Some cultures have customs against women. The sati tradition in India is one of them. According to sati, if the husband dies the woman is set on fire with his corpse. These women are believed to become immortal saints. A woman who dies burning herself on her husband&rsquo / s funeral fire is considered virtuous, and are believed to go to Heaven. Another tradition is &ldquo / female circumcision.&rdquo / It is performed in African countries. People believing in the necessity of this custom circumcise women by cutting their clitoris. Circumcised women cannot have sexually pleasure. These women are there to satisfy men&rsquo / s desires and give birth to babies. The third tradition is the general name of which is t&ouml / re is performed in the eastern parts of Turkey. According to t&ouml / re, women are put on trial by their families and killed if they have any sexual relationships without marriage bond. In other words, even if a woman is raped, she is found guilty because of having a sexual relationship. In this thesis, these issues and how women are degraded in cultures will be discussed by using the works of famous Indian, Black American and Turkish writers. The books that are discussed in this thesis, Nayantara Sahgal&rsquo / s &ldquo / Rich Like Us,&rdquo / Lakshmi Persaud&rsquo / s &ldquo / Raise the Lanterns High,&rdquo / &ldquo / Possessing the Secret of Joy&rdquo / by Alice Walker and &ldquo / Bliss&rdquo / by Z&uuml / lf&uuml / Livaneli all contribute to this study showing how women are oppressed by different customs in different countries, the common point of which is to serve men&rsquo / s interests.

The swedish law against female genital mutilation (FGM) prohibits procedures that removes parts of the female genitalia and thereby makes permanent changes in the body. The problem with the wording of the law is that it may also apply to the western phenomenon cosmetic genital surgery. This paper therefore examines if cosmetic genital surgery should be covered by the swedish law against FGM, by making a critical comparing analysis. The paper begins with comparing FGM with cosmetic genital surgery to prove that there are more similarities than differences between the procedures. By using the theoretical perspectives universalism and postcolonialism, the paper then examines why, particularly in the West, there is a different approach to FGM than to cosmetic genital surgery, regardless of the similarities of the procedures. Further the paper also examines consent and why consent to FGM is seen as illegitimate while consent to cosmetic genital surgery is seen as legitimate. On basis of the critical comparing analysis the paper then argues: that the procedures cosmetic genital surgery and FGM are very much alike; that cosmetic genital surgery is accepted over FGM because it is more familiar in the West and; that consent should be as illegitimate when given to cosmetic genital surgery as when given to FGM. Thus the conclusion of the paper is that cosmetic genital surgery should be covered by the swedish law against FGM.

De senaste årtiondena har flyktingströmmar från länder som praktiserar kvinnlig könsstympning (FGM) kommit till länder i västvärlden. I mötet med den nya vården riskerar kvinnorna att få fel diagnos, omvårdnad och bemötande. Syftet var att belysa könsstympade kvinnors möte med vården i västvärlden, utifrån följande frågeställningar: hur erfar kvinnorna mötet med vårdpersonalen? Hur erfar vårdpersonalen mötet med kvinnor som genomgått FGM? Studien genomfördes som en litteraturstudie, baserad på 15 artiklar av kvalitativ design. Analysen resulterade i sju teman utifrån de två frågeställningarna. Resultatet visade att kvinnorna upplevde mötet med vårdpersonalen som diskriminerande, ångestfullt och oroande. Brist på stöd ledde till känslor av ensamhet och kvinnorna kände sig annorlunda i den nya kulturen. Vårdpersonalen upplevde mötet med kvinnor som genomgått FGM som stressande och såg kvinnorna som okunniga och outbildade. Språkbarriärer var en försvårande faktor i kommunikationen. En god kommunikation och förståelse är viktigt för att skapa ett tryggt vårdmöte. Sjuksköterskan bör ta hänsyn till såväl kroppsliga som kulturella faktorer. Undervisning om FGM bör inkluderas i samtliga grundutbildningar för sjuksköterskor och övrig vårdpersonal. Vidare forskning bör belysa interventioner om ökad kunskap om FGM, fokusera på de könsstympade kvinnornas möte med olika vårdprofessioner, samt den åldrande gruppen som genomgått FGM och är i behov av vård. / The last decades a large number of refugees from countries where female genital mutilation (FGM) is practiced have come to countries in the West. The risk in the health care meeting is that the woman gets the wrong diagnosis, therapy and treatment. The aim was to highlight genitally mutilated women's encounters with the health care in the Western world, based on the following questions: how do the women experience the meeting with the caregivers? How do the caregivers experience the meeting with women who have undergone FGM? The study was conducted as a literature study, based on 15 articles with qualitative design. The analysis resulted in seven themes based on the two questions. The results showed that women felt the meeting with caregivers as being discriminatory, anguished and upsetting. Lack of support led to feelings of loneliness and the women felt different in the new culture. The nursing staff felt that meetings with the women were stressful and saw the women as unexperienced and uneducated. Language barriers were an aggravating factor in communication. Good communication and understanding is important in order to create a safe care meeting. The nurse should take into account both physical and cultural factors in order to build a good relationship. Education about FGM should be a part of the basic education of nurses and other health care professionals. Further research should shed light on interventions of increased knowledge about FGM, focus on the mutilated woman's encounter with various health care professions, as well as the aging group who have undergone FGM and is in need of care.

