Women Folks Research Articles

Investigating Factors Causing Sectarian Militancy and Its Association with Rural Women Sufferings

The study titled “Investigating factors causing sectarian militancy and its association with rural women suffering” was carried out in tribal district Kurram erstwhile known as Kurram Agency of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) of Pakistan. A proportionally determined sample size of 335 female respondents was randomly selected within the age group of 30 years and above. The collected data was quantitatively analyzed and presented with the help of frequencies and percentages. The study concluded that sectarian militancy has devastating effects on rural women in terms of getting educations, access to health care facilities and administrative domains, social capital and networking, and political freedom. The prevalence of long standing sectarian tendencies and subsequent violence in the area, also contributed towards women increasing economic dependency on men. The study further concluded that women focused social institutions were socially disintegrated in terms of its physical infrastructure and deliverance due to sectarian conflicts. Likely, it’s also resulted into weakened control of women over livelihood, while on the other hand; women opt for secular ideologies in migrated areas after their displacement from home towns. To overcome with women sufferings in war effected areas, strict regulations need to be implemented especially targeting women folks, introduction of consistent efforts to challenge the prevailing patriarchal social structure, creation of awareness among the local leaders about gender sensitivity and punishing anti-state actors like Taliban and Zainebiyoun etc., were forwarded some of the recommendations in light of the study results.

A STUDY ON CULTURAL & INDIGENOUS FISHERY BUSINESS IN BATARDRAVA REGION OF NOGAON DISTRICT OF ASSAM, INDIA

The fishery sector plays an important role in sphere of culture specific business of people of Assam. The fishing industry includes any industry or activity concerned with taking, culturing processing, preserving storing, transporting marketing or selling fish products. Fishes are important element of Assamese life and culture.Those play a pivotal role in the socio-economic development and employment generation in Assam. This study aims to discuss socio-economic profile of indigenous fish cultivators, the different type of livelihood associated with it and the challenges faced by them. The study was conducted in Rowmari, Katahguri, Balijan, TunukaBori, Tuktuki and Silpukhuri villages which are in Batadrava block under Nagaon district.Primary data are collected from 60 respondents through well-structured schedule.The major findings were low literacy rates, Less technical exposure and non- participation of women folks. Further challenges and suggestions are discussed.

The power of the unseen hands: unravelling the contributions of women in shaping nations

Women are the backbone of nation’s building. They are the base of nation’s economy. The genuine technique to measure the achievement of a country development is to dig out the success of women. The important role of a woman throughout the history has endured the stability, progress and long-term development of nations. Indian women have taken a key role in every discipline of life like in nation building, empowering the society, leading the nation on the development era and leading the country in the drive cleanliness. Women played their roles with utmost excellence and found themselves in very significant positions. Women hold 40 percent of the population in India. If the women folks are given a chance to work for the nation building through entrepreneurship they would certainly work wonders since women are very dedicated, sincere and hard working. Many Indian women have shown themselves as dynamic, vibrant and sincere in many disciplines.

Women Empowerment Impact through Nagaland State Rural Livelihood Mission Scheme in Dimapur District of Nagaland

Background: Nagaland being NRLM implementing agency and provide guidance to them nurturing till there is visible economic and social upliftment among the rural women folks were highlighted. 66.70 per cent were in high, followed by 33.30 per cent in medium category. Methods: The present research investigation was carried out during the agricultural year 2018-20 with a total of 120 respondents were selected by following purposely stratified simple random technique. Result: The impact of NSRLM among the beneficiaries in terms of marketing skills and technical skills to a great extent. The beneficiaries of NSRLM have faced various problems and challenges situations viz; lack of coordination followed by lack of knowledge.

