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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.
Despite a difficult childhood in a large family that favoured sons, Huang Xuanni established a highly successful e-commerce fashion brand. Photo: SCMP composite/Weibo/RedNote
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’.

United Nations

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

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Wellness

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

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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Doubao has emerged as the main AI tool for generating pornographic deepfakes in China, according to a feminist media collective. Photo: Shutterstock
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.

Reality TV

Korean reality dating show reignites discussion on gender norms

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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.

Many Malaysian women stranded in Indonesia face poverty and separation, unable to return home. Photo: Shutterstock
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.

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.

One of the top wellness trends expected in 2026 is a rise of wearables designed to help quiet the brain’s neural activity, such as EEG sensor headbands like this one from Muse. Photo: choosemuse.com
Entertainment

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

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.

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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People shop with their pets in New Town Plaza in Sha Tin, on September 21, 2025. Photo: Sam Tsang
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.

A mural with a picture of Iran’s Supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on a street in Tehran, Iran. Photo: West Asia News Agency via Reuters
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.

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’.

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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.

Deepmala Kharel Dhakal, who was crowned the winner of the Miss Nepal Hong Kong International beauty pageant. Photo: Jonathan Wong
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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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.

Munich Regional Court. Photo: Shutterstock
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.

Mainland China

In China, is ‘family’ becoming a legal shield for rape?

More troubling concerns surface in a high-profile case involving a man who fathered children with a mentally ill woman, lawyers say.

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United States

‘Dances With Wolves’ actor found guilty of preying on indigenous girls

Nathan Chasing Horse’s main accuser was 14 and a virgin when he sexually assaulted her on the pretext of healing her mother of cancer.

Nathan Chasing Horse (centre) speaks to his lawyers in court on January 20. Photo: AP
Gender

Indonesian actress’ memoir starts national conversation

Indonesian actress’ memoir starts national conversation
Icons and Influencers

Nadya Okamoto on challenging norms through menstrual care activism

With nearly 4.5 million TikTok followers, the entrepreneur – who also started a non-profit to combat period poverty – has clearly struck a chord.

Style Edit

Style Edit: The women driving watchmaker Richard Mille’s creative direction

The RM 037, RM 07-01 and the RM 07-04 Automatic Sport show the maison’s intent to meet women’s wishes for mechanically sophisticated timepieces.

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