Status Of Girls Research Articles

Соматотипологические особенности вегетативной регуляции у девочек подросткового возраста г. Красноярска

Introduction. The decrease in physical health parameters of children and adolescents in our country justifies the need to develop programs aimed at correcting this situation, in particular, conducting research in the field of anthropology, studying the autonomic balance and the influence of the body’s individual morphological features on it. Aim. Identification of the relationship between autonomic status and morphofunctional parameters of the cardiovascular system depending on the somatotype in adolescent girls of the city of Krasnoyarsk. Materials and methods. The study involved 158 adolescent girls (from 13 to 15 years old) living in Krasnoyarsk. An anthropometric examination was carried out with the further determination of the somatotype according to the Rees-Eysenck body index. Some indicators of the cardiovascular system (systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP), heart rate (HR)) and the tone of the autonomic nervous system were assessed according to the Kerdo’s index. Results. According to the results of anthropometry, the participants were distributed as follows: ectomorphy – 65 people, mesomorphy – 51 people, endomorphy – 42 people. A statistically significant increase in SBP and DBP was found as body strength increased in all three groups. In ectomorphic body type girls, there was a decrease in SBP values in combination with higher HR. The predominance of sympathicotonia was found in the ectomorphy and endomorphy groups (65.2 and 52.8%, respectively). The largest number of girls with the excitation-inhibition balance of the autonomic nervous system was among mesomorphy (53.3%) and slightly less among endomophy girls (39.6%), both of these indicators were significantly higher than among the ectomorphic body type girls (30.4%). At the same time, in the latter, the parasympathicotonia predominates less often (4.3%) than in mesomorphy (6.7%) and endomorphy (7.5%) (p < 0.05). Conclusion. The obtained data on the difference in hemodynamic parameters and autonomic status in girls aged 13–15, depending on the body type, must be considered when choosing sports activities and realization of medical and preventive work in a secondary school.

Study of the impact of sports tourism on the level of physical condition of girls

The paper discusses the versatile influence of sports tourism lessons on the body of girls, the development of their physical abilities, and the formation of vital and motor skills. The possibility of controlling the effectiveness of the applied methods while preparing athletes is considered. The author pays attention to the typical features of the motor activity aimed at improving the functional state of the body, which may depend on the age and the level of the individual functional state of the athlete. Sports tourism activities contribute to the physical development of girls and increase their physical condition, which has a positive effect on their general development and health. The pedagogical test offered an opportunity to study the organization of training sessions in sport tourism for girls and to determine the possibility of its improvement and optimization. The author proposes an experimental methodology of training sessions in sports tourism for girls 16-17 years old in the youth tourism center “Edelweiss” (Togliatti, Russia). During the pedagogical experiment, competitions between the control and experimental groups in the distance walking and orienteering were conducted.

To Estimate the Level of Awareness of Contraception amongst the Teenage Girls

“What is contraception?”
 Contraception is the method for birth control which helps to prevent unwanted pregnancies. There are so many methods of contraception including long acting reversible methods, barrier methods, hormonal methods, lactational amenorrhea method, fertility awareness based methods, emergency contraceptives, etc.
 In present decade, the knowledge of contraception in teenage girls is mandatory as the involvement of teenagers in sexual activities is increasing day by day. The reasons can be many such as social media, electronic gadgets, peer pressure, etc. There are so many studies that have shown that knowledge of contraceptives, especially among the teenage girls in universities remains limited and the rate of sexual activity before marriage, and unwanted pregnancies, illegal abortions remains higher among college going students. It leads to various health conditions in girls as well as mental and social disturbances in both girls and boys. There is a need to make them aware about the consequences they have to face after engaging in sexual activities and ending up with teenage pregnancies, unwanted pregnancies and unsafe abortions.
 Current study aimed to assess the awareness of contraceptives, sexual behavior, and factors associated with contraceptives use among female undergraduate students as well as girls who are illiterate in Wardha region, Maharashtra.
 Aim: ‘The study was conducted to estimate the level of awareness of contraception amongst the teenage girls’.
 Objectives:
 
 To provide proper sex education to the teenagers.
 To aware teenagers about complications of teenage pregnancies.
 To acknowledge them about sexual activities and their consequences.
 To acknowledge them about contraceptives and their proper uses. 
 
