What It’s Like To Be a female Women’s Rights Activist in Jordan, but progress is being made

Good news!

Caveat: I did not read the whole article!

"... Social, economic, and cultural barriers continue to impact women’s lives in Jordan, but a new generation is increasingly emboldened to challenge patriarchal norms. Activists like Sumreen have noticed the shift as stronger laws, greater representation, and a deeper understanding of women’s rights reshape society. ...

Recent breakthroughs have eased restrictions and opened up opportunities for Jordanian women and girls. In particular, the updated Law on Protection from Domestic Violence in 2017, which established a family protection department to handle complaints and brought about the long-demanded repeal of Penal Code Article 308, allowing rapists to escape punishment by marrying their victims.

A rise in female political representation is helping to drive these reforms. Increased quotas [???] ensure more seats for women in Parliament and local councils, with almost 20 percent of parliamentary seats held by women in the 2024 elections.

This is only slightly above the regional average and significantly lower than in countries like the UAE, where women hold 50 percent of seats, but it’s part of a wider shift as more Jordanian women participate in the political process. ..."

What It’s Like To Be a Women’s Rights Activist in Jordan "After two decades on the front lines of women’s rights in Jordan, Areej Sumreen is witnessing a long-awaited shift driven by a new generation of young women unafraid to claim their place."

Iran's first woman conductor leads Tehran Symphony Orchestra

Good news! Bravo!

Kazakhstan is the Latest Central Asian Nation to Ban Niqab with Molly Gambhir

Good news! But what about women who voluntarily wear a Niqab or similar clothes?

Why is Switzerland on this list?

Afghan women sing in defiance of voice ban

Not even the Taliban can silence women! 😊

Was the next Albert Einstein a victim of abortion?

This is intentionally a provocative question!

Food for thought on the dignity and sanctity of human life.

Geniuses like Albert Einstein (or Marie Curie) are very rarely born! Any abortion could possibly prevent it!

Something to keep in mind with respect to abortion!

Adoption is better than abortion in many cases!

Then there is the use of contraceptives and the trend to smaller families ...

An Uptick in Self-Managed Abortions in the US after Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. Really!

Most likely this story is exaggerated as usual! It may qualify as junk journalism.

What is also not addressed is the use of abortion pills and how they were obtained.

As usual ideological blindness prevented to highlight one really shocking finding of this study: About 40% of self-managed abortions are done by women under age 20. According to this study that number went down in recent years.

The use of the word "uptick" is already very revealing! It appears this "uptick" might be well within the margin of error or due to the method of selection of survey participants. The participants were politically correct and ideologically  "assigned female sex at birth"! Other participant categories "non-Hispanic Black" and "non-Hispanic White".

So called "self-managed abortions" are no justification for legalizing abortion without any restrictions! Unborn human life has rights too for as long as we do not have a substitute for the uterus.

"A growing number of American women say they have tried to terminate their own pregnancies since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022—turning to self-administered medications or resorting to risky practices like drinking alcohol, ingesting herbs, or hitting themselves, reports the AP. 

A closer look: Researchers surveyed ~7,000 reproductive-age women before and after the Court’s decision and found that the number who reported trying to administer their own abortions rose from 2.4% to 3.3%, per the study published yesterday in JAMA Network Open."

From the key points and abstract:

"Key Points

Question  Did the prevalence of self-managed abortion increase following the Supreme Court’s June 2022 decision overturning federal protections on abortion?

Findings  In this cross-sectional survey study, with surveys administered to different cohorts in December 2021 and January 2022 (n = 7016) and June and July 2023 (n = 7148), the proportion of the US female population of reproductive age reporting having ever self-managed an abortion increased from 2.4% to 3.3%. The projected lifetime experience with self-managed abortion, adjusted for underreporting of abortion, was 10.1%.

Meaning  These findings suggest an increased prevalence of self-managed abortion in the US; self-managed abortion should continue to be monitored carefully as barriers to facility-based care broaden.

Abstract

Importance

With decreasing access to facility-based abortion in the US, an increase in self-managed abortion (SMA) using various methods is anticipated. To date, no studies have examined changes in SMA in the shifting policy landscape.

Objective

To estimate changes in SMA prevalence among the general US population from before to after the Supreme Court’s June 2022 decision overturning federal abortion protections.

Design, Setting, and Participants

Serial cross-sectional surveys were administered throughout the US from December 10, 2021, to January 11, 2022, and June 14 to July 7, 2023. Participants included online panel members assigned female sex at birth, ages 18 to 49 years (or ages 15-17 years if a household member), who were English- or Spanish-speaking.

Exposure  Year of the survey (2021-2022 vs 2023).

