Informatics Publishing Limited

Dekeza Clyton , Kufakunesu Moses

Abstract

The study was undertaken to establish the relationship between two ideologies that have gained momentum in recent years which are Christianity and Feminism. The researchers were motivated to carry out this study by a number of factors inter-alia the rising number of people turning to Christianity in Zimbabwe and the corresponding increase in gender advocacy spearheaded by governmental and non-governmental organisations. The two ideologies seem to represent conflicting principles. It was against this backdrop that the researchers undertook this study to establish the compatibility of the two ideologies. The liberal reformist feminist perspective informed the study. A sample of 120 Christians was purposively drawn from a population of 1200 respondents. Data was collected from the participants through semi-structured interviews, observations and documentary analysis. The researchers established that the majority of the respondents embraced feminist ideology in the public sphere except in the church. The study also revealed that men dominated in leadership positions in the church. Based on the findings of the study, the researchers recommended that gender advocacy groups should target churches and that women should be accorded the opportunity to take up leadership positions in churches.

Keywords

Feminism, Christianity, Compatibility, Patriarchy, Church, Gender Advocacy

Full Text

   

Kufakunesu Moses , Dekeza Clyton

Abstract

The article was an exploration of the views and sentiments of teenage boys in Masvingo South rural community on male circumcision as an HIV and AIDS transmission mitigation measure. The researchers got primed to undertake the research study by the fact that studies have established that male circumcision, among other benefits, is 60% efficient in curbing the spread of HIV and AIDS. Theoretically, the study was informed by Vygotsky's socio-cultural theory and Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory. The descriptive survey research design was used with individual interviews as the key data gathering instruments. A sample of 80 teenage males in the 15 -19 year age range was purposively chosen in Masvingo South rural community. The majority of the respondents expressed negative attitude towards undergoing male circumcision for medical reasons. The respondents' limited information, the imagined pain associated with male circumcision and some cultural considerations to some extent accounted for their negative sentiments. A small proportion of the respondents revealed attitudinal neutrality regarding the adoption of male circumcision for medical reason. The researchers arrived at the conclusion that there is need to continue devising ways of making people aware of the crucial role of male circumcision in mitigating the spread of HIV and AIDS. Male circumcision should not be viewed as a cultural or religious preserve of some tribal groups since it has now gained a new status as a lifesaving medical practice.

Keywords

Teenage, Culture, Adolescence, HIV and AIDS Transmission, HIV And AIDS Transmission Mitigation Measure, Neonatal Circumcision

Full Text

   

Kufakunesu Moses , Dzingo Jennifer , Dekeza Clyton

Abstract

The main thrust of this research study was to scrutinise the attitudes of student teachers towards the quality of the supervision which they received while on teaching practice in Masvingo Province, Zimbabwe. The humanistic theories of Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow informed the study. The phenomenological research design was employed with interviews and open-ended questionnaires as data gathering instruments. A sample of 80 student teachers on teaching practice comprising 50 females and 30 males was selected using the purposive sampling method. The research participants were selected from three primary teachers’ colleges in Masvingo Province. Amid other findings, it was established that a significant number of student teachers at least had something to complain about in connection with the way they were supervised while on teaching practice. They generally expressed the sincere wish to be treated more kindly and more professionally by all those who assessed them. The researchers recommended that seminars and workshops involving student teachers, external assessors, lecturers and mentors be conducted so as to foster relatively healthy relationships among all the parties. 

Keywords

external assessor, teaching practice, mentor, mentee, humanism, subject specialisation, ECD, assessment.

Full Text