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Gender and Health in Latin America: Personal Account, Prostitution (Mexico)

As a popular saying and historical reality suggest, prostitution is the world’s oldest profession. On one level, the topic of prostitution is connected to a set of moral-ethical considerations.

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Gender and Health in Latin America: Interview, Abortion Rights (Chile)

As a topic of discussion in the United States, abortion has long raised red flags. Not surprisingly, it is hardly a neutral subject in other national settings.

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Gender and Health in Latin America: Law, Maternity Leave (Cuba)

Motherhood and the many requirements that come with it provide a good starting point for analysis of women’s need for protection, on the one hand, and the limits on women’s decision-making imposed in protective legislation, on the other.

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Sati: Letter, Francois Bernier

During the 17th century, Louis XIV of France sought to strengthen the power of the monarchy in France and to enhance France’s position in world politics. In 1664, Jean Colbert, his finance minister, established the French East India Company to develop French trade with India.

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Early Modern Period: Petition, Ming China

This letter is an official petition to the Ming Emperor of China, Shi Zong (r. 1522-67). Written around 1566, it is attributed to Lady Chang, only wife of Shên Shu, a high bureaucrat in the Chinese court. However, it was likely coauthored by his favorite concubine, whose name is unknown.

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Cultural Contact in Southern Africa: Law, Slave Women and Children

Although marriage was not forbidden between Europeans and slaves or other non-Europeans, it was quite rare and entailed a drop in social status for the European. Nevertheless, sexual relationships occurred—sometimes coerced, sometimes by mutual agreement.

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Cultural Contact in Southern Africa: Law, Alcohol Sale

The following law suggests that slaves and Khoikhoi were considered particularly prone to alcohol addiction. There is some anecdotal evidence that this was a common stereotype held by Europeans at the Cape.

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Women and Stalinism: Newspaper, Women’s Activism

This article reflects a more complex example of state-controlled media. It is more negative in tone, by providing examples of problems in daily life, including shortages of housing and food, unequal treatment at work, and lack of services for families.

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Appealing to College Students in Hungary

In the summer of 1989, President George Bush made an official visit to several East European countries, each in the midst of democratic demonstrations and public pressure on their Communist regimes.

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Remarks Celebrating the Reunification of Germany

On October 3, 1990, the East and West German states officially united into a single sovereign state—the Federal Republic of Germany.