Traci Tong
PRI
Boston, MA, United States
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Past articles by Traci:
The 'menstrual awakening': Shattering the period stigma
For millions of women around the world, monthly periods are something that comes with real hazards, such as missing school and work or being subjected to potentially harmful sanitary conditions. But there's a global menstrual movement taking place. → Read More
For one woman with an eating disorder, Ramadan was a chance to blend in
Adeline Hocine saw the holy month — when everyone would abstain from food and water — as an opportunity to hide her illness. → Read More
An online campaign is rewriting Egyptian beauty standards
For years, Egyptian women of all ages have felt pressure to straighten their naturally curly hair. But now, a group of women have said enough is enough. Through an online campaign, they're trying to get Egyptian women to embrace their curls. → Read More
Khalida Popal defied the Taliban and risked her life to play soccer
Khalida Popal did not let the harassment by the Taliban stop her from playing soccer. But daily death threats left her no choice — she fled her homeland and ended up in Denmark. Today she prepares a team of Mexican teenagers who will compete in the upcoming Street Child World Cup. → Read More
Asia Argento on relearning how to live her life after sexual assault
Italian actress and activist Asia Argento, one of the first women to accuse Harvey Weinstein of sexual abuse, came under a lot of backlash in her native Italy. Still, Argento says she doesn’t regret her action and hopes she can change some of Italy’s misogynist culture. → Read More
The journey of two sisters into the Syrian jihad, and a father's efforts to rescue them
Somali-Norwegian teenagers Ayan and her younger sister Leila leave their affluent neighborhood outside of Oslo to travel to Syria and marry ISIS fighters. Author Asne Seierstad's latest book, "Two Sisters: A Father, His Daughters and Their Journey into the Syrian Jihad", shares the family's story including the father's efforts to bring his daughters home. → Read More
Muslim women are speaking out against abuse with #MosqueMeToo
Muslim women are using the hashtag #MosqueMeToo to speak out against sexual abuse that takes place during the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. → Read More
How the Vietnam War's Napalm Girl found hope after tragedy
For many years, Kim Phuc was known as the Napalm Girl. She was in an iconic photograph that pictured her running naked down a road, screaming after a napalm attack on her village. That photo won a Pulitzer Prize and changed the way the world looked at the Vietnam War. For many years, Kim was angry and in pain. But, she found a way to forgive and find peace. → Read More
Kristi Yamaguchi inspires a record number of Asian American skaters
More than 200 athletes representing Team USA are taking part in 15 sporting events during the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea. One competition that always gets attention is figure skating, and this year, it's notable for the record number of Asian American skaters. → Read More
Adoptees return to their Chinese village to help friends who were left behind
Two girls, Abigail Anderson and Bingjie Turner, were adopted from an orphanage when they were 13 years old and brought to the US. They returned to their village recently to see what had happened to friends who were not adopted — called "left-behinds." → Read More
Women veterans want their voices heard in the #MeToo movement
The accusations of sexual assault and harassment against Harvey Weinstein and other entertainment figures have inspired other victims of sexual crimes to speak out against their alleged perpetrators in politics and the news media. And the numbers keep growing. But, women veterans say the #MeToo awareness is largely invisible in the military. → Read More
Iceland's most trusted politician is a feminist environmentalist who is the 'antiTrump'
Iceland's new prime minister is an environmental feminist, anti-war, crime-novel expert who wants to make Iceland carbon-neutral by the year 2040. At 41, she is one of the youngest world leaders today and is the most trusted political leader in her country, in poll after poll. → Read More
A lack of clean and safe toilets leaves women vulnerable to rape and attacks
Access to basic sanitation is something we take for granted here in the United States. We usually have access clean and safe facilities when we need it. But in other parts of the world, access to clean and safe toilets is more difficult. And for some women and girls, not having access to private toilets exposes them to attacks and harassment. → Read More
The US Coast Guard is operating floating prisons in the Pacific Ocean, outside US legal protections
There's a secret US detention system in the War on Drugs, too — and this one is aboard US Coast Guard cutters sailing in the Pacific Ocean. → Read More
This piece of jewelry is actually an alarm
Yasmine Mustafa has designed a small pendant that can be worn as a necklace. But it's also armed so wearers can alert someone if they're in danger. → Read More
At pop-up eatery in Canada, HIV education is on the menu
For two days, chefs who are HIV-positive set up a pop-up restaurant in Toronto to dispel ignorance about people with the disease. The idea was hatched after a survey found that nearly half of Canadians would not eat a meal prepared by someone who's HIV-positive. → Read More
South Korea makes a bold move with a former ‘comfort woman’ at its state dinner with the US and Japan
South Korea sent a provocative message to Japan and the US by inviting a former "comfort woman" to a state dinner with President Donald Trump. → Read More
The dangers of reporting on femicide in Argentina
Argentina is believed to have one of the highest rates of femicide — the killing of women simply because of their gender. The #NiUnaMenos campaign started there to highlight violence against women. But this past year, one of its greatest champions became a victim of femicide herself. → Read More
'The Lion King' may be a Disney film. But to one man, it's a South African experience.
Disney live-action just announced a new take on the 1994 classic, "The Lion King." It's not expected to be released in the US until July 2019, but the unveiling of the all-star cast has created a lot of excitement for fans. For South African entertainment reporter Tinashe Venge, the rebirth of "The Lion King" is a dream come true. → Read More
Kenyan health providers call Trump's global gag rule 'a death sentence' for women
President Donald Trump cut US funding to any international organization that administers or even discusses abortion with its patients. A Kenyan health group is traveling across the US to tell Americans how that rule affects the country. → Read More