About Franziska Porges Hosken ...

Name Franziska Porges Hosken
Occupation Journalist / Photographer / Consultant

Fran Hosken ca 1950

 Fran P. Hosken (Vienna Austria 1920 – 2 February 2006) was an American writer, feminist, and social activist. She founded the Women's International Network in 1975, and published a quarterly journal on women's health issues that became known, in particular, for its research into female genital mutilation (FGM).

Hosken was born as Franziska Porges in Vienna where her father was a physician, and emigrated with her family to the United States in 1938.
She attended Smith College, and in 1944 obtained a master's degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Design, one of the first women to do so.
She joined the Coast Guard during the Second World War, working in communications.
She married James Hosken in 1947.
They had three children, and divorced in 1962.

For many years she published the Women's International Network NEWS (WIN NEWS) which was "BY, FOR & ABOUT WOMEN - a world-wide open participatory communication system by , for and about women of all backgrounds, beliefs, nationalities and age groups."
Win News regularly analyzed and critiqued such global issues as the policies of the IMF and the World Bank and their often deleterious effect on women, especially the women of Asia and Africa.
She also created and published The CHILDBIRTH PICTURE BOOK(CBPB) :
A Picture Story of Reproduction from a Woman's View.
The Childbirth Picture Book provided basic biological information on reproductive health especially important to young women all over the world and has been "tremendously useful regardless of language or literacy and for women of all ethnic backgrounds ; and is highly recommended for family planning education". 

It is said that Fran Hosken coined the term Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and put the issue of FGM on the United Nations agenda. 
Her report on FGM, The Hosken Report: Genital and Sexual Mutilation of Females (1979), was influential in persuading the international community, including the World Health Organization, to make efforts to end the practice.
As a pioneer in speaking out against the practice of Female Genital Mutilation, Ms. Hosken courageously withstood often vicious criticism in defense of the women being subjected to these practices.

  Franziska Porges Hosken (1920 - 2006) is the daughter of Otto Porges. Link to her family page.

Otto Porges

Otto Porges was born in Teplitz-Schonau, then lived in Prague and Vienna.
He was a prominent physician (internal medicine)
and practiced in Vienna (see Vienna phone books).
His name is mentioned in most major WHO'S WHO.
Otto Porges moved to the USA in 1938 to escape the Nazis.