(Re)Examining Womanism in Phoebe Jatau’s The Hound

Over the years, there has been a proliferation of writing by women authors in Northern Nigeria, central to their concern, is negotiating between what culture is and is not, especially as it relates to the women folks. With literature’s overwhelming role, in its stance as the mirror of the society, is the forceps with which one can gather the customs, believes, thoughts and value systems of a people, thus; learning about how their culture(s), could make or mar them. This explains why the Northern Nigerian woman as a prototype of the African woman has her role(s) defined by history, religion and cultural practices. In light of the foregoing, this paper finds that, this phenomenon called culture (in all its social forms, material traits of a racial, religious or social group) with its cancerous fangs on the livelihood of the average African woman, has today been reconfigured by the Womanist strand of feminism to the extent its impact are both felt and visible. Thus; this paper unknots the nitty-gritties of Africans perception of womanhood by the males and how the woman also sees herself and/or expects to be seen with particular focus on Phoebe Jatau’s The Hound. By this, it shows that contemporary female writers in Northern Nigeria and Africa at large have both re-evaluated themselves and are akin to the significance of their place, thus; crushing the patriarchal hold of their individual societies on them, and in the long run, assuaging their worth as less than humans.

যৌন হয়রানি ও ইসলামী আইনে-এর প্রতিকার : বাংলাদেশ পরিপ্রেক্ষিত |Sexual Harassment and Its Remedies in Islamic Law : Bangladesh Perspective

Islam, as an ideology, philosophy and complete code of life, ensures the freedom and security of mankind. It provides the well-defined guidelines to keep the humanity pure and protected from all kinds of moral degradation and sins and impurity. A person with good morals can never harm others. The main goal of Islam is to build an ideal society by improving the moral character of mankind. In Islam, all forms of unregulated sexual behavior including extramarital sex, homosexuality, sexual harassment, rape, have been declared completely prohibited. Adultery and rape are ugly vices in any social life. Islamic discipline is the best way to prevent uncontrolled sexual behavior. This article attempts to prove with the Qur’an and Sunnah based evidences and logical discussion that true peace lies in the proper maintenance of Islam. The article also proves that the safety of women folks is a highly important issue in the concerned Islamic law as a whole. Descriptive, analytical and comparative methods have been followed in preparing the article.

Turbaning of Amina Yusuf Garba as Tambarar Binji: A Gender Narrative in Nigeria

The paper examines the epic turbaning of Amina Yusuf Garba as Tambarar Binji and the promises it holds for women folks in the Muslim north and non-Muslim women in Nigeria. It notes that the event which occurred on the 26th February 2022 was first of its kinds in the recent history of northern Nigeria and the Sokoto caliphate in particular. Generally and traditionally, women even before the Jihad of 1804 are perceived to be held to utmost seclusion which is to have very serious effect on the ambitious few. However, Amina’s experience in recognition of her contributions to girl child education and the general development of her people appears to drawn a new curtain that society now appreciates and recognizes outstanding personalities irrespective of religion and sex. The paper therefore, concludes by charging women in the north and beyond to explore and grab the opportunities brought about by the event in the struggle for the changing plight of female.

