African Journal of Gender and Women Studies

African Journal of Gender and Women StudiesISSN: 2736-1578 Vol. 7 (9), pp. 001-007, September, 2022. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Strategies for elimination of Female Genital Mutilation in Ethiopia; a meta synthesis of national and regional studies

Oladeji Olusola¹*, Battle Julia², Ahmed Haithar³,Shikur Zemzem³ and Akullu Harriet⁴

¹UNICEF Somali Field Office, Ethiopia.

²UNICEFCountryOffice, Rwanda.

³UNICEF Country Office, Ethiopia.

⁴UNICEF Headquarters, New York, USA.

Accepted 19 September, 2022

Abstract

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is a harmful practice that consists of all procedures involving partial or total removal of the female external genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. This meta-synthesis identified and describedstrategies implemented for elimination of FGM practices in Ethiopiaand was conducted using systematic searches in electronic databases (PubMed, PsycINFO and Google Scholar) and grey literature from 2012 to 2022.Some of the strategies identified to eliminate FGM practice included the enactment and enforcement of customary laws; empowering and engaging women and girls about their rights, andhealth risk education campaign onthe negative health impacts of FGM. Other strategies identified were the engagement of key gatekeepers of FGM practices which included religious leaders, traditional birth attendants,clanleaders, health workers,men and unmarried boys. The study highlighted some of the strategies and interventions that worked and other that have great potential to eliminate FGM practice in Ethiopia. The study also showed that implementationof a combination of diverse interventions which complement each-other and targeted at different actorsinvolved in the practice is essential so that the root cause of the practice in terms of gender and social norms are targeted for  meaningful change in  the practice of FGM.

Key words; Female genital mutilation, strategies, interventions, elimination, meta synthesis.

African Journal of Gender and Women Studies ISSN: 2736-1578, Vol. 7 (8), pp. 001-005, August, 2022. © International Scholars Journals

Review

Traditional Indigenous healing in Canada: A synopsis of current practices and the necessity of future research 

Jonah W. Perlmutter¹, Felix Walker BA² and Marni C. Wiseman BSc, MD, FRCPC ³*

¹University of Winnipeg Department of Biochemistry

²Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation (NCN) Family and Community Wellness Centre

*³Department of Medicine, University of Manitoba SKiNWISE DERMATOLOGY, 6-1170 Taylor Ave, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3M3Z4 Canada.

 Accepted 03 June, 2022

Abstract

Inuit, Métis, and First Nations Peoples living in Canada experience, on average, disproportionately poorer health outcomes than non-Indigenous Canadians. The intergenerational consequences of residential schools, established with the purpose of forcefully assimilating Indigenous children into Euro-Canadian culture, are likely one factor behind this inequity. Education amongst clinicians regarding traditional Indigenous healing practices and its implementation in conjunction with Western medicine are integral to confronting this systematic injustice. Indigenous healers view life as a homeostatic, holistic balance between the spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical wellbeings. The holistic approach to healing consists of facilitating healing circles, sweat lodge ceremonies, and the use of traditional medicines amongst other practices. Implementation of traditional ceremonies in accordance with modern therapeutic interventions was found to improve health outcomes amongst Indigenous patients. Despite this, research regarding Indigenous healing practices is scarce and often ingrained with Eurocentric bias. In accordance with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s call to action, it is integral that Indigenous theories and practices of health and wellness be further researched and better incorporated into the literature and clinical practice.   

Key words: Traditional, Indigenous, healing, holistic, ceremonies, Canadian

African Journal of Gender and Women Studies ISSN: 2736-1578, Vol. 7 (5), pp. 001-005, May, 2022. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Atypical adolescent sexual behaviour: A study of involvement in triolism and same gender sex in Lagos, Nigeria

Kunnuji, Michael

Department of Sociology, University of Lagos, Akoka – Yaba, Nigeria. E-mail: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]. Tel: +234 – 0802 354 0699.

Accepted 16 December, 2021

Abstract

A very wide range of sexual practices are available to adolescents. The options range from the socially approved act of absolute sexual chastity to uncommon ones such as group sex and same-gender sex. Many studies in the area of sexuality in Nigeria proceed from the premise that adolescent sexual behaviour hardly ever goes beyond premarital heterosexual intercourse whether it is voluntary, forced or transactional. Others are aware that other possibilities exist but hardly seek to document them. Thus, very little is known about the extent to which adolescents are involved in these “unusual” or atypical sexual practices. Using data from a survey of 614 sexually active adolescents in Lagos metropolis, this article fills the lacuna in the literature on the prevalence of atypical sexual practices in an urban setting in Nigeria. The results show that about 14% of the subjects had been involved in at least one of the two atypical sexual acts and about 1% had been involved in both acts. The study concludes therefore that sexual practices labelled “uncommon”, “atypical” or “unusual” may not be as uncommon as people often imagine.

