Multilingualism in the Teaching of Gender Studies

Authors

  • Pacificah F Okemwa, Dr. Kenyatta University

Keywords:

Multilingualism, gender, African culture proverbs, folktales.

Abstract

How does one introduce the concept "gender" to a first year class? What aspects of their socio-cultural context may one embrace to demonstrate the ̳everyday‘ commonplace reality that gender alludes to? In what ways may students be involved in crafting the meaning of gender using their lived experiences? This paper will explore the use of African culture, more specifically; language, beliefs and practices associated with the social construction of gender. It is noted that much of the scholarship on the understanding of gender concepts are based on Western culture and experience. Yet, in Africa, culture as communicated through language is the overriding determinant of the lives of women, men, boys and girls. It is argued that within local cultural and social settings, the social construction of gender continues and that there are many actors. I n order to achieve vision 2030, and specifically the social pillar, gender equality must be one of the values communicated and taught in the school. In this regard, the paper will endeavour to demonstrate how this may be done. A procedure that incorporates and critiques African culture will be explored. It is anticipated that this will provide clues to social transformation and therefore, a way of working towards achieving gender equality.

Author Biography

Pacificah F Okemwa, Dr., Kenyatta University

Department of Gender and Development Studies

Downloads

Published

2018-08-02

How to Cite

Okemwa, P. F. (2018). Multilingualism in the Teaching of Gender Studies. Msingi Journal, 1(1), 385–408. Retrieved from https://journal.ku.ac.ke/index.php/msingi/article/view/65

Most read articles by the same author(s)

Obs.: This plugin requires at least one statistics/report plugin to be enabled. If your statistics plugins provide more than one metric then please also select a main metric on the admin's site settings page and/or on the journal manager's settings pages.