out of 3 ain't bad. And if we can get these first two levels fixed, who knows what influence we might have on the world . . .
Posted by SMS on 23 December 2008; Women (General); Positive Change
It's Time to Stop Eve-Teasing
A recent coding assignment lead me to this Learn Without Fear report, discussing the obstacles girls and boys face at schools throughout the world. The following quote stuck out to me:
“In India incidents other than rape are dismissed under the inappropriate term ‘eve-teasing’ [a euphemism for sexual harassment or molestation] … Eve-teasing degrades a girl or woman without affecting her physically and is considered by men as something ‘light in nature’ and ‘fun’, whereas for females it is a violation.”
The research I did on eve-teasing suggests that this term is in fact a reference to the Eve of the Bible, who several major religions view as the mother of the human race. If so, the comparisons between the two situations are worth considering:
Historically speaking, Eve has frequently born the burden of mankind’s fall from grace. In many interpretations of the story (which are extremely problematic for me), Eve’s foolishness and natural susceptibility to the devil lead her to partake of the fruit, and then her sensual influence causes Adam to follow her example. The interpretation continues with Eve becoming subject to Adam’s dominion throughout her life. Unfortunately, this reasoning has frequently served as a justification for perpetuating women’s second-class status throughout the world.
In the eve-teasing situation, a woman is subject to sexual harassment, which men view as lighthearted and fun. Frequently, the woman may be blamed for the unwanted advances—her dress, appearance, attitude, and even her simple presence in open society are seen as more than enough justification for her treatment.
In both of these cases, the woman is portrayed as naturally weak, inherently sexual and ultimately responsible for anything bad that happens. For me, this is so obviously incorrect that it should be laughable…except that it has been going on far too long. It’s time to stop.
Posted by MMH on 19 December 2008; Women (General)
Wardrobe Problems
Iran has recently decided that its dress codes for women requiring the covering of most of her body are not strict enough. Police authorities state they have doubled the number of officers assigned to crack down on dress codes, and the crackdown will continue until “society is clean of any immoralities.” In Iran, women are traditionally required to cover all of their hair and wear long, loose fitting clothing. Police authorities firmly believe that the flouting of Islamic dress codes is the cause of a recent increase in “immoral behavior” and other “unacceptable actions.” The article does not provide any concrete examples of this behavior, but the tone of the article suggests that it is very serious. A spokesperson for the police department stated, “The police regard the crackdown on immoral behaviour, which includes fighting bandits, drug smugglers and people with improper clothing, as an inseparable part of its responsibilities.” The police are putting women with tight clothing on a priority level with drug dealers and bandits. In my mind, the threat posed by a woman with her head uncovered does not equal that posed by someone selling drugs to kids. Of course, there are culturally acceptable dress standards in any society. In our culture, both women and man are expected to be modest and basically covered up while in public and there are appropriate levels of dress for different circumstances. We cannot expect Iran or any other country to completely ignore any dress standards, but Iran seems to have taken this to the extreme. There seems to be no standard for men’s dress equal to that of women. This suggests that the standard is not merely a culturally acceptable way of dress for all people, but a way of controlling the women of society, as well as promoting the view that those women who do not comply are on par with drug dealers. Somehow, I think Iran may have more serious problems than dress code violations.
Posted by BP on 12 December 2008; Wardrobe Problems, Police Business
The Things a Badge Lets You Get Away With
It is alarming the kinds of things that people in authority, especially police officers and security forces, can get away with in Rwanda. Having a badge is power, and police officers in Rwanda are using this power to abuse women-because they can. The Country Report on Human Rights for 2007 in Rwanda records these crimes against women; "In police stations, the government did not feed detainees awaiting hearings or transfers. Police regularly told victims of violence and rape, especially women, that if they did not provide food to their attacker, they would release him." Police officers are requiring women to care for their attacker or rapist by coming down to the station on a regular basis to feed them. Then the policemen harrass, assault, and rape the victims repeatedly and regularly as they visit the station. So in order to keep your rapist off the street, as a woman in Rwanda, you have to subject yourself to caring for your attacker, along with repeated harassment and more rape at the hand of those appointed to uphold the law and protect you, the police. The crimes against women that a badge lets you get away with in Rwanda are atrocious. Where can these women turn when the entire police force is so corrupt and horrible that there is no one to protect them or stand up for them?
