Every Sunday, Vixely rounds up its favorites from across the web. This past week featured events from Paris to Tripoli, fashion to freedom, in which women took center stage.
2011 Nobel Peace Prize female winners! (Photo by The New York Times)
In Norway, The Nobel Peace Prize for 2011 was awarded to three women in acknowledgment of their nonviolent role in promoting peace, democracy and gender equality. They were the first women to win the prize since Wangari Maathai of Kenya, who died last month, was named as the laureate in 2004. The 10 million kronor ($1.5 million) award was split three ways between Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, women’s rights activist Leymah Gbowee from the same African country and democracy activist Tawakkul Karman of Yemen — the first Arab woman to win the prize. Watch the New York Times’ interview with Harvard-educated President Sirleaf here.
Stage for Chanel Spring 2012 at Paris Fashion Week.
In Paris, in spite of what was a record heat wave that totally threw off the world’s most fashionable attendees’ wooly, Fall wardrobes, designers’ shows were beyond cool. We particularly enjoyed Chanel’s Spring 2012 runway show, featuring Ellie Goulding’s song, “Lights.” Stunning as always, Karl!
In India, the New York Times explored the burgeoning surrogacy market there, as demand has now expanded from solely wealthy Americans to their middle-class counterparts. Surrogacy is legal in India, but the laws remain fuzzy, prompting a new bill set to be passed by early next year clarifying the rights and obligations of all parties involved. The bill is morally driven in many ways, ensuring surrogate mothers are not objectified or treated like birthing “factories,” although it does address compensation for them in the event of a miscarriage or complications. We are certainly happy to see attention drawn to this women’s rights issue from inside India before more unethical practices come into question.
In September, Libyan women celebrate the revolution against Gadhafi's regime and call for more rights. (Photo by NPR)
In Libya, after playing large but largely unsung roles during the uprising against Gadhafi’s regime, women are now seeking a greater political role, according to NPR. While Libyan women achieved success in many roles before the revolution — in medicine, law and academia, most women refused any role in Gadhafi’s government, because, as one woman she puts it, “We care about our reputations.” The sea-change comes, as she explains, “Because now we have confidence in free Libya, we have confidence about people. Since we have educated women, since we have active women, there will be a lot of women in the election.” Click here to listen to listen to the article.
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