On International Women’s Day, Alfred Andama, a master of arts in Gender Studies, made waves with a courageous article published in a Ugandan newspaper. He fearlessly delved into the heart of his research: the impact of the male gaze on intergender relations at Makerere University. Andama’s article serves as a powerful wake-up call, shedding light on the harmful consequences, particularly for female students.
Through his keen observation and inquiry, Andama uncovered the harsh realities of unequal power dynamics and unrealistic beauty standards prevailing within the university. These issues have led to concerning outcomes, including poor academic performance, dropout rates, and even detrimental effects on mental health among female students.
But Andama’s article goes beyond mere words on a page. It’s a clarion call for action. He challenges all stakeholders to take a stand and transform Makerere into a space where everyone, regardless of gender, can thrive. And on Women’s Day, his message resonates deeply, serving as a poignant reminder of the ongoing struggle for true equality.
Andama is a graduate at the School of Women and Gender Studies at Makerere University and currently is part of the Gendig project. Additionally, he served as an exchange student at the University of Agder during the 2023 semester, where he presented his findings firsthand.
In an ever-evolving world, gender studies have taken center stage, shedding light on the intricate web of gender roles and the unique challenges women face. Our academic journey recently led us to an enlightening exchange with two remarkable students, Fionah Agaba and Alfred Andama, hailing from Makerere University. They shared their in-depth research on gender-related issues in Uganda, offering a fresh perspective on gender dynamics.
Meet the Scholars: Fionah Agaba and Alfred Andama
Fionah Agaba and Alfred Andama, both recipients of prestigious scholarships, are master’s students at the School of Women and Gender Studies at Makerere University. For their exchange semester at the University of Agder, they joined the Master’s program in Development, Crisis, and Change. Alfred is on the cusp of completing his master’s degree, while Fionah is gearing up to embark on her data gathering journey. They graciously presented their thesis topics, “The Male Gaze” and “Conflicts in the Women’s Movement,” respectively, offering us invaluable insights into gender roles and activism in Uganda. (Read more about their experience in Kristiansand)
Decoding ‘The Male Gaze’ within Uganda’s Academic Landscape
Alfred’s research delves into the fascinating concept of “the male gaze” among university students. He dissects the interplay of power dynamics between female students, male students and lectures. Crediting from the influence of American pop culture to the profound impact on women, continuously subjected to objectification by heterosexual male desires. He also delved into religious texts, uncovering an earlier archetype of the female body as an object of male gaze.
In his research, Alfred finds that the male gaze tends to reduce women to one-dimensional objects of desire, perpetuating their objectification and leaving a lasting impact on female students. This impact often manifests as psychological pressure and body image concerns. In light of these findings, Alfred encourages open dialogues aimed at challenging traditional views on sexuality and fostering a transformative shift in mindset.
Power Dynamics Within Women’s Activist Movements in Uganda
Fionah’s research proposal is deeply personal, inspired by her own experiences. She courageously unveils the complex conflicts within Uganda’s women’s movement, challenging the conventional narrative of sisterhood. Her research, rooted in qualitative analysis, aims to unravel the power dynamics in various women’s organizations and the environments they offer their members. Focusing on the hierarchical structure within women’s movements can stifle the growth of younger activists and foster internal conflicts.
A Deeper Understanding of Gender Dynamics
The academic exchange culminated with engaging discussions and insightful feedback from the esteemed professors and PhDs present. It’s evident that these two scholars have paved the way for deeper conversations and actions to create a more inclusive and harmonious society. As we continue to explore gender dynamics in Uganda and beyond, Fionah and Alfred’s work serves as an inspiration to challenge conventions, foster dialogue, and effect positive change in the realm of gender studies and activism.
