The gender gap is a political phenomenon that has been observed in the electorate since the election of Ronald Reagan in 1980, with women being more Democratic and liberal than men. Many studies have examined its existence among the white public, but little has been done to document its presence among blacks. This study examines the gender gap among whites and blacks and compares the results in order to see if there is a gender gap that exists among blacks and if it is similar to that for whites. Bivariate and multivariate analyses conducted for both blacks and whites find that the documented gender gap among whites is more pervasive than that for blacks, largely because blacks are more united in their Democratic partisanship and liberal attitudes. However, there are also significant gender differences among blacks that usually are similar to and at times different from those among whites.

AbstractSocio-economic changes have been identified to alter demographic behaviour, most especially fertility desires. Cameroon just like most Sub Saharan African countries started experiencing decline in its fertility rates not too long ago. A couple of factors have been identified to influence women’s childbearing. Education has been pinpointed as one of the pivotal factors that play a role in influencing female fertility desire. Discussion on education in this paper is made in reference to educational attainment. This research had the aim of examining whether education level attainment (i.e. primary, secondary and university) influences women’s desire to have another child in Cameroon. The target group of the study was women who had at least one child, and their ages ranged from 15 to 45 years. To be able to conduct the study the 2011 demographic health survey (DHS) was used. The demographic theory and demand for children concept were used to provide theoretical framework on the topic. The study was based on the contention that the higher the education level of women, the lesser the desire to have children. From the logistic regression performed, the results portrayed that educational level does influence women’s decision to have another child especially for women with primary and secondary education. Women with no education are more likely to want to have another child than women with education. Women with primary and secondary education are significantly less likely to want another child than those with higher education. This result tends to be fall in line to what was expected. The results showed that although education shapes fertility desires, the number of living children, husband employment and household status tend to play more significant role in women’s desire to have another child in Cameroon. Keywords; fertility, Cameroon, female education, demographic health survey, logistic regression

MSc (Med), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand / I investigated the relationship between abdominal temperature, physical activity, anogenital swellings, and faecal and urine ovarian steroid hormonal concentrations over the menstrual cycle in baboons in an attempt to devise a reliable non-hormonal physiological indicator to detect ovulation. Using a miniature thermometric data logger surgically implanted in the abdominal cavity and an activity data logger implanted subcutaneously on the trunk, I measured, continuously over six months at a 10 min interval, abdominal temperature and physical activity patterns in four female adult baboons, Papio hamadryas ursinus (12.9-19.9 kg), unrestrained in cages in an indoor animal facility (22-25°C). I monitored menstrual bleeding, and anogenital swelling changes using digital photography, and collected urine and faeces, daily, to ascertain the stage and length of the menstrual cycle. The length of the menstrual cycle, determined from daily observations of menstrual bleeding and anogenital swellings, was 36 ± 2 days (mean ± SD). Baboons exhibited a cyclic change in anogenital swellings, abdominal temperature, physical activity, urine and faecal steroid hormones over the menstrual cycle. Mean 24-h abdominal temperature during the luteal phase was significantly higher (ANOVA, p = 0.04; F (2,9) = 4.7) than during the ovulatory phase, but not different to the follicular phase. Physical activity also followed a similar pattern, with mean 24 h physical activity almost twice as high in the luteal than in the ovulatory phase (ANOVA, p = 0.58; F (2,12) = 5.8). As expected, urine and faecal oestradiol was higher in the follicular than in the luteal phase, while progesterone was higher in the luteal than the follicular phase. Cortisol in both urine and faecal samples did not show any vi recognisable menstrual cycle related pattern. I have characterised correlates of the menstrual cycle in baboons and shown, for the first time, a rhythm of physical activity over the baboon menstrual cycle. I have also shown, from the measurements of abdominal temperature, physical activity, ovarian steroid hormonal concentrations and anogenital swellings, that ovulation in captive unrestrained baboons, and probably also free-living baboons, can be estimated from anogenital swellings or possibly abdominal temperature and physical activity, without the need for hormone measurements.

