Search
Instagram Facebook-square Linkedin Youtube X-twitter
IWNE
DONATE

Blog
Jesamine Rikisahedew

Hidden Hormone Disruptors in Menstrual Products: A Wake-Up Call for Women

Recent reporting in my home country of South Africa has drawn attention to a peer-reviewed study from the University of the Free State (UFS), published in Science of the Total Environment, which found endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in commonly sold sanitary pads and panty liners (Blignaut et al., 2026). Although the research was conducted in South Africa, its relevance extends well beyond one country. Many menstrual product brands are manufactured and distributed internationally, including across the European Union. For all women, the findings are worth understanding. What are endocrine disruptors? Endocrine-disrupting chemicals are substances that interfere with the body’s hormonal system. Hormones regulate reproduction, metabolism, thyroid function, mood and development. Some EDCs can mimic oestrogen or block natural hormonal signals. The study examined three main groups of chemicals: Phthalates (plasticisers used in adhesives and flexible plastics) Bisphenols, including bisphenol A (BPA) Parabens (preservatives with weak oestrogen-like activity) These chemicals are common in consumer products and can migrate out of materials over time. What did the study find? Researchers analysed 16 sanitary pads and 8 panty liners and detected endocrine disruptors in every product tested. Key findings included: Phthalates in 100% of panty liners and 50% of pads Bisphenols in 100% of

Jesamine Rikisahedew March 9, 2026
Liisa Emilia Sorainen

From A Grade to Ethical Showdown: Abortion and Who Really Decides

When an Essay Became Personal After receiving feedback on an exam essay, my professor decided to continue one part of my argument privately. I had briefly addressed abortion in my paper. He congratulated me on my work — and then told me he disagreed with my position. What followed was not a classroom debate but a direct exchange between a young woman and a middle-aged academic man about who gets to decide over a woman’s body, and on what grounds. This blog post is not about tone-policing or politeness. It is about substance. It is about why I support access to abortion, and why reproductive autonomy cannot be separated from gender equality. “That Embryo Was Once You”: The Argument That Stops the Room My professor’s position was clear and, in his view, morally grounded. For him, abortion is not primarily a matter of convenience or even autonomy; it is about the protection of human life at its earliest stage. His reasoning rests on continuity: every one of us once existed as a foetus. If we value our own existence, how can we dismiss that early stage of development as disposable? He did not necessarily advocate a total legal ban. He

Liisa Emilia Sorainen February 25, 2026
Ieva Zariņa

Beauty and Charming: A Woman’s Natural Place

‘Nature’ has often been, historically, invoked to justify mistreatment of women. Whether it has been ‘a woman’s nature’ or ‘the natural role of a woman’, curiously, more often than not, these interpretations of ‘a woman’s natural place’ have rarely been founded upon actual wildlife observations. The way I perceive natural processes, a female is at the centre of all social and political activity. Females’ needs and preferences (where she wants to live, how and with whom), largely determine the species’ distribution, ecology, behaviour, and evolution. In most if not all mammal and bird species, male evolution and social activity are nothing but adaptations to what the females want. In fact, males must be so well-adapted as to predict females’ wishes and anticipate them. Males do not wait to be ‘bossed around’ or told what to do. Since a young age, they attune their bodies and minds to perceive the female’s condition. If a male cannot predict what the female wants, he is, to an extent, pushed to society’s margins, for the simple reason that societies tend to form and revolve around females (or female-favoured habitats and resources). And if the male does not know what females fancy, he cannot find

Ieva Zariņa December 26, 2025
Jesamine Rikisahedew

When a Country Turns Purple: From South Africa to the Baltics, the Fight Against Gender-Based Violence Knows No Borders

In November 2025, my home country, South Africa, is turning purple. From landmark buildings lit in violet to social media feeds filled with the same colour, a
nationwide protest movement is gaining momentum. Led by the organisation Women For Change, the campaign calls for gender-based violence and femicide to be declared a national disaster.

Jesamine Rikisahedew November 21, 2025
Mari-Liis Prunt

Gender Equality in Estonian Workplaces: What Motivates SMEs to Collaborate with IWNE?

Gender equality and workplace diversity have received more attention across Europe, including Estonia. Even though the Estonian government and the European Union have set policies, persistent inequalities remain in the market. In 2023, men in Estonia earned 13.1% more than women on average, which was one of the widest gender pay gaps in the EU (Statistics Estonia, 2024). Additionally, women continue to be underrepresented in leadership roles and IT sectors, for example. Societal attitudes oftentimes support conventional gender roles, leading people to believe that women are primarily responsible for taking care of the household and children (OECD, 2024). This is also one of the factors contributing to Estonia’s high wage gap. To better understand how Estonia’s businesses deal with these challenges, I conducted a graduation research project in collaboration with the International Women’s Network in Estonia (IWNE). The study focused on the willingness of small-and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to collaborate with IWNE to promote gender equality and diversity. The goal of the research was not only to understand motivations and barriers but also to offer practical recommendations for IWNE’s future strategy. Why focus on SMEs? SMEs (companies with fewer than 250 employees) represent around 99% of all businesses in Estonia

Mari-Liis Prunt August 18, 2025
Jesamine Rikisahedew

Why Are So Many Young Women Afraid of Ageing?

