feMENA's first ever episode looks at female political participation in Lebanon and features the story of Chantal Abou Akl, a young activist who ran for her local municipal council, and analysis by Carmen Geha, a professor at the American University of Beirut. 

Produced and hosted by Venetia Rainey. Oud music by Youmna Saba.

feMENA

Cracking the nut: female political participation in Lebanon

feMENA's second episode looks at the sex industry in Lebanon and features the story of Rania, a Lebanese woman who fell into prostitution many years ago and is struggling to escape the business. It also includes in-depth analysis of the issue from KAFA's Ghada Jabbour, who heads up the NGO's trafficking and exploitation unit.

Produced and hosted by Venetia Rainey. Theme music by Youmna Saba.

No way out: Lebanon's sex industry

feMENA's third episode features Batoul Wehbe, editor of Hezbollah's Al Manar English website, talking about her life in south Beirut, otherwise known as Dahiyeh. Plus Human Rights Watch's Lama Fakih examines Lebanon's complex web of personal status laws - legislation based on a person's religion - and looks at how it disadvantages women in the country. 

Produced and hosted by Venetia Rainey. Theme music by Youmna Saba.

The view from Dahiyeh: Lebanon's personal status laws

The fourth episode in feMENA's five-part Lebanon series features the story of Meriam Prado Dubal, a Filipino domestic worker who has seen the dark side of the country's 'help' industry and lived to tell the tale. Sadly, not everyone does, as Farah Salka, co-founder of the Anti Racism Movement, explains. Salka also tackles Lebanon's Kafala system and the government's troubling reaction to attempts by migrant domestic workers to unionise.

Produced and hosted by Venetia Rainey. Theme music by Youmna Saba.

The help: modern-day slavery in Lebanon

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.

A man's world: Lebanon's nationality law

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.

On the fringe: Bedouin women in Jordan

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.

Fighting the good fight: domestic violence in Jordan

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.

Leaning in: being a ladyboss in Jordan

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.

From girl to woman: child marriage in Jordan

feMENA is a new fortnightly feminist podcast looking at women's rights in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Hosted by journalist Venetia Rainey, the show will look at issues such as political participation, prostitution, sexist laws and sexual health care. Providing first-person stories and in-depth analysis - exclusively from women in the region - this is a platform to amplify female voices and experiences not normally heard in mainstream media. To subscribe on iTunes head to https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/femena/id1172901243. Enjoy!

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