Academic literature on the topic 'Sexism – Malawi'

This project aims to analyse the perceptions of university students about the use of language, as its correct use constitutes an important element for the development of gender equality. We question the idea that in university teaching, language is free of sexism and claim that this sexism is more evident in some branches of knowledge than in others. To this end, we will analyse the degree of importance attributed to language across different branches of knowledge and the identification of sexist expressions in daily use. The methodology used is based on a survey and interview. Different groups belonging to different degree courses of the academic communities of the Universities of Malaga and Seville participated in the research. Following this analysis, we reflect on the language use prevailing in the university environment since it constitutes a central space of action for its educational and socializing mission. Keywords: Sexist language, discrimination, students, university, communication and education.

Background: For school medical services and the staff responsible for sex education for adolescents, it is important to understand the factors that may influence gender violence. The aim of this study is to determine whether the presence of sexist attitudes, double standards and/or romantic myths contributes to the risk of gender violence. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out at five secondary schools in the province of Malaga (Spain). In total, 879 adolescents aged 12–18 years were included, studying years 1–4 of compulsory secondary education. Their attitudes were measured on the following scales: Ambivalent Sexism Inventory (ASI), Double Standard Scale (DSS) and Romantic Love Myths Scale (EMA). Results: Significant differences were observed among the age/year groups for the mean scores obtained on each of the above scales (DSS, p < 0.01; EMA, p < 0.01; ASI, p < 0.01). By gender, the boys recorded higher scores for ASI and lower ones for DSS (p < 0.01). The Spearman’s rho value revealed significant relationships between the presence of sexual double standards and that of romantic myths and ambivalent attitudes (p < 0.01). Conclusions: Adolescents commonly express romantic love myths, sexist attitudes and sexual double standards. These three factors, which are significantly correlated, influence the presence of violence in dating relationships.

The rise of the internet has offered the opportunity for the news media to communicate with audiences in many significant ways that may have profound consequences in the shaping of public opinion and transforming lives in the global sphere. Through a Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), this article examines ways in which online news media could be used to reinforce gender stereotypes by promoting patriarchal religious beliefs and how this may have huge implications on women’s empowerment with regard to political leadership roles in developing democracies. The analysis is drawn from the 2014 Malawi elections, in which a major opposition party used a campaign slogan peppered with sexist religious and cultural connotations to ridicule and vote out of office southern Africa’s first ever female President – Joyce Banda and her People Party (PP). In May 2014, Malawi held national elections and the main contestants were former President Banda representing the PP, Peter Mutharika of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Lazarus Chakwera of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and Atupele Muluzi of the United Democratic Front (UDF). Mutharika and the DPP won the elections to wrestle away the presidency from Banda and her People’s Party. This article discusses the campaign slogan – Sesa Joyce Sesa – created by the DPP to attack former President Banda in which Malawi’s significant online news media sites played a critical role in the diffusion of the gendered campaign mantra to resonate with the religious identity of majority the electorate. The article reflects on the potential of new media to consolidate deep-rooted religious and cultural beliefs that marginalise women for leadership positions and the effect this may have on bridging gender inequalities, particularly in political representation in developing democracies.

The fights against sexism have been going on for decades. However, women in the present society still experience gender and social injustice, domestic violence and sexual harassment on a daily basis. In many cases, conservative families with patriarchal values become a breeding ground for unfair treatment and discrimination against women. Maniam brings up these issues to the public through his short story ‘Mala’. This study seeks to examine the male characters’ behaviour, attitude and treatment towards Malati, the main protagonist of the story – and how she deals with the treatment she receives from them. The analysis reveals that the female protagonist is suppressed by her father when she was young, emotionally abused and exploited for free labour by her husband when she is married and harassed by her male clients at her workplace. The poor treatments she has received from men around her since young leave her with the feelings of numbness and unworthiness for the rest of her life.