Firstly, what even counts as “old” these days? I’m the eldest child in my family, and I remember the creeping anxiety that came with being the first to turn 30. It feels like a scarily big number – the age that makes everything feel official. I’m meant to have everything (career, relationships, and beauty) figured out. If I haven’t, it must mean I’ve failed. That fear doesn’t come from nowhere. It’s baked into the media we consume, the social norms we’ve internalised, and even the influencers we follow (many of whom are just as young and anxious). The result is a cultural obsession with youthfulness that makes the natural process of ageing feel threatening instead of inevitable.

Jesamine Rikisahedew June 30, 2025
Load More
Blog Cover. Design by Sümeyye Temirov, IWNE
Maria

Conditioning Through Education: Gender Bias and the Hidden Curriculum in Textbooks

Education is often recognized as a tool for creating equal opportunities for everyone to succeed despite their background. However, gender bias within the educational system, frequently perpetuated through textbooks and curricula, significantly shapes the experiences of students, particularly women, by creating gender stereotypes. This article explores the many ways gender bias finds itself a place in the curricula and the vulnerabilities it creates for students, particularly women. In this article, I argue that it is essential to recognise that gender bias is not a single, static problem. Instead, it can manifest in multiple ways, including the representation of gender roles, language used, segregation of occupations along gender lines, and reinforcement of stereotypes. It makes gender bias a complex assortment of problems, requiring attention to each of the facets of gender bias, whereby textbooks and curriculum being one. Why Textbooks? Textbooks play an essential role in shaping not only the classroom discourses but also the upbringing of the students. Sadker and Zittleman (2007) cite that ‘‘students spend as much as 80 to 95% of classroom time using textbooks, and teachers make a majority of their instructional decisions based on these texts’’ (p. 144). The considerable amount of time that students spend

Maria March 17, 2025
Sümeyye Temirov​

Amplifying Palestinian Voices: An Interview with Loor from the GENARRATION Project

As part of the GENARRATION project, we had the privilege of conducting a face-to-face interview in Tallinn with Loor, a young Palestinian from Jerusalem. In this conversation, Loor shares her personal story, the challenges faced by Palestinian youth, and the importance of reshaping narratives surrounding Palestinian identity. The interview was conducted by our member Fatya, with questions prepared and editorial work by our member Sümeyye.

Sümeyye Temirov​ March 10, 2025
IWNE
Lilly O'Toole, MPH

The First Female Prisoner of Conscience in Georgia

It has been more than one month since Mzia Amaglobeli — founder of Batumelebi and Netgazeti, two of Georgia’s most well-regarded independent media platforms – was arrested. She has been on hunger strike ever since. Due to the critical risk of organ failure, Amaglobeli was relocated to a hospital outside of Tbilisi. The refusal by Batumi court to lift her pre-trial detention period, the strictest measure possible, means that she must remain in detainment until her trial on March 4th. The Council of Europe’s human rights commissioner says her pre-trial detention for assaulting a police officer is unjustified.

Lilly O'Toole, MPH February 20, 2025
Liisa Emilia Sorainen

From A Grade to Ethical Showdown: Abortion and Who Really Decides

When an Essay Became Personal After receiving feedback on an exam essay, my professor decided to continue one part of my argument privately. I had briefly addressed abortion in my paper. He congratulated me on my work — and then told me he disagreed with my position. What followed was not a classroom debate but a direct exchange between a young woman and a middle-aged academic man about who gets to decide over a woman’s body, and on what grounds. This blog post is not about tone-policing or politeness. It is about substance. It is about why I support access to abortion, and why reproductive autonomy cannot be separated from gender equality. “That Embryo Was Once You”: The Argument That Stops the Room My professor’s position was clear and, in his view, morally grounded. For him, abortion is not primarily a matter of convenience or even autonomy; it is about the protection of human life at its earliest stage. His reasoning rests on continuity: every one of us once existed as a foetus. If we value our own existence, how can we dismiss that early stage of development as disposable? He did not necessarily advocate a total legal ban. He

Liisa Emilia Sorainen February 25, 2026
Ieva Zariņa

Beauty and Charming: A Woman’s Natural Place

‘Nature’ has often been, historically, invoked to justify mistreatment of women. Whether it has been ‘a woman’s nature’ or ‘the natural role of a woman’, curiously, more often than not, these interpretations of ‘a woman’s natural place’ have rarely been founded upon actual wildlife observations. The way I perceive natural processes, a female is at the centre of all social and political activity. Females’ needs and preferences (where she wants to live, how and with whom), largely determine the species’ distribution, ecology, behaviour, and evolution. In most if not all mammal and bird species, male evolution and social activity are nothing but adaptations to what the females want. In fact, males must be so well-adapted as to predict females’ wishes and anticipate them. Males do not wait to be ‘bossed around’ or told what to do. Since a young age, they attune their bodies and minds to perceive the female’s condition. If a male cannot predict what the female wants, he is, to an extent, pushed to society’s margins, for the simple reason that societies tend to form and revolve around females (or female-favoured habitats and resources). And if the male does not know what females fancy, he cannot find

