An investigation of the sexist application of the morality concept of Tsika in the Shona culture of Zimbabwe

We investigated the sexist application of a morality concept of Tsika, characterized by communal traits, in the Shona culture of Zimbabwe. Tsika has been defined as “politeness, civility and circumlocution” (Samkange & Samkange, 1980, p. 74), thus generally falling under communal traits. Theoretical literature suggests that although Tsika is a cultural ideal for all Shona people, it is especially expected of women and children, and that women can be punished like children if they lack Tsika. This research tested whether Tsika would be expected more of women (and children) than men. In line with ambivalent sexism theory, it was predicted that, because Tsika is constituted of communal traits, a bias in its expectation of women over men would be predicted by benevolent sexism. Furthermore, the research tested whether women (and children) would be judged more negatively than men if they defaulted on Tsika. It was hypothesized that a more negative evaluation of women than men if they defaulted on Tsika would be predicted by hostile sexism. Results confirmed that Tsika is expected more of women than of men. Benevolent sexism and its interaction with hostile sexism predicted the bias in expectation of Tsika of women over men. Results also confirmed that women who default on Tsika are evaluated more negatively than men. Hostile sexism predicted the bias in negative evaluations of women over men who default on Tsika

Exploring a linguistic intergroup bias on communication of compound-word names and acronyms among political parties

According to the linguistic intergroup bias (LIB), positive actions of ingroup members are described with more abstract predicates than those of outgroup members, whereas negative actions of ingroup members are described with more concrete predicates than those of outgroup members. The researchers extrapolated the LIB to compound-word names (for example African National Congress) and their acronymic equivalents (for example A.N.C). They theorized that compound-word names are positive abstract terms, thus, suiting description of the ingroup’s positive identity. Besides, their concrete equivalents acronyms can be easily ascribed a negative meaning and, thus, would be suitable for outgroups. Using content and discourse analysis on a sample of nine African political parties, they investigated the hypothesis that people mention a compound-word name of an ingroup more frequently than of outgroups. Results indicated that people use compound-word names more frequently than outgroups. They explained the effect as a form of a linguistic intergroup bias

Exploring the Challenges of Evidence-based HIV and AIDS Prevention Interventions in Africa

The purpose of this study is to explore the challenges associated with evidence-based interventions in HIV prevention in Africa. New technologies are being developed and tried in Africa to reduce HIV infection and to treat people living with HIV and AIDS. The HIV prevention clinical trials are conducted in selected African countries. Some of the countries that participate in HIV prevention clinical trials are Benin, Botswana, Cote d’Ivoire, Kenya, South Africa, Swaziland, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The sponsors of HIV prevention research are looking for better and safer methods that could be developed to improve current healthcare products used in HIV prevention and treatment. The study surveyed the challenges associated with HIV prevention technologies highlighting both positive indicators of success and negative indicators of technology failure. Attendant health risks associated with prevention failure are discussed. Direction for future studies could focus on HIV risk reduction in clinical trials

Research PaperPredicting HIV risk using a locus of control-based model among university students

Objective:The purpose of the study was to predict HIV risk using a locus of control-based intervention. The locus of control-based variables that were used in this study were social systems control, self-control, fatalism and achievement-oriented behaviour. The study sample was made up of 257 university students whose ages ranged from 17–20 years. All the students were black. Method: The study assessed participants’ perceived health control perceptions using Rotter’s locus of control scale, social systems control scale, self-control scale, fatalism scale, the intellectual responsibility questionnaire and HIV risk assessment questionnaire. The study performed correlational and linear regression analyses using statistical software SAS to  establish the relationship between locus of control-based factors and HIV risk. Results: The results showed significant correlations between locus of control-based variables and HIV risk. The locus of control-based model significantly predicted variance in HIV risk. Conclusion: Directions for future research on the relationship between locus of control-based interventions and HIV risk could focus on the development of locus of control-based HIV risk reduction interventions in South African universities. Journal of Child and Adolescent Mental Health 2010, 22(2): 119–12

Violence, Interpersonal Trust and Gullibility in HIV Risk in Africa

The aim of this study is to investigate the possibility of using Rotter’s social learning theory in understanding violence, interpersonal trust and gullibility in HIV prevention. The study examines social learning concepts and how they can be applied to HIV prevention programmes in violent circumstances. The study surveyed forms of violence prevalent in Africa that can make people vulnerable to HIV infection. The forms of violence discussed in this paper are: political violence, intimate partner violence, violence against minority groups, domestic violence, violence against orphaned and vulnerable children, and violence against gays and lesbians. The argument of this paper is that violence is more likely to lower people’s levels of interpersonal trust and it could be associated with gullibility in HIV prevention.AFRICA INSIGHT Vol 42 (1) – June 201

Defining a responsible university: society, impact, relevance and growth

The idea of responsible institutions has recently gained international recognition and is not limited to the business or corporate sector but has even spread to educational institutions such as universities. A responsible university acts for the benefit of society and this social responsibility drives its mandate to deliver education to society. Social responsibility is a fundamental operational framework of the university and is as important as the education imparted to society by the university. This paper considers the concept of a responsible institution from the contextual platform of the relatively new University of Mpumalanga (UMP), South Africa. The study examines: the concept of a responsible university in relation to the strategic framework of a university; the practical objectives that incorporate social responsibility; and the long-term goals of the university in maintaining the tradition of a responsible university with respect to society, impact, relevance and growth. One of a responsible university’s objectives is to inform and educate society and to produce relevant and impactful research which stimulates economic growth. This objective is achieved when the university adopts transparency and formulated reasoning in its operations and decisionmaking processes. UMP has a general responsibility to ensure that the impact and growth she seeks to achieve resonates within every aspect of the institution, as well as within society

Examining Perceptions of Sexual Harassment among Recent Female Graduates in the Workplace

The aim of the study was to examine perceptions of sexual harassment among recent female graduates in Johannesburg. A qualitative methodology was used to assess participants’ perception of sexual harassment in the workplace. There were eight black unmarried women who volunteered to participate in the study. The snowballing technique was used to recruit participants. Participants were graduates from universities and tertiary colleges. The women were interviewed and the data was analysed qualitatively using thematic content analysis. The results showed that sexual harassment was perceived negatively as a violation of human rights, even though the concept was understood differently by participants. Directions for future research could focus on enablers and inhibitors of reporting sexual harassment among recent graduates in the workplace