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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.
A view of the Royal Courts of Justice in London in December 2021. Photo: AP
Sexual harassment and assault

UK teen rapists get detention after outrage at lenient sentences

The two boys were originally given youth rehabilitation orders after raping two girls; videos of the attacks were shared online.

The Philippines

‘Providing a solution’? Why some Filipinos risk their lives amid abortion ban

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United States

US Supreme Court upholds state bans on transgender student athletes

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Trending in China

China ‘Spider-Woman’ single mum scales high-rises to support family

Xu receives widespread praise, as many believe that ‘a mother’s love can elevate her above hundreds of metres’ truly reflects her job.

A 36-year-old single mother in China, dubbed “Spider-Woman,” cleans and repairs high-rise buildings to support her family. Photo: Sohu
Gender

Creating safe spaces for Singapore's men

Malaysia

Marital duty, faith drive Malaysian women to give in to sex requests: survey

Only 44 per cent of Malay and Muslim women were able to refuse sex, compared with three-quarters of Chinese and Indian Malaysians.

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Sexual harassment and assault

Weinstein rape charge dropped after accuser says can’t endure fourth trial

The previous trial – which ended with a hung jury – had taken a visible toll on former actress Jessica Mann, who testified for five days.

Harvey Weinstein appears in Manhattan Supreme Court in New York on Thursday. Photo: AP
Science

China ‘on track to surpass United States’ in goals for human, planet health: UN

Report showing global progress on 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals shows gap between Chinese and US closed significantly since 2015.

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Trending in China

Dettol faces PR crisis in China after ‘objectifying women’ ad backfires

Company faces heavy criticism for reinforcing toxic gender stereotypes by equating a woman’s sexual history with physical cleanliness.

Pakistan

French woman freed in Pakistan after years of alleged captivity by husband

Sylvie Yasmina was rescued after one of her five children managed to leave the house and get to a nearby police station.

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Sylvie Yasmina thanks officers for rescuing her, in a video recorded by police and shared with the media. Photo: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police
Trending in China

Mature Chinese women rent time, experiences to young counterparts for support

Initiatives highlight young people’s desire for connection, emotional support amid pressures of male-dominated society.

In China, women in their 30s and 40s are gaining popularity by renting their time and life experiences to younger counterparts, embracing the “girls help girls” tradition on social media. Photo: Shutterstock
Lunar

Japan’s women-only carriages turn 25

Japan

Japanese men picking up World Cup trash get mocked over double standards

A meme criticised the fans who often avoid doing unpaid labour such as cleaning and childcare at home.

Trending in China

Zheng Yuxiu: modern China’s ‘xia nu’ assassin and first female PhD

Independent spirit who resisted grandmother’s bid to bind her feet, worked in intelligence, transported bombs, championed women’s rights.

Meet Zheng Yuxiu, the “xia nu” of modern China, a term for a fearless woman who fights for justice. Photo: Wikipedia
Poland

34 fetuses found in Polish doctor’s garden

The 57-year-old medical pathologist is suspected of using the fetuses to perform experiments and now faces up to 12 years in prison.

Anti-abortion activists protest in Warsaw, Poland in 2024. The case of Magdalena H. has whipped up a storm in traditionally Catholic Poland, with many questioning how she managed to obtain the unborn babies’ bodies in a country with some of the strictest abortion laws in Europe. Photo: AFP
Lunar

Lung cancer cases rise among Hong Kong women

Hong Kong celebrities and icons

7 Hong Kong women’s footballers on playing the sport and fashion game

With the Fifa World Cup 2026 under way, we asked players from a prominent Hong Kong women’s team about fashion, and the professionals that inspire them – from Lionel Messi to Mia Hamm.

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Trending in China

Women face extra hurdles during China’s gaokao; contraceptives used to delay periods

Pressures of crucial national college entrance exam exacerbated by menstrual factor, folk remedies like mango, blueberries, durian also tried.

A woman is accompanied by her parents on her way to sit China’s national college entrance examination. Many women take contraceptives to delay their periods at this crucial time. Photo: Reuters
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

The attack on Mahnoor Nasir at her hospital has shown the risk of violence and social disparities women face in Pakistan.

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France

Formidable French first lady Bernadette Chirac dies at 93

She weathered husband Jacques Chirac’s notorious womanising and became a political power in her own right.

France’s former first lady Bernadette Chirac waves during a campaign event in Villepinte, north of Paris, in March 2012. Photo: AP
Gender

Pride Month 2026 marked by backslide in LGBTQ rights

Pride Month 2026 marked by backslide in LGBTQ rights
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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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

Hong Kong’s first female astronaut heads for the stars
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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