Prof. Arnhild Leer-Hegelsen (UiA/Gendig), Anne Breivik (Strømme Foundation), Knut Straume (The UN-Association), Anna Ninsiima (Makerere University), Spogmy Jabarkhil (The European Network of Migrant Women/the Afghan Women Organization) and Claudia Klostergaard (Centre for Gender and Equality, UiA)
In the heartwarming celebration of the International Day of the Girl Child (IDG) in Kristiansand, an event began with a shared bowl of soup, setting the stage for an inspiring evening dedicated to empowering women and girls worldwide. Led by Claudia Klostergaard of the Centre of Gender and Equality at UiA, the event commenced by honoring the strength and bravery of imprisoned Iranian activist Narges Mohammadi, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate. The arrangement was a collaborative effort involving the University of Agder, the Strømme Foundation, the European Network of Migrant Women, and the United Nations Association Agder.
The event brought together a diverse group of individuals and organizations, all united by a shared mission: addressing global challenges and championing the rights of women and girls. Participants from local and international backgrounds painted a vivid picture of the challenges we face, infused with hope and determination.
Sustainable Development Goals and Girls’ Rights
Anne Breivik, Head of International Programs at the Strømme Foundation, set the tone for the event by emphasizing the organization’s dedication to eradicating poverty, creating educational and employment opportunities, and advocating for the rights of girls. The Strømme Foundation’s unique approach actively engages boys and men in reshaping societal norms and mindsets to promote gender equality.
GENDIG: A Global Perspective
Representing Gendig at the event were Arnhild Leer-Helgesen, an associate professor at the Department of Global Development and Planning at UiA, and Anna B. Ninsiima, a Post-Doc Scholar and Lecturer at the School of Women and Gender Studies at Makerere University in Uganda. Arnhild shed light on the global challenges facing gender equality, sparking a thought-provoking discussion on the global pressures on women’s rights and the role of religion in this ongoing struggle.
Anna emphasized the crucial role of nurturing environments in enabling gender equality. She passionately expressed, “To achieve equality, we can not only target girls, but we also have to ensure strong institutions and a supportive environment, so they can thrive.” Using compelling examples, she illustrated how institutions and the environment can either boost or hinder girls’ empowerment.
A Journey of Resilience and Hope
The event also welcomed Spogmy Jabarkhil, a board member of the European Network of Migrant Women and director of the Afghan Women Organization. Spogmy shared her remarkable journey from Afghanistan, where women faced oppression, to Norway, where she found herself in a place she considered heaven, with greater freedom for women. She is unwavering in her mission to use her experience and knowledge to empower girls in her homeland, emphasizing the importance of having boys and men as allies rather than adversaries.
Boys and Men as allies
Likewise, closing the event, Knut Straume, an advisor at the United Nations Association Agder, concluded the event by emphasizing the importance of allies in the struggle for equality.
About IDG
IDG provides a global platform for advocating the rights of girls. Confronting movements and actions around the world that threaten the progress made toward gender equality and disproportionately impact girls, it is vital that we rally for their rights. From maternal healthcare and support for adolescent mothers to digital and life skills training, comprehensive sexuality education, survivor support services, and violence prevention programs, there is an urgent need for increased attention and resources in these crucial areas to empower girls to realize their rights and reach their full potential.
The remarkable journey of Gender and digitalisation across context (Gendig) at Makerere University
One of the key interventions of the GENDIG project is to digitalise courses at the Masters programme in Gender Studies at Makerere University, with the aim of enhancing access, increasing timely completion and eliminating attrition/ drop-outs for admitted graduate students. Here, we delve into the intriguing story of how digitalization unfolded, highlighting the significant steps and key individuals who paved the way for this transformative project.
Digitalization is not a mere transfer of life into the digital realm; it entails a complex process involving numerous offline elements and the collaborative efforts of many individuals. At Makerere University, the journey towards digitalization commenced with essential factors such as institutional partnerships flagged off with the signing of a contract between Makerere University and NOARD, political support and project launch at a colorful inception meeting, hardware acquisition, and comprehensive training.
In late 2021, the seeds of this groundbreaking initiative were sown, bringing together a dedicated team of visionaries. Noteworthy figures involved in the project’s inception included Professor Buyinza Mukadasi, the esteemed Director of Graduate School at that time. Alongside him, Professor Josephine Ahikire, the respected Principal of CHUSS (College of Humanities and Social Sciences), and Associate Professor Sarah Ssali, the accomplished Dean of the School of Women and Gender Studies, attended the project launch and gave their remarks at the inception meeting, together with Dr. Ruth Nsibirano the Project PI.
