The Asian Feminist

Jane Goodall, the gentle disrupter whose research on chimpanzees redefined what it meant to be human Without formal scientific training, Goodall upended the study of animal behavior. She also inspired countless people to protect nature.

In her pioneering studies, Jane Goodall noted that the most successful chimp leaders were gentle, caring and familial. Males that tried to rule by asserting their dominance through violence, tyranny and threat did not last.

Sanae Takaichi: the new leader of Japan’s Liberal Democratic party who cites Thatcher as an influence Takaichi, likely to become Japan’s first female PM, is a rightwinger who has been critical of China and focused on migration in her campaign

Sanae Takaichi: the new leader of Japan’s Liberal Democratic party who cites Thatcher as an influence
Takaichi, likely to become Japan’s first female PM, is a rightwinger who has been critical of China and focused on migration in her campaign.

Afghan women lose their 'last hope' as Taliban shut down internet For many women, the internet was their last resource. An internet shutdown threatens to end this.

Afghan women lose their 'last hope' as Taliban shut down internet
For women like Fahima, the internet was her last lifeline to the outside world. On Tuesday, that lifeline was cut off when the Taliban imposed a nationwide internet shutdown that is set to last indefinitely.

Rainforest to retail: Indonesian women protect nature with work | Context by TRF Plant artists deep in the Indonesian mountains promote sustainable use of threatened rainforest

Rainforest to retail: Indonesian women protect nature with work
Calling themselves Ambu Halimun, which means "Mothers of Halimun" in Sundanese, they gather foliage rich in natural colours and tannins and use it for ecoprinting.
www.context.news/nature/rainf...

Matcha Is Political: Matcha, Mockery And The Politics Of Basic Femininity Matcha becomes a stand-in for many things: effort, joy, care, attention, and taste. Each of these, when performed by women in public, becomes vulnerable to attack.

Matcha Is Political: Matcha, Mockery and the Politics of Basic Femininity
Matcha becomes a stand-in for many things: effort, joy, care, attention, and taste. Each of these, when performed by women in public, becomes vulnerable to attack.
feminisminindia.com/2025/09/29/m...

'Girls need to carry things too!': How women's pockets became so controversial Why do men's clothes have so many pockets, and women's so few? For centuries, the humble pocket has been a flashpoint in the gender divide of fashion. Is that finally set to change?

'Girls need to carry things too!': How women's pockets became so controversial
For centuries, the humble pocket has been a flashpoint in the gender divide of fashion. Now, with a #WeWantPockets hashtag gaining momentum on social media, is that finally set to change?

From Nazi Germany to Trump’s America: why strongmen rely on women at home Fascist regimes pushed narratives of domestic bliss, yet relied on women’s unpaid labor. In the US today, ‘womanosphere’ influencers promote the same fantasies

From Nazi Germany to Trump’s America: why strongmen rely on women at home
Fascist regimes pushed narratives of domestic bliss, yet relied on women’s unpaid labor.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...

Chinese studio criticized for using AI to make gay couple straight in body horror film Early screenings of the movie “Together” in mainland China featured a same-sex wedding scene that was digitally altered to turn one of the two men into a woman.

Chinese studio criticized for using AI to make gay couple straight in body horror film
Early screenings of the movie “Together” in mainland China featured a same-sex wedding scene that was digitally altered to turn one of the two men into a woman.
www.nbcnews.com/world/asia/c...

"Other passengers criticised her for filming. One passenger replied 'so what?' after she explained she had been racially abused. She said: 'I was shocked and angry about the children's reaction but the adults' reactions are what broke me and brought me to tears.'"

'Kids racially abused me and the adults' reaction broke me' Sophia Choudry says she is "shaken" and "heartbroken" after being racially abused on the Elizabeth line.

UK: 'I'm heartbroken kids racially abused me on train'
Sophia Choudry said she was repeatedly called the P-word on 7 September on a journey from Paddington to Maidenhead.
www.bbc.com/news/article...

