Oddly Enough in its eleventh edition features interesting news and long form stories on gendered medicine, the ‘taint’ on Abu Dhabi’s exquisite Louvre museum, the LGBTQ community’s struggles in Vietnam, the magic of ultrasound being used to entice women and how independent Filipino bands are sharing their music across social media.
Gendered Medicine – An Alternate View Towards Healthcare
Between 1997 to 2000, the Food and Drug administration, United States, withdrew ten drugs, of which eight were found to pose greater health risks for women. Discussions on sex and gender in healthcare are rare. Studies show that certain diseases differently impact men and women. It is also known that women are clinically under-represented in medicinal trials. In a study to check the lack of diversity in medical research, doctors found that studies conducted by women accounted for more ‘gender-related and sex-related factors.’
You can read this story here.
Tainted Museum: Abu Dhabi’s Louvre Accused Of Workers’ Abuse
According to reports published by organisation Human Rights Watch (HRW), the Louvre is ‘tainted’ with alleged abuse of migrant workers. The museum took ten years to build and was recently inaugurated by Emmanuel Macron, President, France. A report published in 2015 by HRW claims that the migrant workers had unsafe working conditions, leading to several accidents. It further claims that these workers were held hostage as per ‘Kafala’, a sponsorship system that makes employers hold extreme power against their employees.
You can read this story here.
Vietnam’s Pride – Lgbtq Community Struggles To Organise
Organisers of VietPride 2017 are equipped with their permits to hold the annual event. However, police enter to shut down the event and cite vague reasons like ‘bad propaganda’. The last decade has seen things drastically change for Vietnam’s LGBTQ community. It is seen as a more progressive country since it decriminalised same-sex weddings on paper. However, there are several policy related challenges too. Groups cannot register legally as organisations, as the freedom to assemble is curtailed by rigid laws.
You can read this story here.
‘Baby Pictures’ – A Way To Help More Women Access Healthcare
According to this story, in the rural regions of Africa, women are more likely to visit traditional healers in the early months of pregnancy than visit a medical clinic. A study conducted by a medical organisation found that when ultrasounds were advertised, more number of women visited clinics. Ultrasounds were advertised in a way that made ‘baby pictures’ sound almost magical. The women are not only able to see the foetus in the monitor, but can also take the pictures home thanks to a printer made available.
You can read this story here.
Social Media And Music – How Platforms Are Helping Indie Filipino Bands
In a bid to assert creative control over commercial success, Filipino bands have made extensive use of social media platforms like Facebook, SoundCloud and Spotify. These platforms have helped them get their music out to people and broaden their fan base. Local bands like Autotelic, Jensen and the Flips and The Espasouls have members who earn their living with monotonous day jobs and express their creativity through their music.
You can read this story here.
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