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Emergency Medicine. MScMed (Emergency Medicine) Johannesburg, November 2013 / Background: Little research has addressed the types and meaning of genital injury in South African rape victims. In South Africa, rape victims in private practice are examined using gross visualisation and a light source only. Research has shown that the use of toluidine blue and/ or a colposcope increases the number of injuries seen. Objective: To determine rape victim demographics and describe the genital injuries and other associated injuries reported during medico-legal examination of female rape victims older than 15 in four private Johannesburg hospitals between 1 January 2008 and 31 December 2009, as well as to determine any associations between these variables and the race or age of the victim. Method: A retrospective chart review of 310 sexual assault victims seen at these hospitals. Results: Black victims made up 62% of the study. One genital injury was recorded for 27% of the victims, while 21% had between 2 and 8 of a possible 11 injuries. The most commonly injured sites were the posterior fourchette, the hymen and the fossa navicularis. Bruising was the most common associated injury. Alcohol was reported in just fewer than 10% of cases. Conclusion: The incidence of positive genital injury documented is comparable to other research. Genital injuries are not inevitable consequences of sexual assault.

acase@tulane.edu / A comprehensive understanding of sexual dichromatism and sexual selection depends on understanding selective pressures on females, which may differ from those experienced by males. Conventional theory suggests that ornamentation in females evolves as the byproduct of selection pressures on males, and is non-adaptive. My dissertation challenges this assumption through a series of linked studies related to female ornamentation in a species of tropical passerine bird, the White-shouldered Fairywren (Malurus alboscapulatus), of New Guinea. The White-shouldered Fairywren is ideally suited to evaluate the evolution of female ornamentation, because populations are characterized by divergence in female plumage coloration from brown (unornamented) to black-and-white (ornamented), with no variation in males, which are uniformly black- and-white. My thesis research employed field-based observation and experimentation with contemporary genomic, endocrine, and microscopy techniques to identify proximate mechanisms, current adaptive function, and evolutionary history of female ornamentation in this system. / 1 / Erik Enbody

Helen Pleydell-Bouverie, the Countess of Radnor, who conducted an amateur ladies' orchestra from 1881 until 1896, was a critical early pioneer in the development of female orchestral performance in England. Lady Radnor's orchestra was widely praised, and she herself was highly regarded by British royalty, artistic elite, and lower-class audiences alike. While her probable status as the first British woman to regularly and publicly conduct an orchestra merits recognition on its own, her work is of yet further interest as an important step in the advancement of women musicians from the salon to the professional concert hall. In a time when professional musicianship was not accessible to upper-class women, Lady Radnor became a significant influence in musical culture through patronage, pedagogy, entrepreneurship, and especially philanthropy. Indeed, charitable activity was the main structure that enabled aristocratic women to have public performance careers. Her example shows that the professional female conductors who emerged in the twentieth century were not rogue anomalies, but rather built upon the cultural foundation laid in part by the work of aristocratic amateurs.

Bibliography: leaves 453-474.

A large body of research exists relative to male aggression. Studies over the past 30 years, especially as related to male-to-female intimacy violence in a domestic context, have contributed greatly to a better understanding of aggressive male behavior. However, it is suggested that a more balanced approach to research on aggression should include studies related to female aggression. A search of the current literature indicates that this process has begun; however, studies tend to report a different dynamic at work in aggressive women versus aggressive men. It appears that overall, female aggression more than male aggression, has a stronger relational component. It is the case that females can be aggressive and place substantial importance on the relationships in their lives. Attachment theory addresses the salient issue of relationships and is such a broad and complete theory that it incorporates aggressive behaviors as well. Therefore, this study seeks to expand the research related to attachment styles and associated behaviors, in particular as they pertain to the influences upon female aggressive behavior. A study of the relationship between the independent variables of gender, psychopathology/personality, and attachment style and the dependent variable of aggression was conducted. It was hypothesized that attachment style would be a better predictor of female aggression as compared to psychopathology. Additionally, it was hypothesized that psychopathology would be a better predictor of male aggression as compared to attachment style. Significant results were obtained suggesting that attachment is a better predictor of female aggression than psychopathology, with a non-significant observation indicating the reverse being true of males. Specific gender differences related to aggression and violent behavior are presented. Current trends applicable to theories of aggression are discussed, as well as suggestions for future research.

No description available.

Historically, research on adolescent delinquency has focused on statistically determined causal risk factors and has been conducted utilizing male participants (Barron, 2000; Chesney-Lind & Sheldon, 2004). As summarized by Chesney-Lind and Sheldon (2004) delinquency theory has ignored girls and as a result there is considerable question whether existing theories that were developed to explain boys delinquency can explain girls as well (p. 98). Using a basic interpretive qualitative research design (Merriam, 2002b), the studys purpose was to explore and gain a better understanding of the personal experiences of women who were involved in delinquent activities during adolescence. Five women between the ages of 19 and 59 years participated in three interviews. The data collection interview focused on the womens experiences as an adolescent female involved in delinquent activities. The participants descriptions lead to the identification of four descriptive categories: experiences with abuse, experiences with substance use, experiences with challenging and complicated relationships, and experiences that made a positive difference. These four categories of experiential description are discussed in terms of application(s) to counselling practice and future research.