Female genital mutilation, or FGM, is a harmful traditional practice that was brought to Europe by immigrants from practising regions in Africa. Despite numerous approaches to the eradication of FGM, the tradition perpetuates within the immigrant communities in several European countries. Drawing on the available literature, film and interviews, this thesis presents a comparison of the French and Dutch strategies to tackling the problem of FGM. The thesis argues that the Dutch preventative approach could benefit from adopting particular features of the French punitive approach. The thesis concludes by proposing that strong legislative measures that apply to the discovery, investigation and prosecution of FGM cases have contributed significantly to the decline of FGM among practising communities in France, and as such, would have similar results if incorporated into the Dutch strategy for the eradication of FGM.

The distinctive feature of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) epidemic in the 21st century is the burden it places on women. Scientists believe that the best opportunities for successful interventions to prevent sexual HIV transmission lie in the initial stages of infection at the portal of entry, the genital tract (GT), which offers the greatest host advantages and viral vulnerabilities. However, understanding of the correlates of protection/vulnerability and innate immunity at the portal of entry is poor. First and foremost, there is no agreement about which GT sub-compartment is the primary site of HIV/SIV infection. Second, the epithelium, previously studied solely for its function as a barrier, has hardly been investigated for its role in innate immunity in the context of SIV/HIV infection. MIP-3α, a chemokine secreted by epithelial cells, was previously proposed to have a role in amplifying the early Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV) infection events in the GT of female macaques. Specifically, MIP-3α was shown to be secreted by epithelial cells of the endocervix, accumulating subepithelially within the first 24 hours post exposure, following deposition of an intravaginal inoculum of SIV. Similar studies in humans have not been reported. We hence undertook to study MIP-3α for its role in early HIV infection events in the endocervix of humans. In order to achieve this, we first characterised MIP-3α constitutive secretion patterns in different sub-compartments of the GT before proceeding to determine its induced secretion patterns, stimulating with HIV-1 and various Toll-like receptor ligands. For completeness we determined constitutive and induced secretion patterns of multiple soluble proteins (SPs) and antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) in the endocervices of humans and macaques. The GT being an immunohormonal system, we further studied the influence of endogenous hormonal changes on the stability of MIP-3α and that of other innate immune markers. We quantified MIP-3α with a sandwich Elisa, and SPs and AMPs with the Luminex multiplex bead assay. Our results showed that the GT is a rich source of MIP-3α with its levels being among those of the highest SPs in the GT. Constitutive levels were highest in the endocervical sub-compartment of all the sub-compartments studied. Further, the GT is an inflammatory environment, which would explain the high levels of MIP-3α. The primary driver of MIP-3α levels appears to be inflammation rather than hormonal levels. MIP-3α levels are significantly higher in the GT of humans than in macaques. There was no evidence that MIP-3α levels are elevated on exposure to HIV and SIV in humans and macaques, respectively. We therefore concluded that since the endocervix is unlikely to respond to HIV/SIV by secreting MIP-3α in vivo, contrary to the previous reports, MIP-3α is hence not a key player in amplifying early events in infection. And as such, it should not be a prime target for preventive therapy. Further, the human GT having a pre-existing inflammatory profile may explain the high rates of HIV sexual transmission. Lastly, we concluded that the infection mechanisms described in the macaque model (i.e. the 'outside-in' signaling) are likely not required for human infection.

