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“Always a double-edged sword”: How Women and Health Care Providers Navigate Issues of Contraception in Differing Senegalese Communities
Get PDFThis paper examines how women and health care providers in two distinct Senegalese settings—Dakar and Mouit, a village located within the Gandiol region-- navigate contraception as both a social and medical good. Contraception is an invaluable tool in terms of advancing women’s right to reproductive health, but major discrepancies in its usage exist across a variety of social lines in Senegal, including level of education, marital status, occupation, age, and living in a rural versus urban setting. What socially constructed thought processes and lived experiences contribute to these discrepancies? In a cultural context heavily based upon tradition and Islamic faith, and in a state still feeling the effects of colonialism, how do issues of contraception (both biomedical and ethnomedical) manifest in popular discourse and social understanding? These broad questions of course could never be fully answered over the limited course of this project. In an effort to scratch the surface, however, I sought to hear the narratives of Senegalese women pertaining to the different social systems around them and how they influence their attitudes and opinions about contraception. I conducted twenty structured interviews overall: in Dakar four with health care providers and six with women of the general public, and in Mouit three with health care providers and seven with women of the general public. I also spent time observing in health facilities in both environments to contextualize how health care functions at the service level in Senegal. I found that while very positive dialogues surrounding family planning and birth spacing using biomedical methods of contraception exist in Senegal, this mainstream discourse largely excludes an existing population of sexually active unmarried women as well as women whose husbands do not approve of family planning. Ethnomedical methods of contraception are known, but were not practiced by any individuals that I interviewed. Although these methods were reportedly less trusted and less practiced, for the most part they were also reported to have the same social determinants as biomedical methods—marriage, husband approval, and the desire to protect women from the medical and social consequences of pregnancy
Exploring Access to Portable Water and Sanitation Practices in a Post-Conflict Environment: The Case of Gulu District, Northern Uganda
Get PDFOver the course of 30 days of fieldwork in October and November of 2016, data was collected through interviews conducted with local government officials, researchers and academics, and village community members of Gulu District.
The aim of this study was to determine the extent to which agencies have improved water and sanitation in the region. The case study of Gulu utilized in-depth interviews with key informants, focus groups, and observations, and sought to determine who the local stakeholders in water and sanitation are, the water sources and sanitation facilities available and their uses, the perception local people have about their access to portable water and sanitation facilities, the effects the post-conflict environment has had on progress, and the gaps in services for availing portable water and sanitation. Care was taken to complete this research in accordance with research ethics expectations. Before beginning the study, the research proposal was approved by the local Research Review Board. Also, approval was sought and granted by the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology. Before conducting any interviews, a letter of introduction was written, as well as consent forms. The letter of introduction was used in cases where a bureaucratic government office was being approach in order to establish legitimacy. Further, consent forms were presented and signed before the start of each interview. In the case where the interviewee did not speak or read English, the consent forms were verbally translated by the translator, and the interviewee would give verbal consent with the translator signing the form as a witness.
The study found that while access to portable water sources and sanitation facilities has undeniably improved in the region, there are concerns with the quality of the facilities available and questions about whether or not the efforts made so far and the existing sources and facilities are able to be sustained- partly due to discrepancies in perceptions of who is responsible for operation and maintenance of them. What I feel can be done to address this would be for the local and national stakeholders to come together and spend some time planning an integrated and cohesive approach to align budgets and prioritize educating communities on how to properly manage and operate the facilities that they have been provided with so that they can be utilized in the most efficient and effective way. By spending more time and money on this aspect, they could, in the long term, reduce the amount of time and money spent on resource allocation and repairs, and the communities themselves could be more self-sufficient in terms of taking care of their basic needs
Las percepciones de las dinámicas de género a través de los niveles socioeconómicos de dos liceos de Santiago de Chile / 119/5000 Perceptions of dynamics Gender equality across socio-economic levels Of two high schools in Santiago de Chile
No full textLa siguiente investigación se enfoca en el tema de género en el sistema educativo chileno. El objetivo amplio de la investigación es comparar las percepciones de género y reproducciones de roles de género en las opiniones de estudiantes de dos liceos de diferentes niveles socioeconómicos en Santiago y analizar las diferencias. Los métodos de esta investigación incluyeron observación participante, entrevistas con estudiantes y profesores de dos diferentes liceos de Santiago (una municipal y una particular pagada). Los principales hallazgos rechazaron la hipótesis planteada; se encontró que la conciencia del tema es más presente en la escuela municipal, de bajos recursos económicos. Los resultados de la investigación son que los y las estudiantes de la escuela municipal saben más del tema, y también piensan más en maneras de cambiar las normas dañinas, que las chicas y los chicos en la otra escuela de muchos recursos económicos. El análisis de los resultados demuestra que las y los estudiantes del colegio particular pagado tienen el privilegio de no pensar en temas de cambios sociales, incluyendo género. Es decir, ellos y ellas viven en una realidad donde la estructura discriminadora de la sociedad chilena les beneficia, entonces la escuela que asisten no trata de instigar pensamientos desafiantes para que cambie la sociedad.