AbstractObjective:To examine the relationship between the nutritional status and handgrip strength of older people in rural Malawi.Design:Cross-sectional study.Setting:Lilongwe rural, Malawi, situated approximately 35–50 km from the city.Subjects:Ninety seven males and 199 females participated in this study.Methods:Selected anthropometric measurements were taken and nutrition indices were computed using standard equations. Handgrip strength was measured using an electronic grip strength dynamometer.Results:The mean handgrip strength (in kg) for men was significantly higher than for women (28.0±5.9 vs. 21.7±4.5). In addition, there was a significant decline in handgrip strength with age in both sexes. Furthermore, handgrip strength was positively correlated to the following nutritional status indicators: BMI (r = 0.40 in males and r = 0.34 in females), mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) (r = 0.45 in males and r = 0.38 in females) and arm-muscle area (AMA) (r = 0.39 in males and r = 0.37 in females). After controlling for potential confounders, namely sex, height and age, the correlations between handgrip strength and the nutrition indices were still significant.Conclusion:The results of this study support the hypothesis that poor nutritional status is associated with poor handgrip strength. Malawian males had both lower handgrip strength and lower arm muscle area than their counterparts from industrialised countries. However, Malawian females had similar handgrip strength despite lower arm muscle area, in comparison with women from industrialised countries, reflecting perhaps their higher level of physical activity. Further studies are required to determine whether by alleviating nutritional problems a concomitant improvement in handgrip strength can be obtained.

This article presents an intriguing new cricket species of the tribe Xenogryllini discovered in Northern Malawi. This is the first case of mute and deaf species in the subfamily Eneopterinae; it shows no stridulatory apparatus on short male forewings and no tympana on either side of fore tibiae in both sexes. We introduce the new species and its complete mitogenome and assess phylogenetic relationships based on molecular data obtained from next-generation sequencing genome skimming method. Phylogenetic analyses place the new species within the genus Pseudolebinthus in Xenogryllini, as the sister species of Pseudolebinthus gorochovi Robillard. We describe Pseudolebinthus lunipterus sp. nov., provide illustrations of main morphology, male and female genitalia, photographs of living specimens and information about habitat and update the identification key for species of genus Pseudolebinthus. We discuss the differences between the new species and related taxa and the striking loss of acoustic communication in this cricket.

SUMMARY Owing to its high degree of complexity and plasticity, the cichlid pharyngeal jaw apparatus has often been described as a key evolutionary innovation. The majority of studies investigating pharyngeal muscle behavior and function have done so in the context of feeding. Analysis of enzyme activities (citrate synthase, 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase and L-lactate dehydrogenase) of pharyngeal muscles in the Lake Malawi cichlid Tramitichromis intermedius revealed differences between pharyngeal jaw muscles and between males and females. Therefore, these muscles have different performance characteristics, resulting in different functional characteristics of the muscles within the complex. Furthermore, the differences between muscles of males and females represent fundamental differences in muscular metabolic processes between sexes. This study is the first to demonstrate that the pharyngeal anatomy is not only used for food processing but is possibly responsible for sound production, in turn influencing sexual selection in cichlid fish.

La prévalence et l'évolution de la lymphadénite caséeuse (CLA) ont été étudiées chez des moutons et des chèvres au Soudan. Les carcasses de 1 118 moutons et 626 chèvres des deux sexes ont été examinées pour déterminer la présence de la maladie. Soixante et onze moutons (6,35 %) étaient infectés. Ils présentaient des lésions sous forme d'abcès unique ou multiples, ou de processus inflammatoire dans divers organes. Certaines de ces lésions étaient de forme miliaire ressemblant à celles de la tuberculose. Quarante-quatre chèvres (7,05 %) étaient aussi infectées par CLA mais leurs lésions n'étaient présentes qu'en un seul endroit, sous forme d'abcès des noeuds lymphatiques superficiels et pulmonaires. La maladie était davantage progressive chez les moutons que chez les chèvres. Il a été trouvé que CLA avait un impact sur la santé, la reproduction naturelle des moutons et des chèvres, l'économie et l'alimentation des habitants du pays.

