feMENA Venetia Rainey

This special one-off episode of feMENA looks at the ongoing protests in Lebanon - why they're happening, what it all means, and the ways women in particular are driving it forward. Whether you've followed every step of the Lebanese "thawra" (revolution) or have just seen the headlines, this episode has something for you, from the most-heard chants to the images that have gone viral to the way expats are relating to the demonstrations. 
Co-hosted by journalist Venetia Rainey and Lebanese expat and law student Zeina Najjar, the episode features interviews with Lama Fakih, Human Rights Watch's Beirut director, and Ghinwa Obeid, senior reporter at Lebanese newspaper The Daily Star. Editing by Venetia Rainey. Music by Jordanian girl band Naya. 

The final episode in feMENA's four-part series on Jordan looks at the issue of child marriage and features the story of Ahlam, a woman who married when she was 16. I also speak to Maha Homsi, chief child protection officer at UNICEF Jordan, to hear about why such marriages happen and how common it is. Plus some fighting words from Khalida Jarrar, one of the most vocal local supporters of the Palestinian prisoners' hunger strike, and a rant about sexual harassment from journalist and activist Fanan al-Shalabi.

The third episode in feMENA's four-part series on Jordan looks at what it's like for women at work in Jordan and features the story of Hanan Khader, a female entrepreneur who founded children's coding program Hello World Kids. I also speak to Taghrid Nafeisi, the head of a local brokerage firm and president of the Jordan Forum for Business and Professional Women, to hear a completely different perspective. Plus a look at the election of Saudi Arabia to the UN's Commission on the Status of Women, a clip from a pro-women's rights Saudi song, and a rant about how tricky it is to be a feminist in the Middle East from journalist and activist Fanan al-Shalabi.

The second episode in feMENA's four-part series on Jordan features the story of Maryam, a woman suffering abuse at the hands of her husband, and longtime women's rights campaigner and founder/president of the Family Guidance and Awareness Center Nadia Bushnaq, who explains why domestic violence is common in Jordan and what's being done to combat it. Plus some inspirational words from our kickass woman of the week, Malala Yousafzai, and a rant about the double standards surrounding virginity from Jordanian journalist and activist Fanan al-Shalabi.

The first episode in feMENA's four-part series on Jordan features Samiha, a Bedouin grandmother, talking about life in Jordan and getting into work for the first time at an older age. Plus UN Women's Bothaina Qamar on why Bedouin women live on the fringes of society, a clip from Mona Haydar's badass Hijabi song, and a rant on female political participation from Jordanian journalist and women's rights activist Fanan al-Shalabi.

The last episode in feMENA's five-part series on Lebanon features Aicha Hassan, a Syrian refugee in Tripoli, talking about how different her life would be if her Lebanese mother could pass her nationality on to her children. Plus Jadaliyya's Maya Mikdashi explains why such blatantly discriminatory legislation exists and looks at some other examples of sexist laws.