Women in media

Bengal Network, the West Bengal chapter of the Network of Women in Media (NWMI), will be organising the Fourth Annual Meet of the national body between February 3 and 5 in Calcutta. The highlight of the programme is a panel discussion on “Media, War & Conflict: Will the Media in South Asia Give Peace a Chance?” to be held at Gyan Manch on February 3. The panelists include such eminent women media persons as Rehana Hakim, editor, Newsline, Pakistan, Sharmini Boyl, producer, YA TV, Sri Lanka, Mariam Rawi, publisher, RAWA, Afghanistan, Urvashi Butalia (picture, left), writer and publisher of Zubaan Books, among others. The discussion will be chaired by Kalpana Sharma, deputy editor, The Hindu. As part of the meet, noted journalist Ammu Joseph will speak on “Why Gender is not a niche issue” at the School of Women’s Studies in Jadavpur University on February 4.

Role reversal

You have seen Hillary Swank play the woman who feels like a man in Boys Don’t Cry. And you have enjoyed watching Dustin Hoffman play a woman to perfection in Tootsie. Now watch out for Felicity Huffman, the harried mom from Desperate Housewives, who’s going to play a transsexual man, keen to opt for a sex change, in a film called Transamerica. To explore that transgender journey, Felicity is currently being trained by a woman who tutors men who are in the process of becoming women. What’s more, he/she would also be seen as a father/mother to a child. Quite a desperate situation, that!

Equal music

Michelle Bachelet might end up doing what no woman head of state has been able to do so far ? fill the gender gap in parliamentary politics. The Chilean President-elect, whose centre-left coalition will command a majority in both the houses of Congress, has vowed to ensure that women make up half her cabinet. And she has made it amply clear that she will not tolerate any gender bias. At a news conference shortly after her election last Sunday, a reporter asked her who would give her “a little caress” since she didn’t have a husband to back her. "I challenge you to ask that question to men,” she quipped.

Redress panel

Sex workers have been up in arms against one of the provisions of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Amendment Bill 2005 which makes soliciting sex from prostitutes illegal. But one of the most decisive actions being taken by the Centre to stop exploitation of sex workers is that a core committee is to be set up at the Central level to deal with their grievances. The committee would comprise police officers from various cadres across the country to look into immoral trafficking cases.

High & Mighty

High heels are bad for the posture, right? How surprising, then, to learn that in America spikes are the latest fitness accessory, with the launch earlier this month by the Crunch Fitness chain of Stiletto Strength classes. In the 45-minute class, developed with the help of dancers and podiatrists, the focus is on strengthening feet and ankles to ensure perfect alignment when walking in stilettos. “Most people lean forward in heels because heels bring you forward,” says Dona Cyrus, a Crunch instructor. "We want to address that posturing, so that one can feel taller, look better and you’re protecting your lower spine and back.” It is not just your posture that will benefit, she claims. Sashaying in stilettos can also boost your self-esteem.

The Times, London

Overheard: University of Pennsylvania researchers have reported in a study that girls earn higher grades than boys in school because they are better at self-discipline. We always knew we were better!