Click here to read about the Porges Meier reaction
Awards received Humanist Heroine - 1987
American Humanist Association
Smith College Alpha Society for Creative Imagination - 1940
Women Leader 1980 - 1980
Marie Claire magazine, France
Alternative Press Award - 1991
International Reporting by Editors of Utne Reader
Education U.S. Coast Guard Women's Reserve, Ensign, Officers Training, (1945)
Master of Architecture, Harvard University, Graduate School of Design, (1944)
Bachelors of Architecture, Smith College, (1940)
Matura with Excellence, Vienna, Austria, (1938)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, (1966)
Post-graduate work in City Planning
Jobs held (1964-1965) Weekly columnist on architecture and urban affairs, Boston Globe, Boston, MA, USA
(1946-1947) Architectural Designer, Skidmore Owings and Merrill, Chicago, IL, USA
(1958-1959) Designer, Contract Interiors,
(1948-1953) Owner / Vice President, Treasurer, HOSKEN, Inc
(1959-1961) Interior Designer, M. Brown (office interiors), Boston, MA, USA
(1973-) Interior Design and Housing Instructor, Cambridge Adult Education Center and Garland College, Lexington, MA, USA
(1971-1974) Associate Professor of Urban Studies, University Without Walls, Boston, MA, USA
Communications Intelligence, US Coast Guard, Women's Reserve, Ensign,
Exhibitions Boston Visual Arts Union (1974-1974), Boston, MA, USA
group show
Boston City Hall Gallery (1973-1973), Boston, MA, USA
Boston City Hall Gallery ( 1, 1974- 1, 1974), Boston, MA, USA
MIT, Hayden Gallery (1973-1973), Cambridge, MA, USA
group show
Professional affiliations Founder and coordinator, Women's International Network, (1975-)
Organizer, Human Rights Health Action Network, (1977-1977)
Associate, Boston Society of Architects, Chapter AIA, (1969-1969)
Member, Board of Massachusetts Humanist Association, (1986-)
Member of the Board, University Without Walls, (1971-1975)
Member of the Board of Housing Committee, National Urban League, (1968-1972)
Associate Member, American Institute of Planners, (1969-1969)
Editorial Board, Smith College Alumnae Magazine, (1968-1969)
Notable projects Basic Research
Fieldwork and Establishment of Epidemiology of Female Genital Mutilation
Development of Childbook Picture Book Program Series
Publications by .The Kathmandu Valley Towns (Multi-Media)
.Genital Mutilation of Women in Africa
.Housing Subsidies, Industrialized Production and the User
.Urban Development and Housing in Asia
.Female Sexual Mutilations, WIN NEWS
.Women and International Human Rights - Toward a Definition of Women's Rights
.Women's International Network - WIN NEWS
.Human Needs in the Environment of Human Settlements
.The Kathmandu Valley Towns
.The Language of Cities
.Education for Urban Living
.Integration of Women in Sites Services Programs
.A Pragmatic Approach to Teaching Urban Studies
.The Visual City (Multi-Media)
.Seminar on Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children
.The Childbirth Picture Book/Program
.International Directory of Women's Development Organizations
.Les Mutilations Sexuelles Féminines
.The Hosken Report - Genital and Sexual Mutilation of Females
.FOCUS - The Functions of Cities for Us (Multi-Media)
.Urban Development and Housing in Africa
.The Functions of Cities
Specialties Lecturer
Various lectures given on women's issues and problems concerning health - Khartoun, Sudan; Mogadisho, Somilia; Mexico; Copenhagen; Nairobi; Miami, Florida; and guest lecturer at universities in the US and Europe

Publisher and Editor
Women's International Network News; quarterly women's issues journal

Journalist
Specialist in Urban Affairs, Housing and Development (International)

Consultant
Prepartory Planning Group of UN HABITAT Conference on Human Settlements; World Bank: Integration of Women in Sites and Services Programs; World Health Organization: Seminar on Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children

Photographer
Owner of Architectural Color Slides, largest slide collection of cities and buildings worldwide
Archives Harvard Library

http://oasis.lib.harvard.edu/oasis/deliver/deepLink?_collection=oasis&uniqueId=des00029

http://oasis.lib.harvard.edu/oasis/deliver/deepLink?_collection=oasis&uniqueId=des00027

IAWA Biography: Franziska Porges Hosken

Journalist / Photographer / Consultant

EMPLOYERS:
  • 1973-present: Interior Design and Housing Instructor, Cambridge Adult Education Center and Garland College, Boston.
  • 1971-74: Associate Professor of Urban Studies, University Without Walls, Boston.
  • 1964-65: Weekly column for Boston Globe on architecture and urban affairs.
  • 1959-61: Interior designer for M, Brown, Boston (office interiors).
  • 1958-59: Designer for Contract Interiors.
  • 1948-53: Owner / Vice President & Treasurer, HOSKEN, Inc.
  • 1946-47: Architectural Designer, Skidmore Owings and Merrill, Chicago.
  • Ensign, US Coast Guard, Women's Reserve (Communications Intelligence).