Women in Biodiversity Conservation: It’s Impact to Community

Barangay San Isidro is an island community in the municipality of Lavezares with roughly 1000 residents. Fishing is the main source of living of the people. Few individuals resort to upland farming, while others subsist on rock scrapings from the mountain and bought from them by local construction companies in the mainland. Most of the women in the community do not have job. Healthcare services are inaccessible. Despite all odds the weather brings, the ill and the dying must cross the sea for medical assistance. Moreover, potable water is scarce with the well on top of the hill as the only water source of the community. Such conditions make Barangay San Isidro among the poorest Barangays of Northern Samar. The women supported with the knowledge in preparing the nursery for the propagation of mangrove. The mangrove seedlings produced and sold to Department of Environment and Natural Resources, DENR, and the Department of Tourism, DOT, with the coordination of Local Government Units as well as the local women folks in the plantation of the mangroves.
 To address the most pressing problems faced by the community, trainings and seminars were conducted to increase the people’s awareness and to capacitate the community in terms of organizational development and livelihood. Just like the experiences of other development practitioners, the passive and unreceptive attitudes of the people were observed. It took some time for the women to realize that helping each other would help them alleviate their condition. The academe being the prime mover and organizer of development programs for the women continued to inspire them and found new hope for and from the women. They were taught about the value of savings, self-reliance and commitment as very important factors for their success. They were motivated to carry out a microfinance project from a “piso-piso” savings for the future. Driven by their willingness to uplift their lives from poverty, the “piso” per day contribution raised to 20 pesos each week. The group also increased in number as weekly meetings were conducted, which led to the realization of their vision, which became clearer as they got involved in the program.
 This is where the Womens’ Association for Inter-Island Development or WAIID was born. Because of their strong commitment to help themselves and others, they continued their efforts through the help of different agencies both Government Organizations and Non-Government Organizations to finance their projects and activities. At present, WAIID has a total of P70,000 assets coming from their weekly contribution. The organization is able to lend 4000 to 5000 pesos to a member every week for putting up small businesses, such as sari-sari store and food vending, which support the needs of their families. On top of meeting the daily needs of their families, their aspirations levelled up as well. They aspired of sending their children to school, which has driven them to fund a scholarship program for their kids. Their livelihood came in varied means; they also sold mangrove propagules for planting projects. The men likewise, helped by means of performing heavy tasks which the women were limited at doing, such as in the crab-fattening farm. Monthly livelihood trainings and seminars were conducted by different agencies knowing the womens’ group commitment and activities reflective of good governance.
 The effort did not end there. The island’s rich Lalaguna mangrove eco-park, which puts the island in the map of stunning ecotourism destinations in the province, offers a great potential for future livelihood and ecotourism program of the community. The site will be in the roster with the majestic rock formations of Biri Island in tour packages which are in the offing. Managed by the WAIID women, a pavilion built at the site caters to tourists; with a good provision of food and other amenities and a nice tour around the mangrove forest makes everyone feels nature at its best.
 “Opportunity knocks once,” so the cliché goes and these women had a good grip of it. Having a sense of ownership of these opportunities and the desire to live better lives for their families and the community propel them to redefine life out of poverty. They turned shortcomings, both personal and government services, to become self-sufficient through the support of brave men and women who took the chance to see what was behind the thick foliage of mangroves; better lives for the once downtrodden. The Womens’ Association for Inter-Island Development (WAIID) has so much to succeed in the future; it could be a model community to look up to someday.

Media and “Abhorrent” Profession: Portrayal of Sex Workers in a Patriarchal Nigerian Society

ABSTRACT This study examines how sex workers are represented by news media in a male-dominated Nigerian society. Specifically, the study seeks to identify the different ways in which sex work, sex workers and their clients are constructed and examine how the news media orchestrate, coordinate and perpetuate male dominance through the portrayal of the sexuality of men and women. The study employed a qualitative method in the analysis of news contents from three news outlets in Nigeria. Data from the content analysis were triangulated with those from in-depth interviews with newsroom professionals and those generated through the documentary research method. The study found that sex work is constructed as a gendered profession, and the media help to systematically sustain the culture of hegemonic masculinity by re-echoing biased ascriptions between the women who provide sex services and the men who patronise these services. The study concludes that news media accentuate their power by pushing the women into deeper marginalisation through negative labelling and stereotyping. Such organised mediated victimisation of the women folks amplifies and perpetrates the male dominance. These findings have important theoretical and practical implications for overcoming discrimination and marginalisation of women in the society at both micro and macro levels.

Features of small holder goat farming from Chitwan district of Bagmati province in Nepal

An assessment was done to analyze the status of small scale goat production system in Chitwan, Nepal. A semi-structured questionnaire having both open ended and close ended questions were interviewed to 147 farmers (69 males, 78 females). The average goat holding was 5.48±0.15 head with female: male ratio of 6: 5. Mainly women folks in the household were involved in husbandry of the raised goats. In this research, we realized that goats were a valuable commodity for the community in the survey area. Grazing in public forest, fallow lands, tree leaves, shrubs and bushes were the main sources of feed for goats throughout the year. When inquired about vaccination, 92.51% of the farmers did not vaccinate their goats and were not aware about its importance. The high index obtained was for health care constraints, followed by feeding constraints, breeding constraints, miscellaneous and marketing constraints. The findings of this survey are not very encouraging as even from one of the developed parts of the country, small scale farmers raising small small scale farmers raising goats seem to be struggling both in terms of technical and logistic inputs. There is need of awareness on improved care and management practices of goat.