 Materials and Methods: Sawangi, Wardha. Total study participants were 140 girls. One group of 70 girls, age between 13 years to 16 years, half of them from school located in Wardha and half of them from rural area around the Wardha. Another group of 70 girls belongs to 17 years to 19 years, half of them from school and half from rural area. The participants were on voluntary basis. The girls belong rural area that had never been to the school. None of them were given questionnaire to fill. Answers were recorded on the questionnaire by the social worker who was assigned the job. Adequate time was given to each adolescent to answer the questions asked. The data thus collected was analyzed. Prior permission and consent were taken from the school Principal and the parents.
 Conclusion: The present study concludes that there should be sensitization of teenage girls about contraception and various contraceptive methods. It will help them to prevent the unwanted pregnancies and it adverse outcomes of abortions which is beneficial to maintain their further reproductive life.

Marriage Experience from the Girl’s Perspective: A Scoping Review

Background: Child marriage is a marriage that is conducted formally or informally by spouses or with one of the spouses aged 18. Child marriage is a phenomenon that involves socio-cultural elements thus many factors influence it. Girls are 3 times more likely to experience child marriage than boys. Various conditions that occur in child marriage have generated interest in seeing a broader view of how married girls view their married life. Objective: This review was conducted to explore research findings related to the experiences of girls who were married under 18 years of age so that it could be used as an illustration to see the condition of girls in child marriage life. Methods: This review used three databases PubMed, ProQuest, and EbscoHost. The search for articles used main keywords, namely "child marriage", "women experience", and "marriage life" combined with helper keywords. The articles were full-text, in English, not limited by year and country, and discussed child marriage from a woman's perspective. Results: This review was done on 10 articles that were screened and analyzed out of 2259 articles. All articles used a qualitative method and were originated from Malaysia (2 articles), Pakistan (2 articles), Iran (2 articles), United States, Morocco, Jordan, and Israel. The total participants were 187 people from all articles. The causes of marriage in girls were poverty, prevention of premarital sex, adolescent pregnancy solutions, and personal desires of the girls. The state of marriage was seen from self-actualization and pressures on the role of girls in married life. Conclusion: This review summarized the reasons for marriage before the age of 18 were due to poverty factors, the avoidance of premarital sex, teenage pregnancy solutions and the willingness of girls themselves to marry. This review also summarized the situation of girls in child marriages who were unable to be self-reliant and were under pressure to perform their position in the household. Child marriage also caused new issues in the lives of girls, hence it was necessary to consider getting married at the age of under 18 years.

Reputational Status Dynamics from a Mixed Methods Perspective: Coolness and Popularity in a Hungarian Primary School Sample

The paper investigates reputational status dynamics (coolness and popularity) in a Hungarian primary school sample. The data derives from an emergent mixed methods research study, where one wave of a panel data collection ( N = 754) was complemented with focus group interviews ( N = 144) among sixth grade students (age 12–13). The quantitative analysis applied multilevel regression models, while the qualitative part relied on thematic analysis. Our results, mostly in line with the international literature, underlined the importance of athletic abilities, verbal aggression, and physical appearance, while some interesting gendered and ethnic patterns also emerged. For instance, verbal aggression was associated with status for girls and non-Roma boys, while physical aggression was only associated with status for Roma girls. The novelty of the research study lies in the mixed approach, while the paper also contributes to our knowledge about status dynamics in the Hungarian, and Eastern European, context.