OFFICE ADDRESS: 187 Grant Street, Lexington, Massachusetts 02173. tel : (607) 862-9431

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATION / MEMBERSHIP:

  • 1975-present: Founder and coordinator of Women's International Network.
  • 1977: Organizer of Human Rights Health Action Network.
  • 1986-present: Member of Board of Massachusetts Humanist Association (since 1986).
  • 1968-72: Member of Board of Housing Committee of National Urban League.
  • 1971-75: Member of Board of University Without Walls.
  • 1969: Associate of Boston Society of Architects, Chapter AIA.
  • 1969: Associate Member of American Institute of Planners.
  • 1968-69: Editorial Board of Smith College Alumnae Magazine.
PUBLICATIONS BY:

Books:

  • The Childbirth Picture Book / Program (1982).
  • The Hosken Report - Genital and Sexual Mutilation of Females (1993).
  • Les Mutilations Sexuelles Feminines (1983).
  • Female Sexual Mutilations (1980), WIN NEWS.
  • International Directory of Women's Development Organizations (1977).
  • The Kathmandu Valley Towns (1974).
  • The Functions of Cities (1972).
  • The Language of Cities (1971).
Reports:
  • Women's International Network - WIN NEWS.
  • Urban Development and Housing in Africa (1973).
  • Urban Development and Housing in Asia (1971).
  • Housing Subsidies, Industrialized Production and the User (1974).
  • Human Needs in the Environment of Human Settlements (1976).
  • Integration of Women in Sites & Services Programs (1976).
  • Education for Urban Living (1969).
  • A Pragmatic Approach to Teaching Urban Studies (1970).
  • Genital Mutilation of Women in Africa (1976).
  • Seminar on Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children (1979).
  • Women and International Human Rights - Toward a Definition of Women's Rights (1981).
Multi-media:
  • The Visual City.
  • FOCUS - The Functions of Cities for Us.
  • The Kathmandu Valley Towns.
Writing for Newspapers:
  • Christian Science Monitor
  • Boston Herald
  • Boston Globe (weekly column)
  • St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Writing for Magazines:
  • Architectural Forum
  • Progressive Architecture
  • Design & Environment
  • Society of International Development (SID) Journal
  • Development Digest
  • Architecture Canada
  • Arts & Architecture
  • Women Speaking
  • Women & Health
  • Feminist Issues
  • Women's Agenda
  • Tropical Doctor
OTHER FIELDS / AREAS OF INTEREST:

Publisher and Editor:

Women's International Network News; quarterly women's issues journal.
Journalist:
Specialist in Urban Affairs, Housing and Development (International).
Consultant:
  • Prepartory Planning Group of UN HABITAT Conference on Human Settlements
  • World Bank: Integration of Women in Sites and Services Programs
  • World Health Organization: Seminar on Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children.
Lecturer:
Various lectures given on women's issues and problems concerning health - Khartoun, Sudan; Mogadisho; Somilia; Mexico; Copenhagen; Nairobi; Miami, Florida; and guest lecturer at universities in the US and Europe.
Photographer:
Owner of Architectural Color Slides, largest slide collection of cities and buildings worldwide.

PROJECTS:

  • Basic Research/Fieldwork and Establishment of Epidemiology of Female Genital Mutilation.
  • Development of Childbirth Picture Book Program Series.
EXHIBITIONS:
  • Spring 1973: Boston City Hall Gallery.
  • December 1974: Boston City Hall Gallery.
  • 1973: MIT, Hayden Gallery (group show).
  • 1974: Boston Visual Arts Union (group show).
AWARDS / HONORS:
  • 1940: Smith College Alpha Society for Creative Imagination.
  • 1980: "Woman Leader 1980" Marie Claire magazine, France.
  • 1987: "Humanist Heroine" awarded by American Humanist Association.
  • 1991: Alternative Press Award for International Reporting by Editors of Utne Reader.

 

Porges-Meier reaction

Also known as : Porges’ reaction / Réaction de Porges
 Associated persons : Otto Porges Georg Meier
Description:
An early flocculation test for syphilis. French description: Formation d'un précipité dans un sérum par addition d'une solution de glycocholate de soude. Cette réaction, d'après Porges, ne se produirait que chez les syphilitiques.
Bibliography:
Described by O. Porges, in:
* Berliner klinische Wochenschrift, 1908, 45: 731.

http://www.whonamedit.com/synd.cfm/539.html