Main Outcome and Measures

Participants were asked whether they had “ever taken or done something on their own, without medical assistance, to try to end a pregnancy” and, if so, details of their experience. Changes in the weighted SMA prevalence between survey years were examined, factors associated with SMA experience were identified, and projected lifetime SMA prevalence was calculated using discrete-time event history models, accounting for abortion underreporting.

Results  Median age of the participants was 32.5 (IQR, 25-41) years in 2021-2022 (n = 7016) and 32.0 (IQR, 24-40) in 2023 (n = 7148). Across both years, approximately 14% were non-Hispanic Black, 21% were Hispanic, and 54% were non-Hispanic White. The weighted adjusted proportion that ever attempted SMA was 2.4% (95% CI, 1.9%-3.0%) in 2021-2022 and 3.4% (95% CI, 2.8%-4.0%) in 2023—an increase of 1.0% (95% CI, 0.2%-1.7%; P = .03). Projected lifetime SMA prevalence accounting for abortion underreporting was 10.7% (95% CI, 8.6%-12.8%). In adjusted analyses, SMA experience was higher among non-Hispanic Black (4.3%; 95% CI, 2.8%-5.8%) vs other racial and ethnic (2.7%; 95% CI, 2.2%-3.1%) groups (P = .04) and sexual and gender minority (5.0%; 95% CI, 3.4%-6.6%) vs heterosexual or cisgender (2.5%; 95% CI, 2.0%-2.9%) participants (P < .001).
Approximately 4 in 10 (45.3% in 2021 and 39.0% in 2023) SMA attempts occurred before age 20 years. The methods used included herbs (29.8% [2021-2022] vs 25.9% [2023]), physical methods (28.6% [2021-2022] vs 29.7% [2023]), or alcohol or other substances (17.9% [2021-2022] vs 18.6% [2023]). Few participants (7.1% [2021-2022] vs 4.7% [2023]) sought emergency care for a complication.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this serial nationally representative survey study, increased SMA was observed following the loss of federal abortion protections. The findings revealed increased SMA use among marginalized groups, most often with ineffective methods. These findings suggest the need to expand access to alternative models of safe and effective abortion care and ensure those seeking health care post-SMA do not face legal risks."

Global Health NOW: An Uptick in Self-Managed Abortions; Dispatches from Sudan’s ‘Humanitarian Desert’; and Inequities in Diabetes-Related Amputations

Self-Managed Abortion Attempts Before vs After Changes in Federal Abortion Protections in the US (open access)

Getting abortion pills through the mail is safe, quick, and effective, study finds. Really!

Not safe and maybe not quick for the unborn life! Such headlines are appalling and barbarian!

Should such abortion pills become an easy, convenient substitute for contraceptives? Rather not, especially not for late term abortion!

"Amid a national furor over access to abortion, a new study found that dispensing abortion pills though mail-order pharmacies worked as effectively as requiring patients [???] to obtain medication in person at a clinic or physician’s office. ..."

Getting abortion pills through the mail is safe, quick, and effective, study finds

The Philippines is the only one of two countries where Divorce is Still Illegal, but separation is possible. Will it Change? with Palki Sharma

I guess, feminists and other women are not doing enough in this country to fight for women's rights! Hint: The other country is the Vatican City.

Why is Saudi Arabia Leading the UN Women's Rights Forum? with Palki Sharma. Really!

Why picking on Saudi Arabia for all the blunders, oddities and idiocies happening at the dysfunctional United Nations! Actually Saudi Arabia is making progress as far as women's rights are concerned. Just very recently e.g. a Saudi woman entered the Miss Universe contest. At least Palki Sharma lists some of the really disturbing blunders of the U.N.!

Saudi Arabia to participate in Miss Universe event in historic first in Malaysia

Good news! Unfortunately, the news is already at least one month old! Another surprise bye the young Crown Prince!

She is wearing a beautiful hijab and she moves around without a male guardian (Caution: irony)

Illegal to marry females below age 18 - Zambia passes the landmark Marriage (Amendment) Act, 2023

Good news! Hopefully, this legislation will be enforced.

"...“The legislation directly responds to the nation’s urgent challenges, with Zambia witnessing a staggering 1.7 million child brides, 400,000 of whom were married before age 15.” This alarming statistic underscores a grim reality  ..."

Illegal to marry below 18 - Zambia passes the landmark Marriage (Amendment) Act, 2023 - EIN Presswire Zambia passes landmark legislation setting the marriageable age at 18, without exception, in a major shift in the nation’s commitment to ending child marriage.

Credits: Human Progress Weekly Progress Roundup

Top Turkish Court Ruling Grants Women Right to Use Maiden Surname after Marriage

Good news! How modern is this Muslim country?

