Around The World in 5
Around the World in 5 is an ongoing series that highlights news related to women in five countries, updated every week. This week's post covers April 8 - 14.
Nigeria
Despite making up less than half of Nigeria's contingent, women athletes secured 35 out of the 47 gold medals won by the Nigerian team at the 13th African Games in Ghana.
The women's team delivered particularly outstanding performances. Omolara Ogunmakinju's thrilling relay victory and the wrestling team's clean sweep of gold medals were standout moments.
The United States of America
Several women athletes have criticized Nike's Team USA track and field kit for being unnecessarily revealing and sexist. The unveiled outfits, featuring a very high-cut panty line on a mannequin, were seen as prioritizing skimpiness over functionality, prompting backlash from athletes.
This issue is part of a broader conversation around the sexualization of women's sports attire. For instance, the German women's gymnastics team opted for full-length bodysuits at the Tokyo Olympics to combat sexualization in their sport. Similarly, Gymnastics New Zealand recently updated its attire rules to empower women and girls to wear shorts or leggings over their leotards.
Responding to the criticism, Nike stated that for this Olympics, they are offering athletes unitard options with both a brief and a short, compared to offering only the brief for the Tokyo Olympics. Nike emphasized that their track and field kits for both men and women consist of nearly 50 apparel pieces and 12 competition styles tailored for specific events.
Haiti
Women in Haiti are facing increasing terror as the country's maternity services collapse under the strain of escalating gang violence. The risk of childbirth was already high, but now clinics and hospitals are shutting down due to unprecedented levels of armed conflict.
Since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021, Haiti has been plagued by armed gangs, and the situation has worsened significantly in recent weeks. Over 53,000 people have been displaced from their homes in just the last three weeks, with more than 1.64 million Haitians teetering on the brink of famine.
The United Kingdom
A recent survey conducted by Wellbeing of Women revealed that many girls experience extremely painful and disruptive periods, often leading to missed school, inability to eat or sleep, or being bedbound. Health campaigners are advocating for routine inquiries about periods during GP appointments to enhance treatment for women and girls.
Wellbeing of Women is urging the NHS to incorporate questions about periods into routine medical interactions, such as during GP registration, vaccinations, or general health check-ups. The survey, which gathered responses from 3,001 girls aged 12 to 18 across the UK, highlights the significant impact of periods on young women's lives.
India
A case of "biological fraud" has emerged in Gujarat, involving two young women who were deceived by an agent promising payment of Rs 20,000 each in exchange for donating their ovarian eggs. These women, aged 20 and 21 and employed at a hospital in Sabarkantha, agreed to the offer due to financial struggles, as their current monthly salary of Rs 15,000 was insufficient for city living expenses.
According to the complaint lodged with the 181 Abhayam Women helpline, the women underwent the ova extraction procedure twice at a facility in Chhattisgarh without the required paperwork. Falguni Patel, coordinator for Abhayam in Ahmedabad, highlighted the absence of necessary legal documentation, raising concerns about the exploitation and deception faced by these women. This incident sheds light on the urgent need for regulations and safeguards in procedures involving reproductive health and donor compensation to protect individuals from exploitation and fraud.