Kayayei: A Consequence of Inadequate Family Support and Government Policy Failure

This paper focuses primarily on the current conditions of girls engaged in the ‘Kaya’ business in commercial markets in urban areas in Ghana. The paperaims at establishing the failure of the family and government in addressing the ‘kayayie’ phenomenon in Ghana. The specific objectives are to find the causes, consequences, and attempts made by government to address the phenomenon, and the way forward. The methodology for writing this paper is essentially that of a desk review of available literature and information from the Ministry of Gender Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP), supplemented with academic materials and personal observations. The paper poses the question: why has the family and government failed to address the ‘kayayei’ phenomenon in Ghana? It is positioned on Everett Lee’s Push and Push Model (1960) which explains migration as having factors that either push or pull individuals to move out of places of origin. A major finding of this paper is that budget challenges affect the government’s capacity to provide funds and sustain projects aimed at improving the welfare of kayayei. The paper does not only recommend that issues relating to ‘Kayayei’ should be prioritised but also that a national data collection exercise be embarked upon to collect accurate figures to enable government take informed decisions, and to enhance monitoring and evaluation.

The relationship between maternal vitamin D level with infants’ birth-weight, height and head circumference at birth

Introduction: Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency has been reported from all over the world since lower levels of vitamin D has been one of word’s problem in the 21st century; especially pregnant women are the most prominent one. Objectives: This study aims to investigate the relationship between mothers’ vitamin D level with infants’ birth-weight and head circumference. Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the department of obstetrics and gynecology of Akbarabadi hospital during 2017-2018. Regarding two groups, infants’ three main characteristics including their weight, head circumference and height were studied. Results: The mean blood levels of vitamin D in mothers with normal-born neonates were 15.23 ± 7.14 (ng/ mL) and in the mothers who gave birth to low-birth weight were 10.02 ± 8.06 (ng/mL), which was significantly lower than the mothers of normal-weight infants (P=0.018). The mean blood levels of vitamin D in mothers who gave birth to a normal head circumference neonate were 16.07 ± 8.1 (ng/mL) and in mothers with infants’ head circumference of less than 33 cm, was 9.87 ± 7.57 (ng/mL), which was significantly lower from mothers of normal-head circumference infants (P=0.007). The serum levels of vitamin D in mothers with normal-height infants were 14.74 ± 7.52 (ng/mL) and in the mothers with a height of less than 47 cm were 15.17 ± 7.91 (ng/mL), that does not suggest any significant difference (P=0.341). The mean serum vitamin D level in mothers who had normal vaginal delivery was lower than those with cesarean delivery, however there was no significant difference (P=0.174). Conclusion: Nutrition improvement and prescribing vitamin D supplements can positively be effective in the way of curbing low-birth weight infants. Moreover, Exposure to sunlight and letting rays strike skin is essential for maintaining a healthy vitamin D status for girls and women.

The Status of Girls' Education in Jharkhand

Article 14 of the Constitution of India states that “The State shall not deny to any person equality before the law or the equal protection of the laws within the territory of India.” but when it comes to women in India, it is a well-established fact that they have always faced the wrath of discrimination. The relevant point here is, the gender gap created in the Indian Society is due to gender discrimination faced by women. The gender gap in literacy and education is an important dimension in gender inequality, and it is contingent on socio, cultural, and economic factors. The levels of hardship faced by women are further exacerbated and they become even more vulnerable when one kind of discrimination (gender in this particular instance) adds up with the other, like discrimination based on caste, class, religion, etc. According to the Census Report of 2011, Jharkhand has a considerable number of tribals, i.e. 26% of the total population of the state (Office of the Registrar General, India). The occupation of a majority of tribal people is agriculture, whose productivity is generally low, therefore most of the tribal girls contribute to the family income by participating in the family occupation and by also engaging in domestic chores. Since a high proportion of them engage in survival tasks, many of them are prevented from enrolling in schools (NSSO, 1990). According to the Jharkhand Economic Survey conducted in 2015-16, the enrolment of girl students at primary and upper primary levels was found to be 50%. Moreover, female literacy in urban areas was 77.5 per cent in comparison to about 55.2 per cent in rural areas. Further, Jharkhand has the highest dropout rate for school children in India (only 30 out of 100 finish school). Dropout rates among Adivasis are the highest among all communities. On the contrary, Jharkhand adopted the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act in 2011 by specifying its own rules and regulations extracted from the original version of the act passed by the parliament. Article 45 of the constitution provides that, “The State shall endeavour to provide, within a period of ten years from the commencement of this Constitution, for free and compulsory education for all children until they complete the age of fourteen years.” The researcher, therefore, considering the aforementioned information would like to research on the status of girls’ primary education in Jharkhand.