Phenology study was conducted to assess 22 genotypes of Sclerocarya birrea (A. Rich.) Hochst, collected from West, Eastern and Southern Africa. Assessments were done on time for bud onset, flower opening, leaf flush, fruit set, fruit maturity period and fruit production. Highly significant (P< 0.001) variations between provenances were obtained in all the phenological traits assessed including variations between sexes in time from flower bud set to anthesis. There was flowering overlaps and synchrony between provenances and sexes with males flowering earlier than females. So far two subpopulations have emerged within the trial referred to as early and late flowering genotypes. The early flowering included provenances from Mozambique, and Swaziland while the late flowering encompassed provenances from Malawi, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Tanzania and Zambia. Fruit maturity period ranged from 76±2 to 192±15days. The early flowering genotypes flowered, fruited and matured between August and January while the late genotypes flowered and fruited from September to May. There were highly significant (P≤0.001) variations in fruit yield of S. birrea provenances between 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 seasons with the former being more productive than the later confirming that S. birrea fruit yield is not constant across seasons due to seed mating effects. There were very strong positive relationship ranging r=0.81 to r=0.78 between leaf flush, bud set, flower opening and fruit set significant at (P<0.001). Some trees classified as females in the first year as based on flowers were found have male flowers which calls for more detailed investigations into this sex change behaviour.

The relationship between gender roles, legume production, utilization and child feeding practices in rural smallholder households of Dedza and Ntcheu districts in Malawi was investigated and analyzed. A cross-sectional research study was conducted with legume farming households with children aged 6-23 months who were part of the Africa RISING ‘mother trial’ or ‘baby trials’ for two farming seasons (2014/2015 to 2015/2016). Africa RISING project encourages smallholder farmers to grow legumes namely,groundnut (Arachis hypogaea),cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan)and soya bean (Glycin max) as one way of improving the wellbeing of smallholder farmers. The key objective of the research was to assess the influence of gender roles,legume production, utilization and infant and young child dietary intake.In total, 291 households with children 6-23 months were targeted. Eight focus group discussions (FDGs) for in-depth qualitative data were conducted. Two 24-hour dietary recalls and food frequency questionnaires were used to collect data on infant and young child feeding (IYCF)practices. Data collected were extracted, arranged, recorded and analyzed by using SPSS version 21. About 18% of children aged 6-23 months received a minimum dietary diversity(the consumption of four or more food groups from the seven food groups), 2.5% received a minimum acceptable diet(indicator measures both the minimum feeding frequency and minimum dietary diversity, as appropriate for various age groups)and 37.5% of children received a minimum meal frequency(frequency of receiving solid, semi-solid, or soft foods at the minimum numbers of two and three times for children aged 6–8 months, and 9–23 months,respectively). Control on use of income by women had a positive and significant association with minimum dietary diversity (P<0.05), minimum meal frequency (P<0.05) and minimum acceptable diets (P<0.05) among children of both sexes. Children aged 6-23 months from households where women were actively involved in partial processing and budgeting of legumes met minimum dietary diversity than children from non-participating households. Women farmers were more knowledgeable about legumes; played an important role in seed selection, storage and processing; however, the findings signal an opportunity to increase women’s income by involving them in market information. Increasing legume production at household level does not mean increasing the nutritional status among children (6-23 months). Several factors related to gender roles, markets accessibility and legume utilization have an effect on infantand young child feeding practices.

