Latest Stories from Eylül
Exclusive – Acclaimed chef Ebru Baybara Demir on driving change through a ‘plate’
I spoke with Ebru Baybara Demir, an award-winning social gastronomy chef from Türkiye, about how gastronomy can impact communities, people, and the environment. Ebru Baybara Demir has been a driving force behind the transformation of a small city in eastern Türkiye: Mardin. Like the butterfly effect, her dream of turning Mardin into a tourist destination led to change. Many local women, some of whom had no access to formal education, joined...
Is ‘mankeeping’ a common dynamic straining straight relationships?
Researchers have finally named the phenomenon experienced by heterosexual women who’ve been told at least once in their lives, ‘You’re not his therapist.’ Angelica Ferrara and Dylan Vergara from Stanford University published an article on ‘mankeeping,’ which theorizes heterosexual men’s growing dependency on their partners for their emotional needs. According to Theorizing Mankeeping: The Male Friendship Recession and Women’s Associated Labor as Structural Component of Gender Inequality research, ‘the...
Pakistan enforces law making child marriages illegal
How much can change in just a few seconds? According to Child Marriage Data, a young girl marries somewhere in the world every three seconds. In this grim reality, Pakistan's new law banning child marriage stands out as a rare ray of light. NGOs, international and local organizations, and governments have been working together to end child marriages for years, a violence of rights that mainly targets women and young...
Are ‘divine feminine influencers’ actually anti-feminist?
Social media loves a good portion of cosplay. First, it was 50s family values, and now we are back in ancient times. Do you remember tradwives? The familiar soft voices and long dresses are back. This time, though, the kitchen has been swapped by nature, adhering to mostly Western influencers' reinterpretation of spirituality to empower women. They're easy to spot if you still haven't met divine feminine influencers. Just type words...
Witchcraft accusations still affect women in Northern Ghana
The witch hunt might sound like a passage from history that feminists are still bringing up or a fictional topic for literature. Yet, it is the reality that still harms the women in Ghana. Amnesty International shared a 65-page report about human rights violations that occurred in Northern Ghana between July 2023 and January 2025 related to witchcraft accusations. Dzodzi Tsikata, Professor of Development Studies, told Amnesty that as...
Are women safe online in 2025?
The 2000s was not the only period when the dot-com bubble burst in the market; it was also the beginning of a new type of cost - the safety of many, particularly women and girls worldwide. Although an online presence can create a haven for equal access to information and a platform for freedom of expression, its potential for the better has been manipulated for something darker. Recent policy changes by META to...
Exclusive – ‘Women of the Wall’ on the fight for the equality of Jewish women
I spoke with Yochi Rappeport, Women of the Wall's Executive Director, about the 36 years of resistance they have endured to achieve their religious freedom mission at the Western Wall. The Western Wall is Judaism's most sacred holy site. Unfortunately, there are social and legal restrictions driven by misconceptions about how Jewish women pray at the Kotel. One of the main limitations is the 2010 regulation that prohibits bringing Torah scrolls...
Understanding femicide and gender violence in Türkiye
Horribly, Türkiye witnessed a high number of femicide cases in 2024. As women in Türkiye work for a safer and better tomorrow, gender inequality must be addressed publicly and privately. One phrase that transcends borders for women is: ‘Text me when you’re home.’ Unfortunately, however, even ‘home’ is’t necessarily a safe place for everyone. According to the UN Women's Report, one woman or girl was killed every 10 minutes by...
Iran delays mandatory hijab law following global outrage
The strictest law in Iran's history concerning the compulsory veil was supposed to be enacted on December 13. In a hopeful turn of events, global outrage has forced the administration to hold off on the bill's implementation. Participating in digital activism in all possible ways - only to rarely witness positive outcomes - may make you wonder, ‘What's the point?’ Recent events in Iran, however, have given us renewed hope...
Iran weaponizing ‘mental health clinics’ for those defying hijab laws
Policies targeting those who refuse to cover up in Iran are growing increasingly strict, with many now at risk of being labeled as mentally ill and subjected to so-called treatment. Maya Angelou once said, ‘Whenever a woman stands up for herself - whether she realizes it or not - she stands up for all women.’ This month, activists worldwide have not only taken a stand but have physically stripped in...