The health of women and girls released from prison - findings from Australia and internationally

Abstract Women and girls involved in the criminal justice system experience a higher burden of morbidity than their justice-involved male counterparts and women in the general population. In addition, women with a history of incarceration are more likely than men with a history of incarceration to be exposed to poor social and health circumstances. While both justice-involved men and women have an increased risk of death compared to their counterparts in the general population, justice-involved women experience a greater elevation in risk. Understanding and addressing the health and social needs of women leaving prison is critically important to address high rates of preventable mortality, and to design appropriate gender-sensitive transitional support. This presentation will first briefly summarise the findings of a scoping review which reported on the health status of girls and young women in detention, published in the Lancet Public Health earlier this year. It will then summarise findings from a global systematic review and meta-analysis on the health of women involved in the criminal justice system, describing what is known about their physical health, mental health and health service use. Finally, this presentation will describe results from a novel prospective cohort study from Australia on differences between women and men in patterns, characteristics and predictors of ambulance and emergency department presentations, describing the implications of these findings in the context of a growing need for evidence-based and gender-sensitive transitional support planning.

Association between Bone Turnover Markers, Leptin, and Nutritional Status in Girls with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS).

The link between scoliotic deformity and bone metabolism in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) has not been well researched. Moreover, the data concerning the cross-talk between fat tissue content/hormonal activity and bone markers in this group of patients are lacking. The aim of the study was to assess whether there exists a significant relationship between the severity of AIS and bone turnover markers and leptin levels. The study group was consisted of 77 AIS girls, aged 14.7 ± 2.17 years. Scoliotic curve severity assessed by Cobb’s angle was categorized as mild (10–19°), moderate (20–39°), or severe (≥40°). Corrected height, weight, and waist and hip circumferences were measured and body mass index (BMI), corrected height Z-score, BMI Z-score, and waist/height ratio (WHtR) were calculated for the entire group. Body composition parameters: fat mass (FAT), fat-free mass (FFM), and predicted muscle mass (PMM) were determined using a bioelectrical impedance analyzer. Bone turnover markers (osteocalcin (OC) and amino terminal of collagen cross-links (NTx) and leptin levels were assessed in serum. Multiple regression analysis showed that, OC, NTx (negatively with p < 0.05), and leptin (positively with p < 0.01) were significantly associated with curve severity in AIS girls. Moreover, Cobb’s angle was positively correlated with W/HtR (p < 0.01) and FAT (p < 0.05). One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed significant differences in leptin (p < 0.05 vs. mild only), OC (p < 0.05 vs. mild and moderate), and W/HtR (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05 vs. mild and moderate, respectively) between the three AIS severity subgroups. OC was significantly lower in the severe AIS subgroup, while leptin and W/HtR were significantly higher. Significant correlations between leptin and anthropometrical parameters as BMI z-score and W/HtR were shown. Leptin level correlated also significantly with BMI z score (p < 0.001), W/HtR (p < 0.0001), and body composition parameters (p < 0.000001). Moreover, there was a significant negative correlation between NTx and leptin level (p < 0.05). Bone metabolism in AIS girls seems to be altered and significantly related to the scoliotic curve severity. Leptin may be a crucial link in the cross-talk between bone turnover and body composition in this group of patients. Further studies concerning interrelationship between nutritional status and bone metabolism in patients with AIS are warranted.

Sex differences in child health and healthcare: A reappraisal for India

India has an unenviable reputation as one of the world’s most gender disparate countries. Previous studies of sex bias in childhood have shown large differences between Indian boys and girls in immunization and curative healthcare, but little difference in health status as indicated by anaemia and stunting. India has changed rapidly in past decades, hence we reappraise the situation with the National Family Health Survey-4 (2015–16). We found no evidence of sex differentials in immunization coverage but a small degree of discrimination in favour of boys in medical treatment for common symptoms of infection. This discrimination was no greater in the North and Central regions of India, where severe excess mortality among female children persists. Sex differences in anaemia and stunting were small, with no regional pattern. We found no evidence that healthcare or health status of girls was influenced by the presence of other daughters in the family.

