IT is a topsy-turvy world. This past week, I have taken part in a passionate discussion with top Nato and EU officials on the future of Afghanistan, met Syrian opposition representatives, kept track of Nato defence ministers’ decisions on Libya — and tried to get serious about Europe’s ‘ vegetable crisis’, prompting family discussions on whether or not to eat lettuce and tomatoes.

The outcome: I eat vegetables, other family members are free to make their own choice. Unlike the Libyan and Syrian leaders, I allow my family a degree of democracy and freedom.

But I admit: the future of Europe’s embattled farmers does not really fill me with passion. True, it’s not fair that Spanish vegetable growers have had their livelihoods destroyed overnight — but knowing how Europe works, I am confident the farmers will receive financial compensation. The truth is that over the last few weeks I have kept a close watch on the determined drive by French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde to become the next managing director of the IMF.

Significantly, Ms Lagarde has drawn attention to, among other things, her “experience as a woman” which she claims gives added credibility to her candidacy for the top IMF job. I confess I have also cast an interested eye on the sexual affairs of the likes of disgraced, former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn, former California governor and action movie hero Arnold Schwarzenegger and more recently US congressman Anthony Weiner.

True, the conduct of these men is rather sad. But even as we express shock, let’s also reflect on the rapid changes being wrought in social mores by this fast-changing, globalised and inter-connected 21st century. At least, let’s reflect on the transformation of gender politics in the West. Because, let’s not delude ourselves: the philandering and worse of the aforementioned men has been exposed because American, and increasingly European, women are no longer willing to keep quiet about sexual harassment, violence and rape.

It’s quite a different story in other parts of the world. Courageous women like Pakistan’s Mukhtar Mai stand out as daring to defy traditional notions of social propriety. Across Asia, Africa and Latin America, empowered women are breaking new ground by demanding their rightful place in society, politics and economic structures. But the majority of women, even in the increasingly assertive emerging countries, still kowtow to men.

Governments in most South Asian countries are guilty of turning a blind eye to female infanticide, ‘honour’ killings, dowry murders and gang rape. The general sentiment is still ‘boys will be boys’ — especially when they are feudal, powerful and accustomed to a life of impunity.

Horrifyingly, the International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo has said there is evidence that Libyan leader Col Muammar Qadhafi ordered the rape of hundreds of women as a weapon against rebel forces. He said that he had collected evidence suggesting the Libyan leader had decided to punish women by using rape as a weapon in the hope that it would instil fear and curb dissent. In March, a Libyan woman, Eman al-Obeidi, made headlines after she burst into a Tripoli hotel and said she had been raped by Col Gaddafi’s troops. She is recovering at a refugee centre in Romania. Despite Qadhafi, the landscape in the rest of the world appears to be changing, however slowly. Certainly, women are in the news.

I wrote some time ago about the role of women in the Arab Spring and serious concerns that the new Arab leaders may not give their female counterparts space and influence in the new order being fashioned in the Middle East. Since then I have been told that even the Muslim Brotherhood is going out of its way in Egypt and other countries to stress their commitment to women’s rights.

I still remember years ago meeting and interviewing impressive Arab women like Dr Hanan Ashrawi, the first woman to be elected a member of the PLO’s executive committee. I have not read anything about her recently — like other Palestinian women she appears to have been relegated to the sidelines while incompetent Hamas and Fatah leaders ‘macho’ it out. In Israel, Kadima leader Tzipi Livni is overshadowed by her male rivals. In Pakistan, Sherry Rehman is a lone and brave voice speaking up for minorities.

What fascinates me are two other elements of the modern-day story of women’s empowerment. First, the role that the so-called ‘social media’ have played in giving women a voice. True, tweeting also brought Mr Weiner to his knees but more generally, access to social media, including Facebook has allowed even the most sequestered women to tell their story uncensored.

Secondly, despite their differences, the recent scandals involving Strauss-Kahn, Weiner and others have thrown a spotlight on the strength of the unfortunate women entangled in their lives. Anne Sinclair, an heiress and former TV personality in her native France, has decided to stand by her man. Throughout she has stayed strong, dignified and chic. As has Maria Shriver (aka Mrs Schwarzenegger) also a journalist and a member of the powerful Kennedy family.

Huma Abedin, the high-profile aide to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, has decided to keep working and travelling rather than stand passively on the sidelines while her husband’s political life disintegrates. Mr Weiner may or may not survive the scandal. But like many other women across today’s chaotic world, Ms Abedin has shown dignity and grace under fire.

The writer is Dawn’s correspondent in Brussels.