The following research focuses on the gender issue in the Chilean educational system. The broad objective of the research is to compare the perceptions of gender and reproductions of gender roles in the opinions of students from two high schools of different socioeconomic levels in Santiago and to analyze the differences. Methods of this research included participant observation, interviews with students and professors from two different high schools in Santiago (one municipal and one paid private). The main findings rejected the hypothesis; It was found that the awareness of the theme is more present in the municipal school, with low economic resources. The results of the research are that municipal school students know more about the subject, and also think more about ways to change harmful standards, than girls and boys in another school with many economic resources. The analysis of the results shows that the students of the private college paid have the privilege of not thinking about social change issues, including gender. That is, they live in a reality where the discriminating structure of Chilean society benefits them, so the school they attend does not try to instigate challenging thoughts to change society
Tomando en Cuenta: Perspectivas sobre las Tomas del Movimiento Estudiantil Chileno / Taking into consideration: Perspectives on the Tomas of the Chilean Student Movement
Get PDFHoy día, actores en el movimiento estudiantil de Chile utilizan varias formas de protesta para comunicar sus deseos e ideas. Entre ellos, la toma de la escuela chilena, durante la cual los estudiantes “ocupan” a su escuela por un periodo de tiempo, se ha convertido en una de las formas de protesta más comunes y emblemáticas del movimiento. Muchas tomas ofrecen un espacio seguro, fuera de las calles, donde los estudiantes pueden instigar un dialogo entre ellos y la administración sobre sus preocupaciones. Sin embargo, aunque las tomas seguidas producen resultados positivos para ambos lados, acusaciones de la pérdida de clase, de la falta de organización y de la violencia de parte de los estudiantes han producido una narrativa de delincuencia de parte de las autoridades y de los medios de comunicación. Aun así, los que participan en la toma igual tienen una perspectiva y razonamiento sobre lo que consta una toma que, aunque no siempre es reconocido por la sociedad, le da a las tomas un carácter de protesta legitima y necesaria.
Today, actors in the Chilean student movement use various forms of protest to communicate their wishes and ideas. Among them, the taking of the Chilean school, during which students occupy their school for a period of time, has become one of the most common and emblematic forms of protest of the movement. Many shots offer a safe space, off the streets, where students can instigate a dialogue between them and management over their concerns. However, while the shots taken together produce positive results for both sides, accusations of class loss, lack of organization and violence on the part of the students have produced a narrative of delinquency on the part of the authorities and the media Communication. Even so, those who participate in the equal take have a perspective and reasoning about what constitutes a take that, although not always recognized by society, gives the shots a character of legitimate and necessary protest
Resource Quality and Defense: Feeding Behaviors and Female Territoriality in Two Species of Tropical Hummingbird
Get PDFThe study Resource Quality and Defense: Feeding Behaviors and Female Territoriality in Two Species of Tropical Hummingbird investigates the feeding behaviors and territoriality of hummingbirds at a flowering shrub of the Gesneriaceae family, Besleria solanoides. Four 1.25-hour observation periods were completed each day, rotating between four different observation sites. During each observation period, the sugar concentration of nectar and number of flowers on each bush was measured, and each time a hummingbird entered the area the following data was recorded: species, sex, time of arrival, duration of visit, number of flowers probed, number of perches, duration of longest perches, any vocalizations and territorial behaviors. Two species of hummingbird fed at B. solanoides throughout this study: booted racket-tails (Ocreatus underwoodii) and violet-tailed sylphs (Aglaiocercus coelestis). The linear regression run between visitation frequency and number of flowers showed a significant, positive correlation, and the regression of visitation frequency and nectar sugar concentration was insignificant, showing that these species value quantity of flowers over quality of nectar at this particular resource. Very few male violet-tailed sylphs visited B. solanoides, but instead were seen feeding on inflorescences of other plants, possibly because B. solanoides was declining as a resource at time of the season. Unexpectedly, females of both species were predominantly the territorial individuals, and three individuals were distinguishable based on physical traits and perching locations. These three females visited their bush more times than all other visits combined, and exhibited territorial behaviors, lengthy perches, and vocalizations