GIRL’S EDUCATION IN TURKEY: AN ANALYSIS OF EDUCATION POLICIES FROM A FEMINIST PERSPECTIVE

&lt;p&gt;In this study, I aim to provide an analysis of gender equality in the Turkish education system by looking at policies and their outcomes on girl’s schooling. My goal is to demonstrate the ways educational policies have been complicit in reproducing inequality and difference between the sexes by examining what issues regarding education and gender have become a part of public discourse, and which issues have not. The investigation of the role of the state in contributing to gendered outcomes in education is operationalized by two data gathering processes. The first is document analysis of policy documents which are the Article 42. Of the Constitution, Basic Law of National Education. Law 1739, and Basic Education Reform Act. No. 4306. The second is the collection of educational statistics and documents that would shed light to the condition of girls’ education in Turkey. The data draws on policies directly related to education to understand how gender equality is conceptualized. The central finding of the study is that the educational policies and practices in Turkey are based on the premises of “formal equality” and “meritocracy” which aims to provide the same opportunities to every member of society. However, the functional view of schooling based on the concepts of “formal equality” and “meritocracy” fosters the belief that males and females are benefitting equally and serve to mask the inequitable distribution of knowledge and skills between men and women. Therefore, educational policies continue to be gender-neutral, far from challenging the gender dynamics that discriminate against girls and women. Article 42. of the Constitution, the Basic Law of National Education. Law 1739., the Basic Education Reform Act. No. 4306 and its extension, 4+Reform, focuses on the expansion and improvement of primary and secondary education, but does not carry any special measures to change the structures and relations that discriminate against girls. No national policies to counter the impact of negative socialization by curriculum and textbook revision have been adopted. Moreover, high female attrition rates especially in the underdeveloped regions of Turkey continue to exist. Gender-streaming is still apparent in the program choices made in vocational and higher education. Turkey depends on macro education policies without any gender differentiation to ensure educational equality.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt; Article visualizations:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;img src="/-counters-/edu_01/0661/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Gender Differences in Postural Stability among 13-Year-Old Alpine Skiers.

This experiment examined changes in body sway after Wingate test (WAnT) in 19 adolescents practicing alpine skiing, subjected to the same type of training load for 4–5 years (10 girls and nine boys). The postural examinations were performed with eyes open (EO), eyes closed (EC), and sway reverenced vision (SRV) in the medial-lateral (ML) and anterior-posterior (AP) planes. The displacement of center of foot pressure (CoP), range of sway (RS), mean sway velocity (MV), way length, and surface area were measured in bipedal upright stance before and after the WAnT to assess the influence of fatigue on postural balance. There were no significant differences in WAnT parameters between girls and boys. Relative peak power (RPP), relative total work (RWtot) were (girls vs. boys) 8.89 ± 0.70 vs. 9.57 ± 1.22 W/kg, p < 0.05 and 227.91 ± 14.98 vs. 243.22 ± 30.24 W/kg, p < 0.05 respectively. The fatigue index (FI) was also on similar level in both genders; however, blood lactate concentration (BLa) was significantly higher in boys (10.35 ± 1.16 mM) than in girls (8.67 ± 1.35 mM) p = 0.007. In the EO examination, statistically significant differences between resting and fatigue conditions in the whole group and after the division into girls and boys were found. In fatigue conditions, significant gender differences were noted for measurements in the ML plane (sway path and RS) and RS in the AP plane. Comparison of the three conditions shows differences between EO vs. EC and SRV in AP plane measured parameters, and for RS in ML plane in rest condition in girls. The strong correlations between FI and CoP parameters mainly in ML plane in the whole group for all examination conditions were noted. By genders, mainly RS in ML plane strongly correlates with FI (r > 0.7). No correlation was found between BLa and CoP parameters (p > 0.06). The presented results indicate that subjecting adolescents of both genders to the same training may reduce gender differences in the postural balance ability at rest but not in fatigue conditions and that girls are significantly superior in postural balance in the ML plane than boys. It was also shown that too little or too much information may be destructive to postural balance in young adolescents.