Key words: Unusual sexual behaviour, uncommon sexual behaviour, adolescent sexuality, group sex, homosexuality.

African Journal of Gender and Women Studies ISSN: 2736-1578, Vol. 7 (4), pp. 001-013, April, 2022. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Gender rights in post-colonial societies:  A comparative study of Kenya and India

Bandini Chhichhia

Loyola University Chicago, Rome Campus, 120/3 Via Della Balduina, Balduina, 00136 Rome, Italy.

E-mail: [email protected]. Tel: +39 06 95227693, +39 3421743220.

Accepted 12 June, 2021

Abstract

This paper is a comparative legal study undertaken to determine the current status of gender rights in two countries: India and Kenya. The countries were selected on the basis of their similar legal systems, colonial heritage and the demographic dispersion of women in rural areas. Using the Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) as the international benchmark for state behaviour, it examines the existing legal framework, institutions and state policies in both countries to draw similarities and identify differences in each country’s gender rights framework. Drawing from the comparative analysis, the main areas of reform for Kenya are the enactment of anti-discriminatory legislation, new institutions with separate investigative and enforcement powers and an approach away from ‘mainstreaming’ towards gender ‘empowerment.’ For India, the challenge seems to be land reform, particularly with respect to land ownership for women in rural areas. Both countries would benefit from three common measures: a new conceptual legal theory, progressive anti-discrimination legislation and gender awareness education to fight the embedded problem of deep-rooted negative socio-cultural norms.

Key words: Gender rights, CEDAW, Mainstreaming, Empowerment, India and Kenya.

African Journal of Gender and Women Studies ISSN: 2736-1578, Vol. 7 (3), pp. 001-011, March, 2022. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Gender and labour force inequality in small-scale gold mining in Ghana

Romanus D. Dinye^1* and Michael O. Erdiaw-Kwasie²

¹Centre for Settlements Studies, College of Architecture and Planning, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.

²Department of Planning, College of Architecture and Planning, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.

Accepted 14 April, 2021

Abstract

Gender inequality is an inevitable concomitant of the innate poverty in humanity, a situation to which the Ghanaian society is no exception. This paper explores the underlying elements of gender inequality pertinent to women in the small-scale gold mining sector in Ghana drawing inference from a case study of the Tarkwa-Nsuaem municipal assembly area in the western Region. The contribution of women to the small-scale gold mining sector and through that poverty reduction is immense, notwithstanding a number of factors that alongside militate against their well being. The drawbacks have to do with the unregulated, dangerous and insecure conditions of the small-scale gold mining operators that for the most part, tend be discriminative against women. These are in areas of the health, income and capacity building package benefits to their labour force. The policy implication is the need for government to institute gender-sensitive workplace regulatory policies and programmes to be adhered to in the small-scale mining sector in the country. It should be the responsibility of the municipal and all the relevant regulatory authorities to ensure that the designated policies as well as the attendant rules and regulations are enforced.

Key words: Small-scale mining, gold miners, women, poverty.

African Journal of Gender and Women Studies ISSN: 2736-1578, Vol. 7 (2), pp. 001-003, February, 2022. © International Scholars Journals

Short Communication

Gender issue in the performance of students admitted through UME and pre-degree into the Nigerian Universities

M.S. Omirin

Faculty of Education, University of Ado-Ekiti, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria. E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 12 July, 2021

Abstract

This study examined the gender issue in the performance of students admitted through UME and pre-degree into the Nigerian Universities. Ex-post facto design of descriptive research was adopted for the study. A proforma was used to collect data from a sample of two hundred and fifty students from the faculties of Science in the Nigerian Universities. Purposive, stratified and proportional sampling techniques were employed in the selection of the sample. Data collected were analyzed using student t-test. Four null hypotheses were generated and tested at 0.05 level of significant. Results of the study revealed that there is no significant difference between the academic performance of male and female students in the Nigerian Universities. Based on the findings, it was recommended that both male and female students should be given equal chances of admission in the UME and Pre-Degree programmes.

Key words: Gender, pre-degree, performance, competitive, imbalance.