Gender, Sexual Identity & Social Roles

To The Contrary

Women make up half the world's HIV infection, and adolescent girls are at particular risk. Experts at this week's International AIDS Conference experts call women an 'unfinished agenda' in the AIDS respose and urge action on education and treatment. See what our panelists think on this week's To The Contrary Extra. Continue

Rev. Mary Holder Naegeli Extended Interview

Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly

Reverend Mary Holder Naegeli is among those urging the Presbyterian Church to resist changing its policy on same-sex marriage. Watch additional excerpts from our interview with her. Continue

July 20, 2012

To The Contrary

Marissa Mayer announced her new role as CEO of Yahoo this week, and then revealed she is six months pregnant; The State Department is teaming up with World Bank and Gallup to close the gender gap in data; The media darling talks about her new book, her road trip across the U.S. and the future for young women in the Republican party. Continue

Half the Sky: Kristof Brings Awareness to Cambodian Airwaves

Independent Lens

Nicholas Kristof and Somaly Mam's Voices for Change agent Eam Chhai Voeurn go on a local radio show to discuss sex trafficking in Cambodia. While on the show, Eam asks Kristof for suggestions on achieving change and making the public more aware of sex trafficking as a problem. Continue

Half the Sky: Meg Ryan Visits Cambodia's Toul Kork Road

Independent Lens

Meg Ryan navigates the maze-like neighborhoods of Toul Kork, a poverty-stricken district in the Phnom Penh municipality of Cambodia, to meet the prostitutes that Somaly Mam -- a Cambodian human rights and anti-sex trafficking advocate -- has worked with. Mam is a source of inspiration and strength for these women, but encounters frequent difficulties in helping them overcome their circumstances. Continue

Filmmakers Follow Stories from Behind the Burka

Global Voices

In this video companion piece to the Global Voices documentary, I Was Worth 50 Sheep, director Nima Sarvestani and producer Maryam Ebrahimi explain what led them to follow the stories "behind the burka," from women who are not typically allowed to speak up about their experiences of abuse. Continue

The Light in Her Eyes: Dr. Iman Al-Jabi

POV

Dr. Iman Al-Jabi, a dentist in Syria, lives a pious life, obeying religious laws, while shrugging off the typical gender roles assigned to women by cultural norms rather than the faith of Islam itself. Continue

The Light in Her Eyes: The Right to Learn

POV

Houda al-Habash and her daughter Enas explain that there is nothing in the actual faith of Islam that prevents women from getting an education, and it is the cultural norms of their community which typically limits the education of a women and stresses early marriage. Continue

The Light in Her Eyes: End of Term Speech

POV

Houda al-Habash encourages her students never to give up the right to choose their own paths in life, and to continue their education. Continue

The Light in Her Eyes

POV

Houda al-Habash, a conservative Muslim preacher, founded a Qur’an school for girls in Damascus, Syria, 30 years ago. Every summer, her students immerse themselves in a rigorous study of Islam. A surprising cultural shift is underway - women are claiming space within the mosque. Shot right before the uprising in Syria erupted, 'The Light in Her Eyes' offers an extraordinary portrait of a leader. Continue

Rev. Jennifer Wegter-McNelly Extended Interview

Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly

Watch more of our interview about same-sex marriage and mainline Protestant denominations with Rev. Jennifer Wegter-McNelly, interim minister of the Church of the Covenant. Continue

An Afghan Girl Fights for Her Freedom

Global Voices

Following a long practiced tradition in Afghanistan, 10-year-old Sabere was sold to a man in his fifties. For the next six years she was both slave and wife, miscarrying four times. Now at sixteen, she is fighting for her freedom. Continue

Half the Sky: Rape is Civil War's Legacy in Sierra Leone

Independent Lens

Dr. Olabisi Cole works at the Kenema Rainbo Center in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Her work there involves caring for girls and women who have been victims of sexual violence. Dr. Cole lived in Sierra Leone during the Civil War and discusses how rape and violence became part of the mainstream culture during that time period and how since, little has been done to stop it. Continue

Every 90 Seconds, a Mother Dies Giving Birth

Independent Lens

All around the world, women are dying of causes which could have been prevented. Edna Adan, founder of a maternity hospital in Somaliland, discusses her backstory and what led her to become an agent of change in this Half the Sky Movement awareness campaign video. Continue

Half the Sky: Meg Ryan on Sexual Slavery in Cambodia

Independent Lens

Meg Ryan meets Somaly Mam, a Cambodian human rights and anti-sex trafficking advocate dedicated to ending the epidemic of sexual slavery. After encountering a girl whose infected eye wound made her "undesirable" to clients and led to her eviction from the brothel, she describes the importance of using celebrity to raise awareness of these issues. Continue

The Light in Her Eyes: Teaching the Qur'an

POV

Hind Tabab, one of the teachers at Houda al-Habash's school, explains how her extensive education led her to being a teacher. Holding degrees in various subjects, she works as an English teacher at a public school in addition to teaching the memorization of the Qur'an. Continue

The Light in Her Eyes: Hijab - A Symbol and an Identity

POV

Houda al-Habash explains the reasons and significance of wearing the hijab to her students, even though she doesn't require it of them. Continue

The Light in Her Eyes: Young Muslim Women at Lunch

POV

Four young Muslim women discuss marriage and educational goals while at lunch one day in Syria. Continue

July 13, 2012

To The Contrary

The shocking video of an Afghan woman's execution by the Taliban. Then, a first for women and the Olympics? And, Behind the Headlines: BPA. A plastic by-product that's everywhere and rasing health concerns. Continue

Girl Model - Trailer

POV

This provocative film is a lyrical exploration of youth, beauty and ambition, seen through the eyes of a conflicted American scout and a 13-year-old she discovers. Broadcast Date: TBD Continue

more

Gender & Sexual Identity

Editor's Picks

Explore Topics

Media Resources