Ieva Zariņa December 26, 2025
Jesamine Rikisahedew

When a Country Turns Purple: From South Africa to the Baltics, the Fight Against Gender-Based Violence Knows No Borders

In November 2025, my home country, South Africa, is turning purple. From landmark buildings lit in violet to social media feeds filled with the same colour, a
nationwide protest movement is gaining momentum. Led by the organisation Women For Change, the campaign calls for gender-based violence and femicide to be declared a national disaster.

Jesamine Rikisahedew November 21, 2025
Jesamine Rikisahedew

Hidden Hormone Disruptors in Menstrual Products: A Wake-Up Call for Women

Recent reporting in my home country of South Africa has drawn attention to a peer-reviewed study from the University of the Free State (UFS), published in Science of the Total Environment, which found endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in commonly sold sanitary pads and panty liners (Blignaut et al., 2026). Although the research was conducted in South Africa, its relevance extends well beyond one country. Many menstrual product brands are manufactured and distributed internationally, including across the European Union. For all women, the findings are worth understanding. What are endocrine disruptors? Endocrine-disrupting chemicals are substances that interfere with the body’s hormonal system. Hormones regulate reproduction, metabolism, thyroid function, mood and development. Some EDCs can mimic oestrogen or block natural hormonal signals. The study examined three main groups of chemicals: Phthalates (plasticisers used in adhesives and flexible plastics) Bisphenols, including bisphenol A (BPA) Parabens (preservatives with weak oestrogen-like activity) These chemicals are common in consumer products and can migrate out of materials over time. What did the study find? Researchers analysed 16 sanitary pads and 8 panty liners and detected endocrine disruptors in every product tested. Key findings included: Phthalates in 100% of panty liners and 50% of pads Bisphenols in 100% of

Jesamine Rikisahedew March 9, 2026
Liisa Emilia Sorainen

From A Grade to Ethical Showdown: Abortion and Who Really Decides

When an Essay Became Personal After receiving feedback on an exam essay, my professor decided to continue one part of my argument privately. I had briefly addressed abortion in my paper. He congratulated me on my work — and then told me he disagreed with my position. What followed was not a classroom debate but a direct exchange between a young woman and a middle-aged academic man about who gets to decide over a woman’s body, and on what grounds. This blog post is not about tone-policing or politeness. It is about substance. It is about why I support access to abortion, and why reproductive autonomy cannot be separated from gender equality. “That Embryo Was Once You”: The Argument That Stops the Room My professor’s position was clear and, in his view, morally grounded. For him, abortion is not primarily a matter of convenience or even autonomy; it is about the protection of human life at its earliest stage. His reasoning rests on continuity: every one of us once existed as a foetus. If we value our own existence, how can we dismiss that early stage of development as disposable? He did not necessarily advocate a total legal ban. He

Liisa Emilia Sorainen February 25, 2026
Ieva Zariņa

Beauty and Charming: A Woman’s Natural Place

‘Nature’ has often been, historically, invoked to justify mistreatment of women. Whether it has been ‘a woman’s nature’ or ‘the natural role of a woman’, curiously, more often than not, these interpretations of ‘a woman’s natural place’ have rarely been founded upon actual wildlife observations. The way I perceive natural processes, a female is at the centre of all social and political activity. Females’ needs and preferences (where she wants to live, how and with whom), largely determine the species’ distribution, ecology, behaviour, and evolution. In most if not all mammal and bird species, male evolution and social activity are nothing but adaptations to what the females want. In fact, males must be so well-adapted as to predict females’ wishes and anticipate them. Males do not wait to be ‘bossed around’ or told what to do. Since a young age, they attune their bodies and minds to perceive the female’s condition. If a male cannot predict what the female wants, he is, to an extent, pushed to society’s margins, for the simple reason that societies tend to form and revolve around females (or female-favoured habitats and resources). And if the male does not know what females fancy, he cannot find

Ieva Zariņa December 26, 2025

Latest Articles

Hidden Hormone Disruptors in Menstrual Products: A Wake-Up Call for Women

From A Grade to Ethical Showdown: Abortion and Who Really Decides

Beauty and Charming: A Woman’s Natural Place

Empower Change, support Our Community's Vision!

DONATE

Thank you for Contacting Us!

Thank you for Subscribing!

Latest Articles

Hidden Hormone Disruptors in Menstrual Products: A Wake-Up Call for Women

From A Grade to Ethical Showdown: Abortion and Who Really Decides

Beauty and Charming: A Woman’s Natural Place

Empower Change, support Our Community's Vision!

DONATE