The Gender and Digitisation project garnered essential resources to propel its mission forward. Project equipment, including six cutting-edge laptop computers, a state-of-the-art projector, and a high-quality scanner, were procured. These technological tools were specifically chosen to empower the team in their pursuit of project goals and to facilitate seamless execution.
Monica Nabukalu, Project Administrator and Simon Mabonga, Project Accountant pose with the laptop computers received
Ruth Nsibirano, PI and Joseph Watuleke Project member hand over computer to Simon
The journey of Gendig at Makerere University is a promising testament to the transformative power of digitalization. Stay tuned as we explore further milestones and achievements in this groundbreaking project.
Brigitte Klækken, Silje Dagsvik Eskedal, associate professor Heidi Esma Dahl Bønnhoff, associate professor Arnhild Leer-Helgesen, Ph.D. candidate Rebekka Olsson Omslandseter and Cathrine Vikebakk Stien.
During Democracy Week in Kristiansand, Arnhild Leer-Helgesen, associate professor at Global Development and Planning at UiA and head of the Gendig project, participated in a panel debate on Digitalisation and Technology from an Equality Perspective. She brought a critical view on the structural issues involving the digitalisation of the world, asking who is out and who gains. On her side, Heidi Esma Dahl Bønnhoff, associate professor in the Department of Sociology and Social Work at UiA, pointed out the effects of technology illiteracy on a personal level and how it affects the socialization of women with an immigration background in Norway. Compounding the panel, Rebekka Olsson Omslandseter, Ph.D. Research Fellow from the Department of Information and Communication Technology at UiA brought to the debate the lack of women representatives in technological advances.
Brigitte Klækken, known from the “Det ho sa” podcast, led the panel and asked Arnhild to clarify the structural issues involving women and digitalisation. She explained, “The Universities in Uganda and Tanzania (Makerere University and University of Dar Es Salaam) approached UiA with a wish to digitalise the master’s degree, which is seen and understood as the future to include more students in education. But the problem is that many women do not have access to a mobile telephone or PC. If they have, internet connection can be poor and unstable, in addition, it is very expensive. So digitalisation does not lead to more equality if we do not adress root causes of economic and social inequalities. Then rural women in Eastern Africa will still be the last to benefit from technological advances. We therefore need to do much more that digitalization to include women in for example higher education”. The GENDIG project, financed by Norad, supports digitalization of Gender Studies, but also research that looks into the effects in terms of inclusion.
Inspiration for the panel/debate:
In times of heated cyberactivism, artificial intelligence and social media control, little is focused on global access to the internet and technology. Women are the majority outside this arena, with 37% without access to the digital world. This scenario raises debate due to its personal, structural and technological impact. To discuss this global scenario, Digin, a Norwegian ICT cluster, Kristiansand Municipality, and the University of Agder organized a panel conversation on the 8th of May in the Kristiansand City Hall. The debate was inspired by the UN topic for international women’s Day, DigitALL Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality.
Arnhild Leer-Helgesen was interviewed by NRK Sørlandet on gender equality, related to the October 10th seminar. The interview is in Norwegian and can be found here.
“Introducing the global backlash against gender equality”, Arnhild Leer-Helgesen (UiA/NFU)
“A knowledge-based development cooperation: Whose perspectives counts in the Norwegian strategy for gender equality?”, Kari Marie Thorsen, Senior advisor, Section for Gender Equality, NORAD
“The role of universities in Knowledge Production to address the Backlash on Gender Equality for enhanced cooperation and International development”, Ruth Nsibirano, Lecturer and Post graduate coordinator at the School of Women and Gender Studies, Makerere University
“Promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment in international development– experiences from the field”, Celeste De La Huerta, Senior advisor, Strømme Foundation
“Teaching gender and diversity in a cross-cultural online classroom”, Hanne Haaland, Assciate professor at the Department for Global Development and Planning, UiA.