Taliban ban books written by women from Afghan universities The decree also outlaws the teaching of 18 subjects, including human rights and sexual harassment.

Taliban ban books written by women from Afghan universities
Some 140 books by women - including titles like "Safety in the Chemical Laboratory" - were among 680 books found to be of "concern" due to "anti-Sharia and Taliban policies".

Why Muslim mothers give up on claiming child support from errant ex-husbands Many Muslim women cannot afford the time and money to file a court claim for the ex-husband to pay for the child's financial support, and are forced to stop at just getting a...

Malaysia: Why Muslim mothers give up on claiming child support from errant ex-husbands
Many Muslim women cannot afford the time and money to file a court claim for the ex-husband to pay for the child's financial support, and are forced to stop at just getting a divorce in court.

China Makes HPV Vaccine Free for Girls in National Program Beginning this year, the vaccine schedule will now protect young girls from the two strains of HPV accounting for most invasive cervical cancers, at no cost to families.

China Makes HPV Vaccine Free for Girls in National Program
Beginning this year, the vaccine schedule will now protect young girls from the two strains of HPV accounting for most invasive cervical cancers, at no cost to families.

Nepal's first woman PM: Who is Sushila Karki? – DW – 09/15/2025 After deadly youth-led protests, Sushila Karki has become Nepal's first female interim prime minister. DW examines what her anti-corruption legacy means for the country's future.

Nepal's first woman PM: Who is Sushila Karki?
In 2012, she was one of two presiding Supreme Court judges who jailed a serving government minister for corruption. She also granted Nepali women the right to pass citizenship to their children.
www.dw.com/en/nepals-fi...

HK Policy Address: NGO urges gov't to reform 'outdated' rape laws An NGO has urged the HK gov't to reform its “outdated” rape laws after the city's leader announced in the Policy Address that legislative amendments on sexual offences would be completed within his te...

An NGO has urged the Hong Kong government to reform its “outdated” rape laws after the city’s leader announced in the Policy Address that legislative amendments on sexual offences would be completed within his tenure.
hongkongfp.com/2025/09/18/p...

"Why did you stay?" is the wrong question to ask domestic abuse survivors. Start asking, "How were you prevented from leaving?"

Woman arrested for allegedly attacking former speed skating coach over sexual assault case Police arrested a woman in her 30s on Tuesday for allegedly attacking her previous coach, a former national speed skater, with a knife at a Seoul ice rink, reportedly in retaliation for a sexual assau...

South Korean police arrested a woman in her 30s for attacking her previous coach, a former national speed skater in his 40s, with a knife at an ice rink, reportedly in retaliation for a sexual assault case from over a decade ago.
koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2025-09...

Arundhati Roy’s fierce memoir on life with her mercurial mother Mother Mary comes to me is a raw, bruising, yet life-affirming portrait of Arundhati Roy's mother.

'My mother was my shelter and storm': Arundhati Roy on her fierce new memoir
"Mother Mary Comes to Me" is the story of the Indian writer's formidable, mercurial mother: feminist icon, educator, crusader, eccentric, bully, inspiration.
www.bbc.com/news/article...

Pakistani court indicts man over teenage influencer killing ISLAMABAD: A man accused of shooting dead a 17-year-old TikTok star at her home in Pakistan after she had repeatedly rejected his advances was formally indicted Saturday, an AFP reporter in court saw....

Pakistani court indicts man over teenage influencer killing
Sana Yousaf’s murder drew nationwide condemnation, reignited debate over women’s safety. The 22-year-old accused, Umar Hayat, pleaded not guilty in Islamabad’s district court.
www.arabnews.com/node/2616044...

UK women’s ‘guilt’ over their ‘secret’ hobby Gaming is no longer a boys’ only club but women feel ashamed to play.

Today, 51% of women in the UK play video games in some form – a near equal split with men (53%).
Yet a new study published in Sex Roles reveals that many women continue to feel shut out of gaming culture, carrying guilt, secrecy, and shame around a pastime that should be pure play.