Cette thèse de doctorat explore les obstacles à l'égalité des sexes dans les pays en développement. Elle est composée de trois essais. Le premier essai (chapitre 1) explore les racines de l'inégalité des sexes en faveur des garçons dans l'éducation. Il analyse l'effet de l'interaction entre la culture et les conditions économiques des ménages pauvres sur les probabilités de décrochage scolaire des garçons et des filles, en utilisant des données du Malawi. L'adéquation du Malawi à cette analyse découle de la coexistence sur son territoire de deux coutumes différentes de résidence post-maritale pour les couples : les coutumes patrilocales et matrilocales. Les résultats des estimations montrent que l'inégalité entre les sexes en matière d'éducation est enracinée dans l'interaction des conditions économiques du ménage et de la coutume patrilocale - lorsqu'un couple marié s'installe près de la famille du mari ou avec elle après le mariage. L'essai conclut que les politiques publiques qui rendent inutile le recours aux coutumes traditionnelles par les parents pour organiser leur vie familiale peuvent éliminer les inégalités entre les sexes favorisant l'éducation des garçons. Les deux derniers essais analysent la question de la polygynie—lorsqu'un homme peut avoir plusieurs épouses simultanément. Cette institution du mariage a disparu dans le monde entier mais reste confinée dans un groupe de pays d'Afrique subsaharienne, notamment dans la région du Sahel. La théorie économique prédit que l'augmentation de l'éducation des femmes entraîne la disparition de la polygynie. Cependant, les preuves empiriques ne permettent pas encore d'établir ce lien de causalité, mais plutôt une corrélation négative entre l'éducation et les probabilités de polygynie des femmes. Le deuxième essai examine l'effet de l'éducation sur les probabilités de polygynie des femmes, en utilisant principalement les données de l'Ouganda. Pour l'identification, nous utilisons une approche d'estimation qui aborde conjointement les problèmes de sélection de l'échantillon et d'endogénéité de l'éducation. Nous estimons un modèle à trois équations comprenant une équation de la polygynie (principale), une équation du mariage (sélection) et une équation de l'éducation (endogénéité). Les résultats de l'estimation confirment la prédiction de la théorie économique selon laquelle l'augmentation de l'éducation des femmes entraîne la disparition de la polygynie. Le troisième et dernier essai fournit des preuves sur la cause du regroupement de la polygynie dans les pays sujets à la sécheresse. Les preuves montrent que dans les économies villageoises dépendantes de l'agriculture pluviale, la rupture des accords informels de partage des risques suite à des chocs tels que les sécheresses augmentent la valeur de la famille nombreuse, tant en taille qu'en composition, comme levier des stratégies de résilience. Nous constatons que la polygynie permet aux ménages de renforcer leur résilience face aux effets négatifs de la sécheresse sur le rendement des cultures. Ces trois essais contribuent à faire progresser nos connaissances sur les obstacles à l'inégalité des sexes en Afrique subsaharienne. Il attire principalement l'attention sur l'importance pour les pays en développement d'investir dans la scolarisation des filles (essai 2) et de promouvoir des politiques publiques qui rendent moins attrayant pour les parents le recours aux institutions traditionnelles pour soutenir leurs moyens de subsistance (essai 1). En outre, des politiques telles que celles qui encouragent les petits exploitants agricoles en tant que stratégie de développement peuvent contribuer à la persistance de la polygynie dans les communautés sujettes à la sécheresse si elles sont menées sans sevrer la population rurale de sa dépendance à l'égard de l'agriculture pluviale. Dans ces contextes, la promotion de stratégies de résilience et d'adaptation indépendantes de la taille des ménages peut conduire à la disparition de la polygynie et du mariage d'enfants (essai 3).