Background: More than 200 million females worldwide live with some form of female genital mutilation [FGM]. While reinforcing social and cultural values for those, to whom the practice is normative, FGM also envelops psychological as well as physical lifelong consequences. Aim: This literature study aimed to describe women's experiences of living with female genital mutilation from a physical, psychological, social and cultural perspective. Method: A literature study was performed through collecting and analysing ten qualitative articles. The data consisted of narratives of migrant women that had undergone FGM and lived in Western societies. The analysis was performed according to Friberg's five-step-model. Results: Feelings of honour and shame were expressed in connection to FGM. FGM was understood to fortify belonging to cultural identities and establish social acceptance linked to cultural ideals of femininity. Emotional and physical pain made women feel incompleteness, challenging their social relationships, including sexual intimacy. Additionally, it was noted that healthcare professionals lack specific knowledge needed while caring for those women, leaving them hesitant in further seeking healthcare. Women's perception of FGM changed after migration. They experienced larger control over their lives but also insecurity towards the discontinuation of the practice. Conclusion: FGM and its implications were complex and resulted in consequences that affect women's life. Greater knowledge and understanding of FGM were identified as necessary on the healthcare system, strengthening and furthering the required support and information for women's health.

Trata-se de um estudo qualitativo que teve como objetivo analisar se a sexualidade é uma das dimensões do cuidado de enfermagem nas mulheres com câncer ginecológico e mamário, num hospital universitário. A coleta de dados foi realizada empregando-se como fontes de informação a entrevista individual semiestruturada. Foram entrevistadas 16 profissionais da equipe de enfermagem, sendo nove alocadas na Seção de Enfermagem da Unidade de Ginecologia e sete no Ambulatório de Mastologia e Oncologia Ginecológica do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto da Universidade de São Paulo. Utilizouse o referencial metodológico da análise de conteúdo, e o suporte teórico de análise dos dados foi a sexualidade como construção sociocultural. Os dados foram codificados, inicialmente, em dois núcleos de sentido. A partir desses dois núcleos de sentido, foram construídas quatro unidades temáticas: \"A doença e a sexualidade da mulher: reconhecendo o problema\"; \"A sexualidade como dimensão do cuidado de enfermagem\"; \"Identificando barreiras na abordagem da sexualidade\" e \"Reconhecendo a necessidade de reestruturação da assistência prestada\". No primeiro núcleo temático, destacaram-se as percepções das profissionais de enfermagem em relação ao comprometimento da sexualidade da mulher acometida pelo câncer ginecológico e mamário. Reconhecendo que a vaidade é inerente ao sexo feminino e que as mulheres dão muita importância para a aparência física, foram discutidas as dificuldades apresentadas em viver com o corpo mutilado, bem como as repercussões dessas alterações físicas nas relações conjugais. No segundo tema, exploraram-se as práticas assistenciais que incluem a temática sexualidade. As profissionais de enfermagem entrevistadas incluem a dimensão da sexualidade no cuidado de forma não sistematizada, o que na maioria das vezes não dá identidade às suas práticas e elas passam a ser descontinuadas. Depreende-se que a abordagem da sexualidade pode ser feita de forma irreverente, bem como pode ser beneficiada por certas condições. O terceiro tema enfoca as barreiras mencionadas como impeditivas da abordagem da sexualidade dentro das práticas adotadas. Essas barreiras dizem respeito ao modelo de saúde, às características da dinâmica institucional e às interpretações sociais da sexualidade, sendo reconhecidas como moduladoras das ações. Na construção do quarto tema, consideraram-se as perspectivas de mudança na assistência prestada, pautadas nas reflexões e propostas mencionadas pelas profissionais de enfermagem. A reestruturação que se almeja passa por mudanças na formação, nos valores pessoais e profissionais, assim como pelo reconhecimento das possibilidades de intervenção. Este estudo apresenta limitações por tratar de um tema complexo como a sexualidade. Entretanto as considerações realizadas, a respeito do cuidado prestado pela equipe de enfermagem, instigam à reflexão e à busca por novos paradigmas assistenciais. As discussões não se esgotam e novos estudos são necessários, inclusive dirigidos à própria mulher acometida pela doença, possibilitando confrontar os pontos de vistas em relação à problemática da sexualidade. / This qualitative study aimed to analyze if the sexuality is one of the dimensions of nursing care for women with gynecological and breast cancer assisted at a university hospital. Data collection was performed using semi-structured individual interview as sources of information. 16 professionals of the nursing team were interviewed; being nine allocated in the Nursing Section of the Gynecology Unit and seven in the Mastology and Gynecological Oncology Outpatient Clinic of the Hospital das Clínicas of the University of São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto Medical School. The content analysis methodology was used and the theoretical support for data analysis was sexuality as socio-cultural construction. Data were coded initially in two cores of meaning. From these two cores of meaning, four thematic units were built: \"Disease and sexuality of women: recognizing the problem\", \"Sexuality as a dimension of nursing care\", \"Identifying barriers in addressing sexuality\", and \"Recognizing the need for restructuring assistance\". In the first thematic core, the perceptions of nursing staff in relation to impairment of the sexuality of women affected by gynecological and breast cancer were highlighted. Recognizing that vanity is inherent in female nature and that women give much importance to physical appearance, the difficulties faced in living with the mutilated body as well as the impact of these physical changes in marital relations were discussed. In the second theme, the care practices that include sexuality were explored. The nursing professionals, who were interviewed, include the issue of sexuality in care in a nonsystematic manner, which most often does not give identity to their practices that become discontinued. It infers that the approach of sexuality can be irreverent and can be benefited in certain conditions. The third theme focuses on the barriers mentioned as hindering the approach of sexuality within the practices adopted. These barriers relate to the health model, to the characteristics of institutional dynamics and to the social interpretations of sexuality, being recognized as modulators of the actions. In the development of the fourth theme, the perspectives for change in assistance were considered, guided by reflections and proposals mentioned by the nurse professionals. The wanted restructuring go through changes in the development, in the personal and professional values as well as through the recognition of the possibilities of intervention. This study has limitations because it deals with a complex subject such as sexuality. However the considerations made about the care provided by nursing staff instigate the reflection and search for new paradigms of care. The discussions are not limited and further studies are needed, including those directed to the woman affected by the disease, making it possible to confront the views regarding the issue of sexuality.

