Disputing narratives: Romani journalists resisting in Hungary
The Roma people have historically been persecuted throughout the world. In Hungary, despite being the largest minority, they have been subject to segregation and criminalization, with the backdrop of the rising far-right and the normalisation of hate speech. But the Roma, increasingly organized, are resisting this history of stigmatization. @elsaltotv went to Budapest to tell […]
Building a Body: Noémi’s story
Noémi has been a bodybuilder for twenty years. She has developed her body with analytical precision, incredible discipline, and perseverance to become what she once imagined for herself. In search of perfection, she has put in decades of conscious nutrition, training and discipline to get into the shape she wanted. @negynegynegywent to find out, what […]
Motherhood and Body: Martina and Sara’s Journey
Martina and Sara had tried to have a baby many times, without success. Finally, they managed to conceive Zeno: Sara had her eggs implanted in Martina’s uterus so both of their bodies participated in the pregnancy. But pregnancy is not easy and often leaves marks on the body, especially for couples that use IVF. Our […]
The Real Life of a Virtual Sex Worker
Vera Flynn is a virtual sex worker. She debunks the myth of easy money: for her, online sex work is precarious despite popular beliefs. From heavy taxation to commissions imposed by agencies, some months she struggles to make ends meet. The job also comes with endless negative comments and risks that someone might steal your […]
Life with Phocomelia
Sotiris is a 30-year-old guy who learned to live with Phocomelia, a rare birth defect characterized, in most instances, by severe malformation of the extremities. Sotiris has a prosthetic leg and malformation in his hands. As a disabled person, he describes the uncomfortable situations he has experienced as well as the bullying and discrimination he […]
Carnation Revolution in Portugal: the fight continues 50 years later
This year marked the 50th anniversary of April 25, 1974, the Carnation revolution that gave rise to democracy in Portugal. On the day, a large march to celebrate freedom ran along Lisbon’s main avenue. Sphera’s Portuguese partner @Geradorcultura spent the day with activists, historians and researchers to find out why half a century later thousands […]
Agents of Change: Young Georgians against the Creeping Oppression
Throughout its history Georgia has fought hard for its independence, especially from its big neighbour, Russia. But decades after the fall of the Soviet Union, in 2024, Georgia’s ruling party passed a law that terrified the country’s civil society. The “Foreign Agent Bill”, a copycat of the Russian law passed a few years earlier, threatens […]
Abandoned by the authorities, this apartment block in Marseille only houses 12 people
La Renaude is one of Marseille’s northern districts. It has a reputation for being underprivileged and difficult. For several years, La Renaude has been neglected by the authorities, recently the new owner decided to demolish the apartment buildings. Tenants have been offered alternative accommodation. However, 12 people have not accepted these offers and continue to […]
What is postporn?
PostPorn is a new way to think about pornography from the feminist, queer perspective. How has this new perspective changed the meaning of sex and porn? @KrytykaPolitycznaTV went to Warsaw’s Post Porn Festival to find out. @KrytykaPolitycznaTV is a Sphera Network member and this story is part of our “Sex” series.
In Hungary, trans persons cannot leave their painful past behind
In May 2020, a new administrative law came into effect in Hungary, specifically section 33, which replaced the “gender” category with “birth gender” in official documents, effectively eliminating the possibility for transgender individuals to legally change their gender. Flóris, a trans man, from a legal and administrative standpoint, remains in a no man’s land: first, […]