‘Forced to Choose’: Bacchara Women’s Experiences in Sex Work

In this qualitative study, we have attempted to explore the experiences of women of Bachhara community in Madhya Pradesh, India. The tradition of community sanctioned sex work is prevalent in this community, which often forces the women to enter into it. The study setting was three villages of Mandsaur District and one village of Neemuch district of Madhya Pradesh, India. We have interviewed 23 women participants involved in sex work. The study's findings underline that family coercion, community norms, and lack of livelihood alternatives are the major contributing factors for women's entry into sex work. The instances of violence, stigmatization, and discrimination are the women's dominating experience in sex work. The study reveals that the badge of 'criminal tribes' during the colonial rule continues to push this community on the margins and subject to multiple deprivations, especially the women folks. This research implies that urgent interventions are required to address the current state of the Bachhara community.

Redesign of Functional <i>Kaba</i> (Blouse) Apparel for Ghanaian Breastfeeding Mothers

Kaba is considered to be a kind of traditional apparel worn by the women in Ghana. Though, it’s worn to accentuate female modesty, chastity and elegance among the women folks. The modern day woman faces a lot of physical and emotional challenges when it comes to breastfeeding. There is a need to redesign and improve upon the kaba apparel for breastfeeding purposes. This study, therefore, sought to redesign functional kaba apparel for breastfeeding mothers. Based on the apparel design framework of Lamb and Kallal, design requirements were identified from breastfeeding mothers and incorporated into the designed apparel. Five prototype designs were made and tested by three selected mothers towards effective breastfeeding. Findings revealed that the prototype apparels made of fasteners and openings in the horizontal, diagonal and vertical directions with zippers and buttons were said to be suitable, comfortable to use and hence acceptable for implementation. This added functional part of the apparel boosted the comfort and confidence of the mother without compromising on their expressive values.

The Kayans: Ontology of their tattoos and its meanings

In Malaysia, the Kayans are just a minority group and have extensive traditional tattoos among the women folks. Anthropologists credited them as the pioneer of exquisite tattoos. The other tribes in Borneo got inspirations for their own body of art. This expansion of existing study attempts to make sense of the motifs and to address the intrinsic and extrinsic meanings of tattoo motifs and relate to their lives. Interviews among tattooed Kayan women folk provide the first-hand information about the implications of tattoos. The perspective of visual semiotics and semantics analysis ultimately shed light on the distant past. Keywords: Kayan, Tattoo, Meaning, Motifs eISSN: 2398-4287© 2020. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bsby e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v5iSI3.2573

Women Writers and the Images of Women Representation in the Post-Colonial Literature. Case Study of Zuwaira Isa Jos and Her Struggles.

Women in Northern Nigeria although seemed and portrayed by many as naïve and back ward educationally, economically and politically, are blessed with talents and determination . These qualities make them able to struggle and overcome most of the cultural inhibitions; of gender discriminations and religious misconceptions that hinder them from participating in decision making and accessing other basic necessities for human development. They manage to break the silence and raise their voices through oral and written literature, where they lament and admonish the society against some cultural practices that are usually targeted at women folks. In this paper one of such women writers; Zuwaira Isa Jos, and her works are discussed.

Effect of National Home Growing School Feeding Program (NHGSFP) on the nutritional status of children of rural households in Osun State, Nigeria