"In a historic step, a landmark ruling by the Constitutional Court gave Turkish married women the right to use their maiden surname without resorting to court proceedings, reported the Daily Sabah newspaper.

The country's top court nullified the provision in Article 187 of the Turkish Civil Code last year, citing a violation of the principle of equality. ..."

Top Court Ruling Grants Turkish Women Right to Use Maiden Surname after Marriage

Credits: Human Progress Weekly Progress Roundup

Afghanistan: Taliban Tighten Leash on Women Who Work, buy contraceptives, or wear improper clothing

May the women of Afghanistan fight for their rights as women did in Western countries. Freedom is not free.

"Hundreds of Afghan women were forced to quit their jobs or have been arrested and denied access to essential services in the last quarter of 2023, a UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan report revealed on Monday [1/22/2024]. ..."

Global Health NOW: Measles Accelerates in Europe; Taliban Tightens Leash on Women Who Work; and Mexico’s Move to Criminalize Drug Use

Restrictions on Afghan women continue unabated: UN report

The Uncommon Ella Knowles Haskell by Lawrence Reed

Recommendable!

"... the first woman to be licensed as a lawyer, the first female notary public, the first woman to run for Montana State Attorney General, and the 26th woman to be admitted to practice before the US Supreme Court. She served as the President of the Montana Equal Suffrage Association ..." (Wikipedia)

The Uncommon Ella Knowles Haskell - Foundation for Economic Education Ella Knowles Haskell passed away at the age of 50, but not before she successfully crashed numerous gender barriers of her time.

Eva B: How Pakistan's first female rapper is empowering women across the country

How long will it take to modernize Pakistan? The rapper has to wear a mask for all her public appearances! But kudos to her courage!

How polygamy helped Utah women get the right to vote

Recommendable! What a story! Utah was the first state to introduce voting rights for women in 1870! To link polygamy and suffrage in such a way as happened in this article is a feminist plot!

"And as the national battle over polygamy continued, Congress stripped Utah women of their suffrage in 1887. They would regain the right to vote when Utah became a state in 1896."

Utah/Mormons should have never given up polygamy to become a state of the union!

How polygamy helped Utah women get the right to vote - The Salt Lake Tribune

Feminism Debunked

Posted: 8/1/2017 Updated: 10/28/2017, 8/28/2017

Update Of 10/28/2017

Early Recorded Female Lust For Power

Watched a documentary video on YouTube last night showing among other things that a secondary wife of Egyptian pharaoh Ramesses III instigated a harem conspiracy in 1055 BC to overthrow the pharaoh to put her son on the throne instead of the legitimate successor. Very clever plot by this lady!

Before Taj Mahal

Excerpt (emphasis added): “Jahangir [4th Mughal Emperor, translated as conqueror of the world] was the eldest surviving son of Mughal Emperor Akbar [3rd Mughal Emperor]. Impatient for power, he revolted in 1599 … Jahangir was defeated, but ultimately succeeded his father as Emperor in 1605 because of the immense support and efforts of his step mothers, Empress Ruqaiya Sultan Begum, Salima Sultan Begum and his grandmother, Hamida Banu Begum. These women wielded considerable influence over Akbar and favoured Jahangir as his successor.” (Source)

Jahangir was one of the famous Emperors of the Mughal Empire, but due to his excesses in alcohol and opium consumption it is said that his wife, Nur Jahan actually ruled the empire from behind a veil.

Excerpt (emphasis added):

“A strong, charismatic and well-educated woman who dominated a relatively weak-minded husband, Nur Jahan was the most powerful and influential woman at court during a period when the Mughal Empire was at the peak of its power and glory. More decisive and pro-active than her husband, she is considered by historians to have been the real power behind the throne for more than fifteen years. Nur Jahan was granted certain honours and privileges which were never enjoyed by any Mughal empress before or afterwards.”

Note: Famous Taj Mahal was built by the 5th Mughal Emperor.

Update Of 8/28/2017

Actually, history is also full of powerful women who left impressive marks on human development and progress. I would not even know where to begin to list their names: Katherine the Great, Queen Marie Therese, Queen Boudica, Hildegard of Bingen, Helen of Troy, Queen Victoria, Hatshepsut, Cleopatra, Queen Sheba, Empress Wu Zetian, and so many more

I could easily add plenty of names of famous female scientists with the help of Internet research, but would not be necessary. However, I have just learnt about this Danish scientist: Inge Lehmann (seismologist).

Trigger

Today, I saw physics.org posting on Facebook featuring a short biography of Maria Mitchell, the first female, American, professional astronomer.

