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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.
The Artemis III crew (from left) Andre Douglas, Luca Parmitano, Randy Bresnik and Frank Rubio, pose for an official portrait. Photo: Nasa via AP
Nasa

Nasa chief defends choice of all-male Artemis III crew

Critics fear the agency is following Trump’s order to eliminate diversity and inclusion efforts despite its vow to put a woman on the moon.

Pakistan

Acid attack on female doctor forces Pakistani women to reconsider medicine

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France

Formidable French first lady Bernadette Chirac dies at 93

Obituaries

‘Persepolis’ author Marjane Satrapi dies ‘of sadness’ aged 56

The renowned graphic novel and film adaptation recount her early life and struggles in the shadow of the 1979 Iranian revolution.

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Iranian-born French graphic novelist, illustrator and film director Marjane Satrapi poses for photographs during International Women’s Day celebrations in Saint Ouen, near Paris, in March 2023. Photo: EPA
South Korea

Professor disciplined after saying ‘8 in 10 Korean women’ engaged in sex work

The faculty member was barred from teaching classes, providing academic counselling and performing other student guidance duties.

Gender

Hong Kong’s first female astronaut heads for the stars

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Art

The female gaze: meet the wealthy women reshaping the art market

Women are outspending men on art and championing more female artists – with collectors from mainland China leading the charge.

Hyung Koo-kang’s Blue Woman, at the first Art Basel Hong Kong in 2013. Photo: Sam Tsang
Crime

Swedish prosecutor urges prison for man who prostituted wife to dozens of men

State demands 10-year sentence for aggravated pimping and rape as defence maintains denial.

TV shows and streaming video

‘It’s a Geena-sance’: Geena Davis on Netflix’s The Boroughs and Coachella skit

The Thelma & Louise star shares her delight in returning as a bellicose retiree in Netflix’s new sci-fi as she reflects on an iconic career.

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Trending in China

2 notable women in ancient China broke barriers in fields of medicine, science

Breakthrough by woman pioneer led to jail, execution for son who agreed with her decision to dissect her dead husband.

In ancient China, societal norms dictated that women should remain outside the sphere of knowledge. However, two remarkable women challenged these boundaries. Photo: Handout
Gender

Chinese drug-rape network shocks Germany

Chinese drug-rape network shocks Germany
Afghanistan

New Taliban law in Afghanistan implies that child marriage is permitted, UN says

UN says the new family code tacitly permits union with minors, despite Kabul claiming forced weddings are banned.

Pakistan

Video | Killer of Pakistani TikTok teen star sentenced to death

The 22-year-old man shot 17-year-old influencer Sana Yousaf at her home in Islamabad after she repeatedly rejected his advances.

Pakistan

Pakistan court sentences man to death for killing TikTok teen who refused him

The 22-year-old man shot 17-year-old influencer Sana Yousaf at her home in Islamabad after she repeatedly rejected his advances.

Women activists holding photographs of Sana Yousaf take part in a demonstration condemning violence against women in Islamabad on June 5, 2025. Photo: AFP
Sexual harassment and assault

Harvey Weinstein’s third New York rape trial ends in mistrial

The jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict on whether the former Hollywood mogul raped aspiring actress Jessica Mann.

Harvey Weinstein appears in Manhattan criminal court on Friday. Photo: AP
Lunar

New Miss Universe Philippines’ win sparks debate on identity

Trending in China

China’s first female expert tree climber turns fear of heights into thriving career

Former track athlete branches out and excels working at great heights; says women bring special advantages to job.

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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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Iranian human rights activist Narges Mohammadi in a hospital in Tehran on Saturday. Photo: Narges Foundation Archive via AP
The Philippines

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

Some social media users have questioned Bea Millan-Windorski’s win, while others say being Filipino is about ‘culture, history and belonging’.

Gender

The chess champion helping drive competition reforms

Trending in China

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

Band of sisters who started out as strangers find empowerment on the road; share delivery orders if business is slow.

On a small Chinese island, a group of middle-aged mothers, dubbed the “Female Knights,” are reshaping food delivery. Photo: CFP
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

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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A statue of a ‘comfort woman’, pictured in Pyeongchang, South Korea, in 2020. Japan forced up to 200,000 women from Korea, China and Southeast Asia into sexual slavery between 1932 and 1945. Photo: Reuters
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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