Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Commons^™

Cultural Violence, Violent Gendering, And Abjection: Discourses On Sites Of Violence Through Trans Women’S Narratives From India, Tanupriya, Dhishna Pannikot

Journal of International Women's Studies

The conventional cultural construct of gender and sexuality embedded in the dichotomous paradigm makes it challenging for people with queer and trans identities to fit into an assigned social role. Violent gendering takes place where women are seen as second-order beings, disciplined and controlled by men, the first-order beings. The process of feminization and femininity is linked to women, which fixates on the idea that “one is born a woman” rather than “one becomes a woman.” This violent process of acculturation to these set norms comes with a lot of vulnerability for trans people in the form of abiding by …

African Moral Fibre As The Lost Glory In Combating Violence Against Women, Lilian Cheelo Siwila

Journal of International Women's Studies

Africa, like any other society, embodies moral responsibilities that govern the way society is to be ruled. These morals, which are embedded in people’s belief systems and worldviews, are transmitted from generation to generation. The gendered nature of these morals can be reflected in the way women and girls are protected and respected in their communities. Since the holistic mothering roles of women are viewed as the highest order of society, heinous crimes like violating a woman are seen as taboo in that society. Among the Tonga people of Zambia, where this study is located, raping or beating a woman …

Vatsonga Cultural Practices And Their Impact On The Health Of Widows And Significant Others, Fanisa Baloyi, Jabulani Owen Nene, Azwihangwisi Helen Mavhandu-Mudzusi

Journal of International Women's Studies

This paper presents the Vatsonga cultural practices regarding widowhood and how those practices impact personal health. The purpose of the study was to gain an in-depth understanding of how the Vatsonga manages widowhood and how those practices affect the management of HIV/AIDS. This ethnographic study was conducted in Bushbuckridge and is grounded in Leininger’s theory of Culture Care Diversity and Universality. Data was collected from participants using individual face-to-face interviews and observation. In addition, ethnographic content analysis was utilized for data analysis. Results indicate that there are practices such as widow cleansing and widow inheritance that the Vatsonga people practice …

Lack Of Data And Dialogue On Female Genital Mutilation In Pakistan, Huda Syyed

Journal of International Women's Studies

Female genital mutilation (FGM) affects women in many countries and carries significant socio-sexual and cultural implications such as affected female sexual pleasure and a strong association with traditions which are believed to form a cultural identity. This essay explored the lack of data and discourse regarding this practice among the Dawoodi Bohra community in Pakistan. Due to the Pakistani government’s lack of recognition and public dialogue on this issue, there remains no official laws, statistics, or empirical research about the ritual. Despite the rise of feminism and women’s empowerment in many contemporary societies, Pakistan has not initiated any FGM debate …

"Abayomi, We Are The Revolution": Women's Rights And Samba At Rio De Janeiro, Paula Dürks Cassol

Journal of International Women's Studies

The advent of the feminist movement in the twentieth century made it possible for socially organized women to begin seeking for the recognition of their rights and the change of gender roles which were socially built. Women’s rights started to be recognized as a human right. However, criteria of race and class have always been relevant, and have provided privileged positions for white women in the pursuit and attainment of rights, while black women continue to be stigmatized, remaining in the base of the social pyramid. In this regard, this paper questions: What is the relation between feminism and the …

Women And Evolution Of Cultural Practices Among The Igbo Of Nigeria, Christian C. Opata, Apex A. Apeh, Asogwa S. Odoja, Alaku Emmanuel

Journal of International Women's Studies

Studies on Igbo women have ignored the part played by either fear of women or respect for them in the evolution of festivals and some customary practices. Embedded in this neglect is the non-recognition of their contribution to the development of their societies. However, evidence that some cultural practices evolved out of fear of women and respect for them by the men abounds as manifest in the evolution of some spirit being institutions, memorialisation of women’s war exploits, and veneration of kola nut. Anchored on extensive field investigation, the application of historical narrative and qualitative research method, this study traced …

The Role Of Culture In Cross-Cultural Marriage Among Minangkabau Women, Susi Fitria Dewi, Maria Montessori, Randi Ade Saputra, Sintia Farsalena, Fatmariza Fatmariza, Rika Febriani, Febri Yulika

Journal of International Women's Studies

Marriage is the strongest relationship in terms of controlling human behaviour. There are various reasons why men and women want to be tied through marriage, such as religious, economic, social and cultural factors, and even politics. Cultural factors have special characteristics because they are the product of creativity, human feelings and intentions brought from birth that are passed down from generation to generation. This paper aims to describe the cultural values that affect the lives of the Minangkabau ethnic women who marry other ethnic men. This study is based on interviews with 37 women in 7 districts in West Sumatra …

Factors Affecting Bahraini Women Working In The Engineering Fields, Adel Ismail Al-Alawi, Hala Elias, Fadwah Abdulaziz Zaid, Mona Safoog Alroaili, Sara Abdulrahman Al-Bassam