This Ph.D. thesis explores barriers to gender equality in developing countries. It is composed of three essays. The first essay (chapter 1) explores the roots of gender inequality favoring boys in education. It analyzes the effect of culture interaction with poor household economic on the school dropout probabilities of boys' and girls', using Malawi data. Malawi's suitability for this analysis stems from the coexistence in its territory of two different customs of post-marital residence for couples: patrilocal and matrilocal customs. Estimation results show that gender inequality in education is rooted in the interaction of household economic conditions and the custom of patrilocality—when a married couple settles near or with the husband's family after marriage. The essay concludes that public policies that make it unnecessary for parents to rely on traditional customs to organize their family life can eliminate gender inequality favoring boys' education. The last two essays analyze the issue of polygyny—when a man can have multiples wives simultaneously. This marriage institution has disappeared globally but remains confined in a cluster of sub-Saharan African countries, particularly in the Sahel region. Economic theory predicts that increasing women's education leads to the disappearance of polygyny. Still, empirical evidence is yet to establish this causal link, settling instead for a negative correlation between education and women's polygyny probabilities. The second essay examines the effect of education on women's polygyny probabilities, using primarily Uganda data. For identification, we use an estimation approach that jointly addresses sample selection and education endogeneity problems. We estimate a three-equation model comprising a polygyny (main) equation, a marriage (selection), and an education (endogeneity) equation. Estimation results confirm economic theory's prediction that increasing women's education leads to the disappearance of polygyny. The third and final essay provides evidence on the cause of the clustering of polygyny in drought-prone countries. Evidence shows that in village economies dependent on rainfed agriculture, the breakdown of informal risk-sharing arrangements following covariate shocks such as droughts increases the value of having a large family, both in size and composition, as a lever of resilience strategies. We find that polygyny allows households to build resilience to the adverse effects of drought on crop yields. These three essays contribute to advancing our knowledge of the barriers to gender inequalityin sub-Saharan Africa. It mainly draws attention to the importance for developing countries to invest in girls' schooling (Essay 2) and promote public policies that make it less attractive for parents to resort to traditional institutions to support their livelihoods (Essay 1). Additionally, policies such as those promoting smallholder farmers as a development strategy can contribute to the persistence of polygyny in drought-prone communities if done without weaning the rural population of its dependence on rainfed agriculture. In these settings, promoting resilience and adaptation strategies independent of household size can lead to polygyny and child marriage's disappearance (Essay 3).