South Korean Women Sue U.S. Military for Decades-Long Role in Sex Trade Dozens of "comfort women" filed a first-of-its-kind lawsuit to target the U.S. military’s role in their exploitation.

A group of South Korean women filed a lawsuit against the U.S. army to hold it accountable for its role in their prostitution.
www.jezebel.com/south-korean...

In Taiwan’s Silicon Valley, tech workers are fueling a mini baby boom As Taiwan’s fertility rate plummets and young women increasingly choose to remain single, the island’s Silicon Valley is bucking the trend.

In Taiwan’s Silicon Valley, tech workers are fueling a mini baby boom
As Taiwan’s fertility rate plummets and young women increasingly choose to remain single, the semiconductor hub of Hsinchu is bucking the trend.
restofworld.org/2025/taiwan-...

Children's book on HK's ethnic minority women empowers young readers "Journey With Me Through Hong Kong, My Home," a children's activity book published by Professor Puja Kapai's DEIJB Lab at HKU, highlights the lives and careers of 12 ethnically diverse women in the ci...

‘Armour’ for young minds: Children’s book on ethnic minority women challenges biases, promotes inclusion
“Journey With Me Through Hong Kong, My Home,” published by Professor Puja Kapai’s DEIJB Lab at HKU, highlights the lives and careers of 12 ethnically diverse women in the city.

Japan to sell emergency contraception over the counter
Official approval is expected within 3 to 4 months following a period of public comment, raising the likelihood the public will have direct over-the-counter access to the medication before the end of the fiscal year (3/2026)

How Patriarchy Has Shaped Women-in-Laws As Rivals Why do women often turn against each other instead of standing together? The answer lies not in personal rivalry, but in structural conditioning.

How Patriarchy Has Shaped Women-in-Laws As Rivals
Why do women often turn against each other instead of standing together? The answer lies not in personal rivalry, but in structural conditioning.

Exhausted and Alone, China’s Single Moms Are Moving in Together China has nearly 30 million single mothers. Now, many are finding support by moving in together, splitting bills, sharing child care, and building households outside the traditional family model.

Exhausted and Alone, China’s Single Moms Are Moving In Together
China has nearly 30 million single mothers. Now, many are finding support by moving in together, splitting bills, sharing child care, and building households outside the traditional family model.

SIS Report: Women & Children Require More Support From Malaysia's Syariah Courts The report also identified several factors contributing to divorce.

SIS Report: Women & Children Require More Support From Malaysia's Syariah Courts
The report highlighted major gaps in Malaysia's Syariah court system, saying that weak enforcement has left women and children vulnerable to poverty and domestic violence.

Police admit to underestimating stalking threats in murder near Tokyo Police admitted Thursday that they underestimated the urgency of stalking incidents that preceded the murder of a 20-year-old woman near Tokyo and failed to take sufficient measures to protect her.

Japan police admit to underestimating stalking threats in murder near Tokyo
Police admitted they underestimated the urgency of stalking incidents that preceded the murder of a 20-year-old woman near Tokyo and failed to take sufficient measures to protect her.

Former chief justice sworn in as Nepal’s interim prime minister following deadly protests | CNN Nepal’s first female prime minister was sworn in Friday as interim leader, capping a tumultuous week that saw massive and deadly youth-led protests against corruption and nepotism topple the country’s...

Former chief justice sworn in as Nepal’s interim prime minister following deadly protests
Former chief justice Sushila Karki, 73, was the unlikely choice of the “Gen Z” protesters behind the movement. Protesters signaled their support for Karki through an informal vote on the messaging app Discord.

Retrial clears woman who bit would-be rapist's tongue 61 years ago After more than six decades, a South Korean woman who spent her lifetime branded as an offender for resisting sexual assault has been declared innocent. On Wedn

Retrial clears woman who bit would-be rapist's tongue 61 years ago
The Busan District Court acquitted 78-year-old Choi Mal-ja, overturning a 1964 conviction that punished then 18-year-old for biting off part of her attacker’s tongue while fighting off rape.