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Ahead of International Women’s Day on March 8, here are some of the people, topics and issues the members of the Lunar team and women in the South China Morning Post’s newsroom are thinking about.
“This International Women’s Day, I’m thinking about the women in India who have refused to stay silent, even when the cost is high. Over the past year, we’ve seen young wrestlers, student leaders, journalists and ordinary citizens speak out about sexual harassment, online abuse and everyday sexism. At the same time, debates over the Women’s Reservation Bill, rising violence in both cities and villages, and court cases around marriage and autonomy show how fiercely women still have to fight for safety and dignity. Yet there is hope in the way Indian women organise: from neighbourhood self‑help groups and gig workers’ unions to digital campaigns challenging victim‑blaming and caste and religion-based discrimination. I’m thinking of all the women who show up – in courtrooms, on streets, on factory floors and at home – insisting that their lives and labour matter, and that the world must finally listen.” – Kamakshi Gupta, Production Editor (Digital)
“This International Women’s Day, I am reflecting on the incredible resilience of working mothers who show up daily for both their careers and their families. As a mother of three, I understand intimately the delicate and constant juggle of parenthood and professional life. Growing up, I watched my own mother eat dinner while checking my schoolwork or arrive at doctor appointments with a pile of documents in hand; back then, I took her silent sacrifices for granted. Today, I see them clearly. I also want to express my deepest gratitude to the 'village' that makes our lives easier – the aunties who give up raising their own children to help me raise mine, and the colleagues who step in when a sick child calls me away. You have no idea how much those small acts of kindness truly mean.” – Stephanie Wai, Production Editor (Digital)
“This International Women’s Day, I’m reflecting on the brilliant women in laboratories, research institutes, and space launch centres who are pushing the boundaries of human knowledge and exploration. As a science reporter, I often think about how we interview and cover these pioneers. One interesting checklist, the Finkbeiner test, was created in 2013 to guide reporting on scientists without emphasising their gender. It challenges journalists to stop fixating on how they balance family with work, childcare arrangements or their partners’ jobs. By retiring these tropes, I hope we can shine more light on their discoveries, rather than just the hurdles they have overcome.” – Holly Chik, Senior Reporter (Science, China)
“This International Women’s Day, I am thinking about how Hong Kong’s legal system still has a long way to go to fully protect women and sexual minorities. When working on stories about sexual abuse, I was astounded by how the process of reporting the sexual assault was in itself another traumatic experience for my interviewees. It takes an unimaginable amount of courage and determination to weather gruelling rounds of questioning, years of waiting and, in cases involving AI pornography, legal loopholes with no solution, to pursue the justice they deserve. While Hong Kong is due to update its sexual offence laws this year, may our institutions also foster a more empathetic environment for victims to come forward in trust.” – Jess Ma, Reporter (Hong Kong)
“This International Women’s Day, I feel particularly inspired by women in the arts. As a culture reporter, I have the privilege of interviewing creators who produce visceral, astounding work documenting the lived experience of womanhood, unafraid to shy away from both its radiant joys and disturbing sorrows. From the legacy of Hong Kong literary icon Eileen Chang to contemporary voices like Ysabelle Cheung, who was told that publishers are not interested in stories about Asian women, and the resilient Ann Leda Shapiro, whose feminist paintings were censored in 1970s America for questioning the gender binary, I am in constant and increasing awe of women in the arts. To the women I have met on this job, whether through interviews or through the history books: thank you for your depth, your honesty, and your art.” – Charmaine Yu, Reporter (Culture)
Signing off,
Lunar team
Got an issue you’d like us to cover? Send us a tip at lunar@scmp.com or drop us a line on Facebook. Follow more news on women and gender here.
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