The “National Home Growing School Feeding Program” by Nigeria government was designed to overcome malnutrition disorders through regular school-feeding to improve the nutrition status and the education abilities of school children. Hence, this study focused on assessing the effect of ‘national home growing school feeding program’ on the nutritional status of children of rural households in Osun State, Nigeria. Primary data was used for the study. Two stage random sampling was used for the study, the first stage which was the random selection of four (4) rural communities from each of the three (3) Agro-ecological zones present in the state and the second stage was the random sampling of 10 households from each of the selected communities, comprising of households whose children are beneficiaries and not beneficiaries of the program. A total of 120 households were used for the study. A structured questionnaire was used for the purpose of extracting needed information from the respondents. The data collected was analyzed using Descriptive Statistics, Anthropometry, Logistics Regression Model and Chi-square Analysis. Result of analysis revealed that nutritional status of children in the study area is significantly influenced by child’s sex, child’s age, mother’s education, national home growing school feeding program, access to clean water, access to sanitation facilities and household income. The effect of national home growing school feeding program on the nutritional status of the children was statistically significant (chi-square=37.263, p < 0.000) which means the program has positive effect on the nutritional status of children in the study area. The study therefore recommended that government should ensure the sustenance of National Home Growing School Feeding Program especially in the rural areas of the country. Education of the rural women folks should be taken importantly by governments and NGOs as they are the one directly taking care of children wellbeing. Government, NGOs and Community groups should Journal of the Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Imo State University Owerri also provide the basic amenities like portable water supply and sanitation facilities in the rural areas so as to curb the incidence of diseases and malnutrition.
 Keywords: National Home Grown School Feeding Program, Nutritional Status, Health, Malnutrition

Health-seeking behavior of obstetric fistula patients

Background: Obstetric fistula (OF) is one of the most dehumanizing diseases on the earth. It is a disease that reduces the female species of humans to a subhuman level where a woman continuously leaks urine and/or feces through her vagina. This birth complication is devastating to our women folks, particularly those living in the rural areas. Objectives: We aimed to look at the health-seeking behaviors of women who suffered from this condition with emphasis of identifying modifiable indices that could lead to reduction and/or eradication of the condition. Methodology: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study where OF patient's health-seeking behavior was analyzed. All OF patients were recruited during the study period. Results: Fifty-two OF patients were interviewed during the study period. The mean age of the participants was 22.7 ± 7.6 years. Thirty-six participants (69.2%) had no formal education, and more than half of their husbands (57.7%) had no formal education. Majority (82.7%) of the participants were residing in the rural areas. More than half of the respondents (61.5%) had no source of income. Forty-seven (90.4%) attended antenatal care (ANC), and most of them (63.5%) had at least 4 ANC visits. Majority (76.9%) labored for more than 24 h and 35 (67.3%) had delay in reaching health facility. More than one-third (38.5%) were delivered through cesarean section. Forty-two respondents (80.8%) noticed urine leakage 2 days after delivery. Conclusion: Most of the findings here corroborated with the findings of earlier studies except for increased ANC attendance which might be due to increased awareness. The study clearly brought out the need to have deliveries conducted under skilled birth attendants to reduce/eradicate the menace of OF in our communities.

Strategies to Motivate Cancer-Affected Individuals and Their Families to Mobilize Their Kith and Kin, Neighbours and Community to Assess Their Awareness Level to Accept and Attend Screening Clinic to Prevent Cervical Cancer

Background and context: Cervical cancer is second most common cancer among women across the world. It is a public health problem especially in a developing country like India, as it alone accounts for one-quarter of the worldwide burden of cervical cancer. It is estimated by ICMR that a total of 100,000 new cases were diagnosed in 2016. This figure is expected to touch 1,04,000 during 2020. If treated in early stages more than 90% 5-year survival may be expected. However, less than 10% of our patients are diagnosed early resulting in an overall poor outcome. We do not have any organized national program for cervical cancer screening that might help in reducing the incidence of and death from cervical cancer. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of establishing a hospital-based opportunistic screening clinic with the underlying intention of disseminating awareness and knowledge by empowering cancer affected women to mobilize women folks or relatives known to them for voluntary participation in screening clinic. Strategy/Tactics: We have initiated the following measures: 1. Enlisting the phone numbers of female cancer patients from hospital records and contacting their families for participating in the screening clinic. 2. One to one counseling of patients suffering from any other cancer and involving their accompanying family members to avail the facility. 3. Encouraging them to bring their neighbors, relatives, friends to participate. 4. To identify patient representatives involved in community work like NGOs, clubs, religious institutes etc. and empower them with knowledge for motivating others to participate. 5. Development of IC (information and communication) materials like standees, leaflets, audio visuals for people waiting in hospital lobby. 6. Involving the male members of the family in encouraging the women to participate in the screening. 7. Assess the awareness level of women participating in the screening clinic. Program/Policy process: To create awareness and empower the affected cancer people and their relatives/attendants to participate and to mobilize the community for voluntary participation in screening clinic for prevention of cervical cancer. Outcomes: The outcome measure is assessed by the number of healthy women of any age coming forward to attend the screening/vaccination/awareness clinic per one cancer affected women. We have already registered 270 participants and screened 268 women for cervical cancer. Seventeen women were detected with HPV infection and underwent colposcopy. Interest in vaccination of young girl in the family was generated by people visiting our hospital. What was learned: The strategy to establish “screening clinic” for women with help of cancer patients has proved to be effective in reaching out to the community through the involvement of their kith and kin.