Les hépatopathies non alcooliques (NAFLD) sont aujourd'hui la première cause de maladies hépatiques, et constituent désormais un véritable enjeu de santé publique. Elles sont composées de différents stades d'atteintes, allant de la simple stéatose à la stéato-hépatite (NASH) définie par la présence d'une inflammation hépatique accompagnée ou non de fibrose. Chez l'humain, il existe un fort dimorphisme sexuel dans cette maladie, les femmes sont protégées de cette atteinte, et cette protection disparaît après la ménopause. Les mécanismes liés à cette protection, médiée en partie par les œstrogènes, sont mal connus et il est nécessaire de disposer de modèles précliniques pertinents pour pouvoir les élucider. Nous avons d'abord cherché à identifier un modèle préclinique permettant d'étudier le dimorphisme sexuel dans le contexte de NAFLD. Pour cela, différents régimes hypercaloriques ont été testé (High Fat diet, High Fat diet déficient en choline, Western diet (WD) avec ou sans ajout de glucose et fructose dans l'eau de boisson) sur des souris mâles et femelles C57BL/6J pendant 15 semaines. Des analyses histologiques, biochimiques, transcriptomiques et métabolomiques ont été réalisées. Le régime WD a permis d'obtenir un fort dimorphisme dans la survenue de la NASH. Les mâles ont développé une stéatose sévère associée à une inflammation et un début de fibrose alors que les femelles ont uniquement développé une faible stéatose. Les analyses transcriptomiques ont mis en évidence des réponses géniques très contrastées selon le sexe. L'analyse des réseaux de gènes suggère que les récepteurs nucléaires ont une influence sur le dimorphisme sexuel observé dans notre étude. Parmi les récepteurs nucléaires, ERalpha est le récepteur principalement impliqué dans les effets des œstrogènes dans le foie. Des souris mâles et femelles porteuses de la délétion hépatocytaire d'ERalpha ont reçu le régime WD. L'absence d'ERalpha hépatocytaire n'a pas provoqué de modifications majeures du phénotype hépatique observé en réponse au régime WD dans les deux sexes, suggérant que les œstrogènes sont capables d'agir par l'intermédiaire d'une voie différente. Un autre récepteur nucléaire, PPARalpha, joue un rôle majeur dans le métabolisme des lipides et est protecteur vis-à-vis de la stéatose. Chez le mâle, il est montré que l'absence de PPARalpha provoque un défaut du catabolisme des lipides durant le jeûne. [...]
Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), ranging from steatosis to steatohepatitis (NASH), is the most common liver disease and a major public health issue worldwide. There are strong clinical and preclinical evidence for sexual dimorphism. The establishment of reliable animal models is essential to understand the mechanisms underlying such gender specific susceptibility to the disease. We aimed at identifying a mouse model of NAFLD that replicates at best the sexual dimorphism observed in humans. We tested different hypercaloric diets: High-Fat Diet (HFD), Choline Deficient HFD, Western Diet enriched with cholesterol and co-administered or not with drinking water containing glucose and fructose in male and female C57BL/6J mice (n=12/group). Histological, biochemical, transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses were performed. The Western Diet induces a strong dimorphic phenotype for the onset of NASH. Males develop major steatosis associated with severe inflammation and fibrosis whereas females show much less steatosis. Both sexes develop obesity and have impaired glucose tolerance. In contrast, insulin resistance is more severe in males than in females. Finally, liver transcriptome analysis highlights contrasted gene expression profiles between males and females in response to the different diets. Gene network analysis suggest that nuclear receptors are influential in this sexual dimorphic response to dietary challenges. Among nuclear receptors, ERalpha is the major effector of estrogen signaling in the liver. We tested the western diet in male and female mice in absence of ERalpha in hepatocytes. This deletion did not cause significant changes in hepatic phenotype in response to western diet in males and females. Another nuclear receptor has been studied, PPARalpha plays a central role in lipid metabolism and is protective against NAFLD. In the absence of PPARalpha in hepatocytes, fatty acid catabolism is defective during fasting in male mice. Therefore, to investigate whether hepatocyte PPARalpha activity shows sexual dimorphism, we tested the effect of fasting in female mice. In vivo experiments in mice with a hepatocyte specific knock-out of PPARalpha reveal that fasting induces similar PPARalpha-dependent ketogenesis in mice from both sexes.[...]

