or adopted languages in addition to Persian. Women in blogging Some of the most popular Iranian bloggers are women. The outlet often provides a means to escape the need to identify oneself openly, particularly as family honor can be associated with women. The internet provides a means to talk about the restrictions on women, including the mandatory Hijab. Women can communicate with men openly as contributors of commentators on each other's blog, even having virtual boyfriends online. They can talk about premarital sex, underground parties, alcohol and other youth activities often frowned upon or considered illegal. It also allows for following fashion trends, music, and feminist news. For example, one blogger addresses the issue of prostitution under the regime, which is formally denied. "22 August 2003: some facts: The rate of runaway girls has grown 20 times between the periods of 1986-1999, with the average age of girls now 14.7...the average age of prostitutes has dropped from 27 to 20 years." Due to the extremely high education rate of women, females even surpassing males in enrollment in university, access and literacy are readily available. Some popular female bloggers include 2003 student uprisings Iran In 2003 there were a series of student uprisings throughout the country, despite widespread repression during 1999 riots. largely reported on blogs, providing news and updates for others, while it was not being reported by the press. This allowed for more organized, planned protests. Eventually they too were repressed, but not without using the internet and blogs as a means to defy authority. Timeline 2001 7 September - The first Persian blog is published by Hossein Derakhshan, using manual coding. 25 September - The blog using manual coding is published. 5 November - Instructions on "How to make a blog in Persian" using Blogger's free service is published, in response to readers' requests. 2002 2 June - Cappuccino magazine is launched. 13 June - PersianBlog.com, the first free blog service in Persian, is launched. Persianblog.com co-founded by Sahand Ghanoun, Behrang Fouladi, Ata Khalighi Sigaroudi, and Reza Hashemi. 10 November - BlogSky.com, the second free blog service in Persian, is launched. 2003 31 March - Persianblog service lists its weblog updates in the global weblogs.com directory. Dave Winer, names Iran a hot place for weblogs. 20 April - Sina Motallebi, journalist and blogger is arrested. 26 September - Cafe Blog opens in northern Tehran. 24 November - Mohammad-Ali