Shelo yigamer l’olam: La construcción de identidades compuestas en la comunidad judía de Iquitos, Perú / Shelo yigamer l\u27olam: The construction of composite identities in the Jewish community of Iquitos, Peru
No full textEste informe trata de la comunidad judía en Iquitos, Loreto, Perú, y como compara al marco estándar de la identidad judía como diseñado por Simon Herman (1977) y Altman, Fine, Ritter, Inman, y Howard (2010). A través de observación a primera mano y entrevistas con una muestra de participantes en la comunidad organizada, analiza varias facetas de la identidad judía: etnia, religión, relaciones con la comunidad no-judía, nacionalidad, y sentimientos sobre el Estado de Israel. Este estudio de caso encuentra que la comunidad de Iquitos generalmente sigue ese marco con algunas diferencias claves, especialmente con referencia a la prominencia de la sinagoga central y actividad/práctica institucional, y la falta de una identidad nacional-judía, y una tasa inusualmente alta de emigración a Israel, estimulada por esa falta. Como resultado, la comunidad está rápidamente disminuyendo, dejando sólo un puñado de miembros principales, principalmente mayores, para mantener sus tradiciones e historia únicas. Como tal, espero que este estudio pueda preservar una instantánea de la vida judía en Iquitos y fomentar un mayor interés en la comunidad, dentro y fuera de las fronteras del Perú.
This project observes the Jewish community of Iquitos, Loreto, Peru, and its similarities to the standard framework of Jewish identity laid out by Simon Herman (1977) and Altman, Fine, Ritter, Inman, y Howard (2010). Through first-hand observation and semi-structured interviews with a sample population of the organized community, it analyzes various facets of Jewish identity: ethnicity, religion, relations with the non-Jewish community, nationality, and feelings on the State of Israel. This case study finds that the Iquitos community generally follows the aforementioned framework, with a few key differences, especially with reference to the prominent position of the central synagogue and institutional activity/praxis, and a lack of a cohesive Jewish-Peruvian identity, and an unusually high rate of emigration to Israel spurred by that lack. As a result, the community is rapidly dwindling, leaving only a handful of core members, primarily elders, to maintain its unique traditions and history. As such, I hope this study can preserve a snapshot of Jewish life in Iquitos and encourage further interest in the community, within and beyond the borders of Peru
Realizing Urban Water Pollution Impact In Melbourne, Australia Through Painting
Get PDFThroughout the month of November 2016, I undertook a creative environmental art project in Melbourne, Australia. I chose to create a water-soluble oil painting (dimensions 3 ft. x 4 ft.) that represents water pollution problems in the city of Melbourne, particularly in Port Phillip Bay. These problems include toxic stormwater runoff, plastics pollution and plastic nurdles, as well as nutrient buildup and algal overgrowth. The painting includes messages regarding sustainability; sustainable action limits the use of our natural resources so that humans can preserve the environment for future generations rather than degrade it. In the painting, I combine conceptual and compositional strategy with overt references to pollution problems in order to have viewers consider their own role in environmental destruction. The ultimate goal of this facilitated reflection was to inspire improved environmental action from the viewer.
As part of this endeavor, I conducted background research concerning the origins of environmental art, finding that environmental attitudes have been depicted in painting for hundreds of years. I also researched Australian environmental art and discovered many positive examples that exemplify art’s highly unique methods of provoking environmental understanding. Art’s ability to promote sustainability exists in its inherent psychological and emotional appeals. While many Melbourne water pollution initiatives exist, I created my painting assuming that the cause could still benefit from environmental art.