Journal of International Women's Studies

The purpose of this study is to explore the current level of contribution of Bahraini women to the engineering fields in the Kingdom of Bahrain, while specifically examining the factors that affect Bahraini women in the engineering profession. This study determines the extent to which the principles and policies of equal opportunity are implemented and their effect on the participation of women in such fields. To achieve the aims of this study, factors such as observation of work environment, characteristics, family responsibilities, culture, and equal opportunity (bias) are discussed and analyzed. This study relies on the descriptive approach, where questionnaires, …

Japanese Gender Role Expectations And Attitudes: A Qualitative Analysis Of Gender Inequality, Melanie Belarmino, Melinda R. Roberts

Journal of International Women's Studies

Due to current technology and the third wave feminist movement, gender inequality in other countries now has a global, socially aware platform. However, due to non-reporting, the voices of women experiencing violence and inequality in Japan are largely unheard. The purpose of this qualitative study is to investigate the gender role expectations in Japan that lead to inequality and victimization inflicted on Japanese women. Data was obtained through interviews with all available and consenting bilingual speakers at a Japanese University, and findings reveal that there are very specific expectations for Japanese women in the home, at work, and in society. …

Nepal Himalaya: Women, Politics, And Administration, Tulasi Acharya

Journal of International Women's Studies

The paper is a qualitative analysis of the status of women and women in politics and administration in Nepal Himalaya. The paper reviews data on women in civil service and in administrative levels. Looking at women in Nepali politics, policy on women, and women in administration, the paper highlights some social and cultural issues that have “othered” women as the “second sex.” As the country is heading towards modernity, gender friendly approaches are being instituted. Although some data reflects the progress of women’s status and their increasing political and administrative participation, the data is insufficient to predict if there is …

Islamic Values In Elderly Care In Finland: The Perspective Of Muslim Women Caregivers, Shahnaj Begum, Marjaana Seppänen

Journal of International Women's Studies

In recent decades, care-providing services in Finland have engaged care professionals with diverse cultural backgrounds, including Islamic cultures. Muslim women who adhere strictly to Islamic values in such work sometimes find it difficult to cope with the practices at care service institutions. In this article, we consider the experiences of Muslim women care professionals in such work, an environment that entails multiple interactions at different levels, among themselves and with care receivers.

Development Paradoxes: Feminist Solidarity, Alternative Imaginaries And New Spaces, Elora Halim Chowdhury

Journal of International Women's Studies

In his seminal work Encountering Development: The Making and Unmaking of the Third World (1995), post-development scholar Arturo Escobar likens development to a chimera. My work builds on a sophisticated body of post-development and transnational feminist theory drawing on conceptions of the relationship of representations of development in the Third World to the interconnected webs of various transnational patriarchal and economic dominations that affect, and are affected by, the realities of marginalized communities in the Global South. In particular, I am concerned with how development discourses interlock with global systemic hierarchies of race, gender, class as well as structural oppressions, …

Rethinking Patriarchy, Culture And Masculinity: Transnational Narratives Of Gender Violence And Human Rights Advocacy, Elora Halim Chowdhury

Journal of International Women's Studies

In this paper, I argue that to truly understand the complexity and “high prevalence” of acid violence against women in Bangladesh, we must pay attention to the confluence of political, economic and historical forces that make certain social groups more vulnerable to such extreme violence and suffering. By tracing the life history narratives of survivors of gender-based violence, I hope to shed light that acid throwing—a form of gendered violence—has to be understood beyond a “culturalist” framework, which explains this phenomenon as a product of harmful patriarchal cultural practices, seemingly more prevalent in certain South Asian cultures. Rather, I argue, …

History, Organization And The Changing Culture Of Care: A Historical Analysis Of The Frontier Nursing Service, Edith West

Journal of International Women's Studies

Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the organizational shift at the Frontier Nursing Service from all female, nurse run and community-people focused to the corporate-consumer focus adopted everywhere else and the accompanying work environment issues this shift brought to the organization.

Background: Though it is not possible to isolate a single causative factor nursing’s history of cyclic ‘shortages’ as the problem is complex and interrelated, and there is no simple description in the available literature, there is agreement that the problem is having a negative impact on the current nursing practice environment, the retention of nurses, the …

Looking At Me, Are You? Social Status And The Veil, Angelika Böck

Journal of International Women's Studies

In this article I discuss the dialogical method which is used to study the idea of perception among individuals, especially to understand the question of perception toward the veil in Yemen in 2007. Furthermore I elaborate on my exploration of “portrayal” as an art form which lies at the basis of my approach. To be occupied with matters of the veil means to deal with questions of image and gaze. Therefore I also try to give a basic overview on this topic. The article ends with a short description of a corresponding experiment I carried out in Germany one year …