Posted by LJL on 11 December 2008; Police Business
Canada's Dirty Secret
The trafficking and prostitution business in Canada is highly biased against aboriginal women because of “poverty, abuse, racism, and troubled historical relations.” According to Anupriya Sethi, aboriginal girls come from a trusting culture and when they leave to find jobs in the cities, they are easily lured by the promises of traffickers. Furthermore, study has shown that aboriginal women make up 90% of the teenaged prostitutes in the cities and that the average age for girls to be trafficked is 7 to 12. It is even estimated that around 75% of aboriginal girls have been sexually abused by the age of 18, including 50% by age 14 and almost 25% by age 7.
Part of the problem can be traced back to colonization and the problems that it has created for natives, including raising generations of parents with inadequate parenting skills and who have financial and drinking problems among others. In fact, aboriginal girls and women are not only targeted by those of other races, but by those in their own communities—there have even been instances of family members using incest in exchange for food and housing. On top of this, there are even aboriginal trafficking gangs in the cities that target these girls, and some of the traffickers claim to be female themselves.
The trafficking industry in Canada has become so racialized that aboriginal women are at risk just because of their heritage; there have been reports of aboriginal women who are not prostitutes being solicited by men just because they are on the street. There are no clear estimates of the number of trafficked aborigines, but rape/murder is currently the number-one killer of these women. At this point little is being done by the government to address this problem and without intervention the root causes of why aboriginal girls are trafficked will only multiply and continue to ruin these women’s life.
Posted by MIR on 10 December 2008; Numbers; WomanStats; Women (General)
Shackled While Giving Birth
I came across this atrocity on the ACLU blog a month or so ago. Appallingly, female inmates who are sent to the hospital to give birth are often shackled to the hospital beds to prevent escape. This practice is ridiculous as it harms both the women giving birth and her unborn child as childbirth should be a dynamic process and not just a passive one with a mother lying still on the bed (though most birthing women in the United States are often "shackled" with electronic fetal monitors and such).
As one woman subjected to this torture articulates, "Like I was going to go anywhere." (I could not have put it any better). Where do they think these women are going to go??
One inmate, in prison for shoplifting, recalls:
"Because I was shackled to the bed, they couldn't remove the lower part of the bed for the delivery, and they couldn't put my feet in the stirrups. My feet were still shackled together, and I couldn't get my legs apart. The doctor called for the officer, but the officer had gone down the hall. No one else could unlock the shackles, and my baby was coming but I couldn't open my legs."
Another describes her birth experience as "...so humiliating. My ankles were raw... I had shackles on up until the baby was coming out and then they took them off for me to push…It was unbelievable."
What's more, after the babies are born they are often taken away immediately, preventing breastfeeding and early bonding between mother and child leading to an array of health and psychological issues for both for years to come.
Only three states have laws prohibiting the shackling of birthing prison inmates. Yet another reason to have women in decision-making positions. Some may say that these women are getting what they deserve for committing crimes, winding up in prison, and getting pregnant while in prison. On the other hand though, aren't they women and mothers and humans and deserve some dignity? What's more, some women in custody end up there by circumstances beyond their control. The ACLU reports that "the U.S. Immigrant and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which increasingly detains immigrant women who have never committed a crime, has refused to specifically end the use of restraints on pregnant women."
For more information about shackling practices, click here.
While we read about the violations against women in nations all over the world, let's not forget that they occur in our community as well. Refuse to ignore our own system's discrimination against women. Refuse to remain silent about this discrimination.
Posted by CPC on 2 December 2008; Even in America, Maternity Matters
One in Seven
That's the probability a woman in Niger will die from complications in pregnancy and childbirth. I recently learned from UNICEF's 2005 publication, Progress for Children, that my own lifetime risk (as an American woman) of dying from pregnancy-related causes is 1 in 4,800. That sounds pretty good compared to the women in Saharan Africa, until you read on and discover that the United States has the second worst maternal mortality rate (MMR) in the industrialized world, just hovering above Estonia on the list of our planet's 40 wealthiest nations. Ireland's women are the safest in the world, with a MMR of 1 in 47,600.
No woman I've ever known has died from maternity complications. So, it's shocking to hear that half a million women worldwide die each year from the only process that brings life into this world. Another 10 million women's pregnancies result in injuries, infections, disease or disability that can cause lifelong suffering. 99% of those women live in developing countries. Tragically, nearly all of these deaths and injuries are easily preventable or avoidable. That's why UNICEF calls maternal mortality a litmus test for health systems. So why aren't more moms' lives saved? UNICEF responds, "it is difficult to avoid the conclusion that [this has] remained unaddressed for so long due to women's disadvantaged social, political and economic status in many societies." To heal this problem we must not only address medical training and infrastructure, we must address issues of gender and social norms. An educated and empowered woman is less likely to die during childbirth.
Posted by AML on 1 December 2008; Even in America, Maternity Matters, Numbers