Cancer is a word, not what defines you: Women with breast cancer

Cancer may be a disease that involves the abnormal cell growth which originates especially tissues and organs of the body and metastasizes to other parts of the body. Cancer are often a results of several factors, like nutrition, environment, and physical activity, also as genetics. There are various sorts of cancer counting on their origin and organ they affect. carcinoma is that the top cancer in women worldwide and is increasing particularly in developing countries where the bulk of cases are diagnosed in late stages. Objective: This meta?analysis was conducted to research the impact of carcinoma on the mental and physical health status of girls. Methodology: The PRISMA tips for reportage of systematic reviews and meta-analyses were followed. An electronic search was administered in several health-related databases from 2000 to December 2015 using relevant search terms. Full-text, peer-reviewed articles in English those which include mental and physical status in longitudinal studies were considered for inclusion within the study. Results: a complete of 38 studies were included. Relevant data was gathered from 7896 samples with a mean age of fifty.71 years. Baseline assessment was done after diagnosis/surgery within the majority of the studies (n=32, 84.21%). The baseline assessment was done before diagnosis and after the diagnosis (29%). the bulk of studies focused on just one indicator of psychological state (n=28, 73.68%). Very commonly investigated studies were wont to assess mental and physical health status to carcinoma. Quality of Life, assessed in (n=15) studies, was the foremost common psychological outcome and was measured most frequently with the planet Health Organization Quality of Life. The second most ordinarily measured outcome was psychological distress (n=11). Results revealed that disease severity with metastatic disease were (43%), patients with nonmetastatic disease (27%), the remaining (30%) didn't specify metastatic status. The (45%) in

Mary Edwards Walker: military surgeon who wore the trousers

Mary Edwards Walker was a highly principled and passionate reformer who refused to recognise the oppressive social conventions of 19th-century America. At the time, women's educational opportunities were limited and hard to access, their legal status inferior to that of men, and their right to vote denied. Fashion dictated that they lace themselves into tight corsets under voluminous skirts and petticoats that compromised their health and freedom of movement. She would have none of it. Qualifying as a doctor in 1855—only 6 years after the first woman doctor in the USA, Elizabeth Blackwell—Walker campaigned for dress reform and wore trousers, sometimes under knee-length skirts, throughout her adult life. “The greatest sorrows from which women suffer today”, she wrote, “are those physical, moral and mental ones, that are caused by their unhygienic manner of dressing!” Walker's feminism extended to the battlefield: she served as a military surgeon in the American Civil War and received the Medal of Honor. Women making medical history: introducing A Woman's PlaceIn December, 2017, The Lancet issued a call for papers for its special theme issue on women in science, medicine, and global health .1 The Comment outlined the gender inequalities in medicine that still persist, long after many overt barriers to women's participation have fallen. While that theme issue will be forward-looking, I believe we can also gain insights from looking to the past for examples of women who have made their mark against the odds, and by asking what it was about their particular circumstances that enabled them to do so. Full-Text PDF Rukhmabai: doctor and social reformerStraddling a faultline between tradition and progressive education in 19th-century British India, Rukhmabai forced legislators to reconsider laws on the status of girls, and went on to forge her own career as a doctor—one of the first Indian women to practise in her country. She was quick to generalise her own experience of injustice as a Hindu woman to the predicament of all her fellow countrywomen, and was an outspoken social reformer. Full-Text PDF

