Community Solutions to Gender Discrimination of Ukerewe
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COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS TO GENDER DISCRIMINATION OF UKEREWE SCHOOLGIRLS by RACHEL JOY MOORE HAGUES (Under the Direction of Thomas “Mick” Coleman) University of Georgia ABSTRACT This ethnographic study used tenants of critical ethnography to examine gender discrimination of schoolgirls in and around secondary schools on the main island of Ukerewe, Tanzania. Overarching questions included: In what ways (if any) do girls feel pressured or manipulated into sex acts with their teachers or fellow male students? How, if at all, do girls perceive they will benefit if they choose to have sexual relations with teachers or male students? When girls experience gender discrimination or abuse in/around school settings, whom do they tell (if anyone)? What are local women’s perceptions of how the justice system (local- and country- level) handles abuse claims of schoolgirls? Thirty in-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with Ukerewe women and participant observation was performed at 5 secondary schools with schoolgirls (n = 400). A thematic analysis was conducted using data from the interviews, participant observations (including the girls’ skits, group discussions, and reading from journal assignments), and my own observations made at the school and living in the community. The ecological- transactional theory was utilized to identify themes at the various levels of the girls’ lives and making recommendations for interventions and policy change. Member checking was conducted with my advisors: my Kiswahili interpreter and elders in the local community. Change that empowers and protects schoolgirls in the Ukerewe district is possible. Finally, potential family, community, school, and policy- level changes are addressed. INDEX WORDS: Gender discrimination, schoolgirls, adolescents, critical ethnography, Tanzania, sexual abuse COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS TO GENDER DISCRIMINATION OF UKEREWE SCHOOLGIRLS by RACHEL JOY MOORE HAGUES B.S., The University of Georgia, 2005 M.S.W., The University of Georgia, 2007 A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of The University of Georgia in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY ATHENS, GEORGIA 2013 © 2013 Rachel Joy Moore Hagues All Rights Reserved COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS TO GENDER DISCRIMINATION OF UKEREWE SCHOOLGIRLS by RACHEL JOY MOORE HAGUES Major Professor: Thomas “Mick” Coleman Committee: Denise Lewis Charlie Wallinga Electronic Version Approved: Maureen Grasso Dean of the Graduate School The University of Georgia May 2013 iv DEDICATION After my first time in Tanzania in 2008, it was clear that I would not be able to stop with a one-time experience. What was compelling me? Not just the stories of the girls’ lives or the community’s gracious hospitality; it was feeling that I had a responsibility to these women and girls. I could no longer plead ignorance. Now I knew. Now I was beginning to understand the beauty of their strength, but the horror of their existence. A horror that was not because of them, but was because of what was – and what is – done to them and what is not done to stop it. In the pages that follow, I am trying to tell their stories. I am trying to represent them as accurately as possible. And I am doing this out of conviction. I deeply believe that all humans are intrinsically valuable and created with purpose; girls suffering from discrimination and abuse do not have the opportunity to fulfill the purpose for which they exist. This dissertation is dedicated to these girls and women, in hopes that it will somehow be a catalyst for change. In addition to the girls and women of Tanzania, I dedicate this dissertation to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. One of the most common themes in the Bible is the emphasis it places on seeking justice and serving the oppressed. For example, Jesus, in Matthew chapter 23 ridicules the Pharisees because they are living pious lives, but are not considering the things that matter to God. Jesus says, Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. (Matthew 23:23, English Standard Version). v In the book of Isaiah, one of the major themes the prophet dwells on is the lack of justice. Isaiah writes, Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause. (Isaiah 1:16-17). In the Proverbs, King Lemuel writes, Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy. (Prov. 31:8-9). Not being able to separate my faith from what I do, and coming from the stance that it is important to be upfront and transparent, I acknowledge that this is my attempt to open my mouth for the destitute – my attempt at defending their rights. Lord, please bless my efforts. vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS One does not pursue a Ph.D. (and actually obtain one) alone. It takes a host of others supporting and guiding along the way. Just as it takes a village to raise a child, it took a village to get me through this process! While I am sure there are many I have left out, I must acknowledge these few. Their steadfast support has kept me going. My Doctoral Committee: Drs. Mick Coleman, Charlotte Wallinga, and Denise Lewis, . Thank you for all the advice and encouragement over the years. Mick – thank you for always being available and for being so responsive. I am grateful for your honesty, your bluntness, and your support. Thank you for being willing to stick with me after you retired! Charlie – thank you for being the one who was perpetually worried about me. I am indebted to you and your forethought. Because of your concern and foresight, I took many precautions on the front-end that likely were key in keeping me safe once I was in the community. Denise – thank you for role-modeling a love for adventure and a willingness to go off the beaten path. Your support of me in my non-traditional research has some days been what has kept me going. Drs. Lioba Moshi and Sharon Nickols, who brought me on my first trip to Tanzania in 2008. Thank you for all the wisdom, guidance, and support you have both been. You have both been wonderful mentors. vii To the HDFS department and Dr. Mancini – thanks for the continued support, and for being such a fan of international research! I cannot say thank you enough. To my Tanzanian “Mamas”, this is for you. None of this would have been accomplished without you. I hope it serves to bring some sort of redemption to your lives and of future generations. To my family – particularly my parents – thank you for always loving, for always pushing me to follow my path and to pursue it whole-heartedly to the Lord. Gregory – Thank you for being my perpetual editor – draft after draft, not giving up on me in the dark days, for drying my tears. Your unwavering love has been a constant source of strength. Most importantly, my Redeemer, my strength and my song, who because of Your great mercy, rescued me when I had nothing to offer. In response to this great love, I pray my life will be one that brings redemption and hope to others. viii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .........................................................................................................................vi LIST OF TABLES.........................................................................................................................................xi PART I: PRESENTING THE MOTIVATION, DESIGN, AND JUSTIFICATION FOR EXAMINING GENDER DISCRIMINATION OF SCHOOLGIRLS IN UKEREWE, TANZANIA.....................................................................................................................................................1 CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW..................................................................................3 Statement of the Problem..........................................................................................4 Location of the Research: Ukerewe, Tanzania .................................................5 Definitions........................................................................................................................5 Brief Overview of the Literature ............................................................................7 Theoretical Perspectives ...........................................................................................9 Philosophical Perspective ...................................................................................... 11 Research Questions................................................................................................... 12 Subjectivity Statement............................................................................................. 13 Rationale for Qualitative Design.......................................................................... 14 2 REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE...................................................................................... 16 Gender Discrimination and Sexual Abuse in sub-Saharan Africa: How it is Perpetuated ......................................................................................................... 17 Research Specific to Tanzania.............................................................................. 35 Brief Comparison of Tanzania to the United States and other Countries ......................................................................................................................