As part of my research, I interviewed two Australian environmental artists as part of my research, John Dahlsen and Debbie Symons. These conversations informed my artwork and gave insight into the world of professional environmental art. Additionally, with the assistance of Public Art Officer Georgia Rouette, I arranged to publicly display my painting along the St. Kilda Beach boardwalk. Throughout two days of public display, I collected observational data and conversational accounts regarding viewer response to my art. While it is impossible to state how many individuals actually changed their environmental actions after seeing my painting, the viewer response was positive and many people were able to see my work. Ultimately, I concluded that environmental art, including the piece that I produced, has an important role in the environmentalist movement. While educational in nature, environmental art often presents unattractive problems in a beautiful and approachable way. I believe that the aesthetics that I developed in my piece, as well as those found in other environmental artworks, spread knowledge and motivate change by challenging viewers to imagine environmental problems in a new way
THE INFLUENCE OF AJANTA ON INDIAN MODERN ART
Get PDFThe artwork of the Ajanta cave temples has had a major impact on the definition of Indian artistic identity and upon the modern art movement in India. This paper describes the history and construction of the caves and their specific stylistic and ideological influence of and interpretation by various key figures of the modern art movement. The first major projects to produce copies of the Ajanta frescoes (those by Major Robert Gill, John Griffiths and his students, and Lady Herringham and Abanindranath Tagore\u27s students) are surveyed and put in context. Various early art-historians and critics are examined with respect to their theories and thoughts about to Ajanta. They include early thinkers of the Bengal school such as E. B. Havell, Ananda K. Coomaraswamy, and Abanindranath, and further critics of the school, such as Amrita Sher-Gil
Local Flavors: A Look at Farm to Table in Samoa
Get PDFWith increased access to foreign markets, Samoa has become more dependent on food imports. Most of these products are packaged and preserved, and often lack nutritional benefits. Women in Business, a local organization, has developed a Farm to Table program to encourage buying local. The effectiveness of the program has not yet been determined, and this project seeks to gauge restaurant owners’ satisfaction with local food, as well as the challenges they face when buying local. Surveys were distributed to 53 restaurants in Apia, Samoa, at the consent of the restaurant managers, and eight surveys were conducted with various players in the local food system. Results were compared and analyzed, both quantitatively and qualitatively. The results of analyses show that restaurants source a good deal of food locally, often because of low price, freshness, and authyenticity [sic]. Challenges of consistency and quality remain an issue for locally-sourced food
Escaping the Concrete Jungle: An Exploration of Ecotourism Development in Dzongu, North Sikkim
Get PDFThe state of Sikkim in northeastern India is a place imbued with a sense of mystery. It is partially this spirit, as well as its pristine Himalayan landscapes and vibrant cultural diversity, that has established Sikkim as a major tourist destination in the region. In the Northern district of the state, the Dzongu reserve is inhabited by the indigenous Lepcha group, who hold the status of “Most Primitive Tribe”. Over the past decade, however, this primitive tribe has shown their strength in staging large-scale protests and hunger strikes in a movement against mega-hydropower development along the Teesta River. Employing their identity as indigenous environmentalists, the Lepcha have made a case for conserving their land and way of life from the modern forces of assimilation. The afterlife of this struggle has begun a conversation about what sustainable development can look like in a place like Dzongu. In this context, different stakeholders, including state-level NGOs and practitioners, as well as motivated local community members and organizations, have been developing various models of ecotourism. This study aims to understand the case of ecotourism development in Dzongu through exploring motivations, outcomes, and agency. Towards this end, I conducted personal interviews and participant observation among different stakeholders in Gangtok and Dzongu. My exploration seeks to find the meaning of ecotourism in the context of Sikkim, the motivation and goals for ecotourism development in Dzongu, the values informing these motivations, how ecotourism is currently operating to meet these goals, and the effects of ecotourism for the collective agency of its proponents in Dzongu. Ecotourism means different things to different stakeholders, and it is exactly these definitions in action that reveal the motivations, goals, and values behind them. The motivations I found were income generation, environmental and cultural conservation, and the sustainability of the anti-dam movement. Those models which promote the self-determination of the community create the most autonomy. Through this research, I intend to reveal a lay of the land which can spark questions for ecotourism practitioners and benefit future research