Magister Legum - LLM

No description available.

This study intends to analyze the causes of the high prevalence of the practice of female genital mutilations (FGM) in Sudan, Nigeria, and Iraq. For the attainment of this objective, the researcher had used the secondary data collection and the qualitative data analysis method. The results of the study indicate that the factors of culture, religion and society are the three most important ones which had directly contributed towards the high prevalence of FGM in the different developing nations like Sudan, Nigeria and Iraq among others. More importantly, the results also indicate that the practice of is an attempt on the part of the male dominated society of these nations to not only control the sexuality of the women but of almost all the aspects of their life. Furthermore, this ritual while adversely affecting the wellbeing as well as the health of the women and the girls is a gross violation of the human rights or the basic fundamental rights of the girls and the women. In addition to these, it had been seen that although the different nations of the world like Sudan and Iraq in the recent years had taken the help of various measures, legislations and others but they have failed to help these nations to effectively reduce the high prevalence of FGM. However, in the relation mention needs to be made of the nation of Nigeria which in the recent years had been able to reduce the prevalence of FGM by more than half through the usage of adequate implementation and monitoring strategies for the effective usage of the different legislations, regulations and others related to FGM. This as a matter of fact has important implications for the nations like Iraq and Sudan since they also have the option to reduce the high prevalence of FGM in their territory through the usage of similar measures. Lastly, the study recommends the usage of adequate implementation, monitoring and evaluation strategies for the legislations, regulations and others related to FGM, empowerment of women and the spread of required awareness regarding the harmful effects of FGM on the health and the wellbeing of the women for reducing the high prevalence of the same. / <p>Due to Convid 19 the presentation was virtual. </p>