This study sought to explore gender issues affecting management promotions in Malawi's health care services, utilising both qualitative and quantitative techniques in data collection and analysis. Promotion patterns were compared and contrasted for male and female managers. The study was based on the assumptions that • both men and women were aware of experiences that affected their promotion opportunities • promotion patterns showed fewer variations than did cultural, social and gender factors • male prejudices were maintained which oppressed women's promotions • increased decision-making power lowered stress about professional growth and development The findings supported the first two assumptions, but not the last two. The findings suggested that males and females encountered similar experiences concerning managerial promotions in Malawi's health care services. Factors that enhanced management successes for both males and females included management orientation and mentorship. Unclear promotion policies and procedures hindered management promotions. Information derived from this research could enable policy-makers to establish an environment that increases supportive networks and interactions between male and female managers in Malawi. Furthermore, to ensure equal opportunities in the health care services management, monitoring strategies by Malawi's Ministry of Gender, the Department of Human Resources Management and Development, and the Ministry of Health and Population need to be established and implemented.
Health Studies
D.Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)

Thesis submitted to the Faculty of Health Science, University of the Witwatersrand, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Johannesburg, 2017
Malaria remains endemic in the north-eastern areas of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces of South Africa (SA). Anopheles arabiensis is now implicated as the main malaria vector. This vector is not completely amenable to current vector control strategies which target indoor biting and resting mosquitoes. SA is moving towards malaria elimination and there is a need for additional vector control interventions to complement existing tools. The sterile insect technique (SIT) targeting An. arabiensis was selected as a potential intervention. In a mosquito SIT programme, only sterile males should be released because females are potential disease vectors. In order to achieve male releases only, a reliable sex separation strategy is needed. Additionally, it is imperative to gather entomological baseline information on the population density, species composition, and vectorial capacity of the targeted wild population. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of a local genetic sexing strain for SIT and to determine the population dynamics of wild An. arabiensis in northern KZN. The following objectives were initiated in this study: development of a local genetic sexing strain (GSS), evaluation of the life history and reproductive effects of irradiation on An. arabiensis, and weekly mosquito surveillance was conducted over a period of 24 months. A local GSS named GMK was established by introgressing a local wild-type population of An. arabiensis with an available GSS strain. The strain exhibited the following attributes: low egg hatch rates, fast developmental time, long adult survival and a high mating competitiveness. Dieldrin treatment of GMK eggs/larvae mainly produced males but this result remains controversial. The irradiation dose of 70 Gy induced male sterility without compromising their mating competitiveness and impacted negatively on female fitness, but not vectorial capacity. The perennial presence of An. arabiensis, the dominant anopheline species in Mamfene, was confirmed. Its population density fluctuated with season reaching a peak in summer. Clay pots were more productive than the other collection methods, collecting 16.3 mosquitoes per trap. This study recorded for the first time wild caught An. arabiensis and An. vaneedeni infected with P. falciparum in SA. An arabiensis sporozoite infection rates were 0.7% (2014) and 0.5% (2015). Anopheles vaneedeni has never been implicated as a malaria vector in nature. However, an infection rate of 1.96% was recorded (2014-2015), which implicate this species as a potential malaria vector. These results highlight the importance of intensive mosquito surveillance to establish malaria vectors responsible for low level/residual malaria transmission. The data generated provides important baseline vector surveillance information and is valuable to stakeholders and researchers to make informed decisions regarding the use of SIT against vector mosquitoes in SA.
MT 2018

Le roman, Les Violettes rouges, met en scène une jeune femme cherchant vengeance à l'époque de la conquête de l'Ouest américain. Il joue sur les codes du western, tout en les transgressant, puisque le héros cow-boy et vengeur est une femme, Lou. Plus libre encore que les héros du western traditionnel, Lou s'approprie des éléments du « masculin » et du « féminin » pour incarner un corps puissant et sensuel qui sera vecteur de violence. Les systèmes hiérarchiques et injustes érigés par l'homme blanc se voient ébranlés par les actes de révolte de Lou. L'essai L'échec du système des genres dans La Maladie de la mort de Marguerite Duras explore, par le biais de la pensée de certains théoriciens féministes et par l'entremise de certaines questions sur les identités sexuées selon la catégorie d'analyse du gender, l'impossible rencontre entre l'homme et la femme du récit de Duras. L'échec du système double et duel entre le masculin et le féminin est exprimé, entre autres, par un système de voiles et de voilements, de regards aveugles, par un féminin fuyant et, ultimement, par un renversement des pouvoirs. Ici, la conception double des genres se voit remise en cause puisqu'elle rend stérile toute rencontre entre l'homme et la femme du récit et ultimement, entre le masculin et le féminin.
The creative writing project titled Les Violettes rouges depicts a young woman seeking vengeance in the nineteenth-century American West. It is a novel that replays and transgresses the codes of the western genre, as its vengeful cowboy protagonist is actually a woman named Lou. Freer than the archetypal western heroes, Lou takes what she desires in what is said to be “masculine” and “feminine”. Through her physique she embodies a powerful and sensual vector of violence. Lou’s acts of rebellion shake the white man’s hierarchical and unjust systems. Through theories of various feminist thinkers and questions of sexual and gender identity, the essay titled L'échec du système des genres dans La Maladie de la mort de Marguerite Duras explores the impossible encounter between the male and femal protagonists in Duras’s novel. The failure of the system both dual and double separating man and woman is expressed through a series of veils and veilings, of blindspots, through a fugitive feminine and, ultimately, through a power reversal. Here, the double and hierarchical definition of gender is questioned since it renders any meeting between the novel’s male and female characters, as well as between the “masculine” and the “feminine”, sterile.