Voluptuous Vacuous Vamps: Stereotyped Representation of Women in Kiswahili Press

In Tanzania, the press is the second most accessible type of mass media after the radio, a key source of information and entertainmaent. Short stories in two Tanzania daily newspapers publishes in the national language, Kiswahili, were analyzed to investigate how authors represented women. Readers and non-readers of newspapers were also interviewed. The content and linguistic analyses revealed that more than two thirds of the stories depicted women negatively, by using linguistic devices such as derogatory terms, metaphors, diminutive forms, compliments, self-incrimination and the assignment of talk-turns. Derogatory language and content in the stories reflect and perpetuate negative attitudes and beliefs about women in society, are counterproductive, and perpetuate low self-esteem in women. The press should become an agent of social change, towards gender parity and promote a gender sensitive representation of women

Languages of Instruction in Tanzania: Contradictions between Ideology, Policy and Implementation

Contradictions exist among ideologies, language policy statements, and practice regarding the language of instruction (LoI) in primary education in Tanzania. In 1961, independent Tanzania inherited colonial education, using Swahili and English. When socialism was introduced in 1967, Swahili was declared the only LoI. The government legalized private and English-medium schools in the 1990s but maintained Swahili as the LoI. There is an English syllabus for English-medium schools, while the Primary School Leaving Examination is administered in Swahili and English. However, only the elite can afford Englishmedium education. The majority of children attend Swahili-medium government schools. The government needs to firmly establish that both Swahili and English are LoI of primary education, because English is the LoI of secondary and post-secondary education. The government must enable all children to master both languages in order for them to acquire an education that allows them to compete favourably for employment