Just a few days ago, I learnt that Kevlar was invented by a female chemist (i.e. Stephanie Kwolek).

Some Commonly Accepted Tenets Of Feminism

These selected tenets are:

1. Predominant patriarchy, the belief that men have dominated women over most of history
2. Frequent and pervasive sex based job discrimination against women
3. That women were seen by men as incompetent in matters of science and mathematics or that women should not occupy themselves with such matters

Debunking The Myth

The more I read and learn about women who contributed over history to science and mathematics it becomes clear that many of those talented women who chose science or math as a career or contributed to science and mathematics were able to succeed and/or were given opportunities to do so. Moreover, often men helped these women to achieve their goals. And history is full of such talented women who have devoted their efforts to advance science or mathematics very much appreciated by men.

The issue is not what these above tenets suggest, but that many women just did not show any interest in science or mathematics not unlike their male contemporaries.

Burka Hysteria In Europe

Posted: 8/22/2016  Revised: 7/11/2017  Updated: 8/23/2016

Which Time Do We Live In?

Do we live in the 16th year of the 21st century or in some other, historical time? Have we never left the Dark Ages or have we all forgotten about the Enlightenment?

Western Women Past & Present

Western women only a hundred years ago were also wearing something like full body cover when they were going swimming. They were barely showing their legs or arms in public not to mention any part of their chest.

Today, women are allowed to ​to appear almost undressed in public. Thus, why would women not be allowed to cover up?

In a free and open society, any woman (or man) has the right to cover up her (his) body as much as they want to as well as to uncover it if she (he) wishes to do so. Ramifications for doing so is another subject.

Religious Freedom

The exercise and practice of religious freedom is to be respected!

Exceptions

However, if a person abuses a Burka for criminal activities or purposes, the person should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Punishment should not be light.

If a woman is forced or violently made to wear a Burka against her will, the perpetrator should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Punishment should not be light.

Don’t be fooled by exaggerated claims that women wearing burqa are oppressed by their husbands and male relatives

Epilogue

As time goes by, I venture to guess, that wearing a Burka in public will largely disappear. Patience is difficult!

Finally Women Allowed In All Combat Roles Of U.S. Military

Posted: 12/4/2015

When I saw the front page today of the U.S. print edition of the Wall Street Journal, I was delighted. The headline read “U.S. to Open All Military Combat Roles to Women”.

Anybody who demands equal rights for women also needs to demand the same for military service. Too many women tried to cherry pick in the past.

Bible Study: Lot And His Daughters

Posted: 9/7/2014

Trigger

Just read “Solving the Enigma of Petra and the Nabataeans”. This article only mentions Lot’s Cave in Jordan. But I became curious …

According to a Wikipedia article about Lot, we read (Genesis 19:30–38; emphasis added):

“Lot and his two daughters left Zoar and settled in the mountains, for he was afraid to stay in Zoar. He and his two daughters lived in a cave. One day the older daughter said to the younger, "Our father is old, and there is no man around here to give us children—as is the custom all over the earth. Let's get our father to drink wine and then sleep with him and preserve our family line through our father."

That night they got their father to drink wine, and the older daughter went in and slept with him. He was not aware of it when she lay down or when she got up.

The next day the older daughter said to the younger, "Last night I slept with my father. Let's get him to drink wine again tonight, and you go in and sleep with him so we can preserve our family line through our father." So they got their father to drink wine that night also, and the younger daughter went in and slept with him. Again he was not aware of it when she lay down or when she got up.

So both of Lot's daughters became pregnant by their father. The older daughter had a son, and she named him Moab; he is the father of the Moabites of today. The younger daughter also had a son, and she named him Ben-Ammi; he is the father of the Ammonites of today.”

I believe, I never read or heard of that story about Lot and his daughters before. Is this story even, to use a contemporary term, politically correct given the incest taboo? :-)

I freely admit that I am not very familiar with the Bible. But I am aware that the Bible contains e.g. many morsels of wisdom, human understanding of life and much more. In brief, it is a very remarkable book written over hundreds of years over 2000 years ago.

A Few Thoughts

We attach some authenticity to the story here if only for arguments sake.

1. What surprised me in particular was that it was the two daughters who planned and carried out this plan.
2. Why was it emphasized that the father was not part of the plan?
3. From a biological standpoint how was this even possible? The father was asleep and possibly drunk. Was perhaps some kind of ancient artificial insemination used?
4. Is this a story about incest, although the two daughters planned this to happen without the consent or even knowledge of the father.
5. Did such incest indeed happen in the past to preserve the family? I would say this is a concept, which I believe is not well known anymore in modern times at least in the Western world.