Úlceras vulvares agudas en adolescentes, reporte de una serie de casos clínicos

Introduction: genital ulcers are characterized by great clinical and etiological heterogeneity. They may correspond to infectious or non-infectious skin or systemic pathologies. Lipschutz ulcer and Behcet disease stand out among non-infectious conditions. Objective: to describe four clinical cases of adolescents with non-infectious severe vulvar ulcers hospitalized in two institutions of the national integrated health system in Montevideo, with the purpose of providing professionals with tools for the adequate diagnostic and therapeutic approach. Discussion: a detailed anamnesis questionnaire and a thorough physical examination are of the essence for an adequate diagnostic and therapeutic approach. The clinical analysis should include considering the patient’s age, initiation of sexual intercourse, the number, topography and characteristics of the ulcers including finding out whether there is pain or not, as well as the association of systemic manifestations. It is important to learn about this rather unusual condition in girls and adolescents, whose diagnostic and therapeutic approach depends on the etiological orientation based on well-defined epidemiological and clinical criteria. This will contribute to improving the quality of assistance and minimizing biological and psychological effects.

Rukhmabai: doctor and social reformer

Straddling a faultline between tradition and progressive education in 19th-century British India, Rukhmabai forced legislators to reconsider laws on the status of girls, and went on to forge her own career as a doctor—one of the first Indian women to practise in her country. She was quick to generalise her own experience of injustice as a Hindu woman to the predicament of all her fellow countrywomen, and was an outspoken social reformer.

Relationality, religion and resistance: teenage girlhood and sexual agency in Tanzania

Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork in rural Tanzania, this paper shows that teenage girls’ opportunities for sexual agency are shaped through assemblages of normative girlhood and appropriate sexuality. Whilst girls themselves negotiate and resist the disempowering affects of such assemblages, as shown through vignettes which illustrate the experiences of three girls who were involved in the education project where fieldwork took place, their capacity to do so is linked to the broader networks of relationships within which girls were situated. Taking friendships and religious affiliation as examples, I show how relationships can generate the conditions for girls to resist assemblages of norms and expectations that structure sexuality and girlhood - but may also reinforce them. This paper counters prevailing narratives on teenage girls’ sexual agency in developing countries as inherently lacking, requiring external recuperation in the form of education and ‘empowerment’, and explores the implications of a relational framing for interventions which seek to genuinely expand girls’ sexual agency.

A Family in Iran: Women Teachers, Minority Integration, and Family Networks in the Jewish Schools of the Alliance Israélite Universelle in Iran, 1900–1950

ABSTRACTThe Alliance Israélite Universelle, an international Jewish educational philanthropy based in Paris, began to establish modern, secularized schools for girls and boys in North Africa, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe in 1862. The first school was established in Iran in 1898. The Alliance saw itself as addressing the big questions of its time that faced Jews: antisemitism, poverty, and perceived backwardness. It sought to promote the integration of Jews as well as to advance the status of girls through educating them and opposing child marriage. This article examines the integration of Iranian Jews and the professionalization of women in Iran in the first half of the twentieth century, using the Alliance’s Jewish female school directors as a case study. It argues that family relationships and networks played a critical role in facilitating both of these modernizing processes.

The environment contribution to gender differences in childhood obesity and organized sports engagement.

This study aims to analyze gender-specific associations between sports activity outside of school and obesity, observing to what extent the local built environment contributes to the patterns found. A total of 2253 children aged 6.0-11.0 years were assessed: 49.3% girls and 50.7% boys. Children's weight and height were measured, age and sex-specific BMI cut-off points were used to define normal vs overweight/obesity. Children's organized sports (OS) activity was assessed by questionnaire, and local facilities for children's engagement in OS were analyzed. Logistic regression models were computed, adjusted for confounding variables. Results showed greater overweight and obesity (25.1% vs 20.1%) and lower OS engagement (66.5% vs 73.8%) in girls as well as greater impact of OS engagement on weight status in girls (OR for having a normal weight = 1.434 in girls vs 1.043 in boys). Additionally, opportunities to engage in OS were scarce for girls. The gender gap in children's weight status and OS engagement might be enhanced by an environmental mismatch that undermines girls' opportunities to play sports. There should be more opportunities for girls to engage in their favorite sports as a means to tackle the obesity epidemic and to promote gender equality.