Women empowerment and domestic violence in selected Nigerian video films

The concept of women empowerment in the society is as vital as the empowerment of their male counterparts. Studies have shown that when people are empowered, they become strong, independent and less vulnerable or susceptible to anybody or group of persons. This study in the film medium is extremely crucial, since it will help in redirecting the minds of the society against domestic violence against the women. This is because it aids the development of the society positively. This study applies textual analysis as a methodological tool to examine how the feminine gender is represented in the popular Nigerian film industry called Nollywood. Among the video-films analyzed are: Michael Jaja’s Thanks for Coming and Gallant Babes. The study applied the purposive sampling technique to arrive at these video-films and observes that the female folks are empowered; there will be less domestic violence, since empowerment brings about freedom, realization, and power to resist and confront enemies. It discovers that domestic violence can be physical, economic, psychological, emotional, etc., thereby having serious negative consequences on the women. Some of the representations on women here revolve around some demeaning attitudes towards the women folks, subjecting them to perpetual ridicule; such as being domestic servants, mischievous prostitutes or others that at best paint a negative picture of the Nigerian woman in the society. Except women are empowered, they will continually experience domestic violence, regular abuses, etc. This research did not deny that instances abound where women are also invested with super-human virtues as in some woman-warrior films, the concern here however to advocate for women empowerment in Nollywood which lead to the eradication of domestic violence. Hence, it argues, that rather than continue to perpetuate old fashioned inhumanity on the women, filmmakers and producers should flow with the tide of presenting women in better light that express their resourcefulness to the society.

Coldspots and Hotspots of Agriculture in Nigeria; Any Hope for Youth and Women?

Africa has 25 percent of the world’s arable land, yet it cannot boast of food sufficiency let alone tapping into food export opportunities. It is no longer news that the women folks in Africa are greatly marginalised and confronted by numerous challenges. Meanwhile, youth engagement in agriculture is presently seen as one of the ways to achieve zero hunger by 2030 as set by the sustainable development goals. Using critical review approach, this study aims to review past and present agriculture programs aimed at encouraging youth and women in agriculture. We found that access to land and weak land tenure system; high cost and unavailability of inputs, infrastructural deficit; poor access to information; inadequate extension service and poor pricing policy are the main constraints for the youth and women in Nigeria. However, opportunities such as employment, large market, vast arable land, increasing investment of government and private sector and value addition. The policy message from this study is straight: effort should be intensified and constructive approaches through polices that support pathways in which opportunities can be harnessed and constraints offed.

Strategic Implications of Glass Ceiling on the Professional Leadership of Career Women Development in the West African Sub-Region

Women’s ascent to leadership positions and authority in organizations and society is limited by social norms, organizational cultures, and structures collectively referred to as ‘the glass ceiling’. The society views leaderships and authority as exclusive reserves on men. The result of the domination is a male paradigm is that women leaders are out of place in foreign territory, ``travellers in a male world'. The model of the leadership has traditionally been masculine and, while these stereotypes remain, they succeed in perpetuating the dominant place for men in management. The paper investigated issues concerning female’s participation in senior management in organizational settings and the glass ceiling that affects their career. It also explored the visible and invisible barriers that have kept women from reaching upper levels of leadership. Drawing heavily on historical and secondary data, the paper reviews the trends of career barriers, glass ceilings and proffered suggestions to eliminate these barriers towards development of the women folks and identifies areas for further research and highlights points of consideration for management of institutions.