LEGACY OF PATRIARCHAL GOD AND THE POLITICS OF MYTH-MAKING: LOCATING THE GENDERED POSITION IN RELIGIOUS VISUAL ART

This essay discusses how the imagination of women in India is framed up by the gender-biased mythical representations. By looking at the mythical representations that are circulated through centuries in many popular mages, paintings and calendar-portraits, a discursive pattern can be found that has positioned women in a secondary level, belonging to men. The family itself becomes a political site in the process of normalizing women’s submissiveness to men by comparing their actions with the Goddesses. By interrogating the gendered position of Goddess like Lakshmi and her male counterpart Lord Vishnu, this essay attempts to problematize with the mode of representation in religious visual images. I conclude by arguing that these religious representations in visual images have negative impact on the Hindu women, especially, in rural areas and thus keep the unhealthy gender role intact in Indian society.

Female Sexual Dysfunction in Diabetes: Mechanisms, Diagnosis and Treatment

: Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) is an underinvestigated comorbidity of diabetes mellitus, often not evaluated in diabetes clinics. Diabetic women should be encouraged to talk about this topic by their diabetologist, because these problems could be comorbid to cardio-metabolic alterations, as it happens in the male counterpart. This review summarizes evidence on sexual dysfunction characteristics in diabetic women, exploring possible underlying pathogenic mechanisms. The role of hypoglycemic drugs in this context was also evaluated. To date, no specific questionnaire has been designed for the assessment of sexual dysfunctions in diabetic female patients but the use of colour-doppler ultrasound of clitoral arteries has been highlighted as a useful tool for the assessment of cardiovascular risk in these women. Similarly, no specific guidelines are available for the treatment of FSD in the diabetic population but patients should be supported to have a healthy lifestyle and, in the absence of contraindications, can benefit from already approved treatments for FSD.

A Genetically Defined Male Counterpart of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Evidence for Ovarian-Independent Pathogenesis

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a heterogeneous condition that affects 6-10% of women of reproductive age. PCOS is often characterized by a triad of ovulatory dysfunction, hyperandrogenism, and cardiometabolic dysfunction. Both ovarian-related and ovarian-independent factors have been implicated in the pathogenesis of PCOS, but it remains to be determined which are the inciting events and which are the secondary consequences. Studies of male relatives of women with PCOS have proposed a male counterpart of PCOS, which suggests that PCOS is not always a primary disorder of female reproduction, but rather can be, at least in part, a condition of cardiometabolic dysregulation and hyperandrogenism, with ovarian dysfunction as a secondary consequence. Methods: To investigate a genetically defined male counterpart of PCOS, we optimized a polygenic risk score (PRS) algorithm for predicting PCOS based on 206,851 unrelated women of European ancestry in the UK Biobank, then used this algorithm to calculate PCOS PRS for 176,360 men in the UK Biobank. We used logistic regression to calculate odds ratios for dichotomous outcomes by comparing men with high and low PRS (testing a variety of percentile cutoffs) and ANCOVA to compare continuous outcomes across deciles of PRS. All analyses were adjusted for age, age2, assessment center, genotyping array, and the first 10 principal genetic components to account for ancestry. Results: Men who carried a high PCOS PRS (top 20%) had a 17% increased risk of obesity defined as BMI ≥30 kg/m2 (OR 1.17, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.14-1.20, p=1.3x10-30), 15% increased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (OR 1.15, 95% CI 1.09-1.20, p=5.3x10-8), 5% increased risk of coronary artery disease (OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.01-1.09, p=0.03), and 5% increased risk for androgenic alopecia (OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.01-1.08, p=0.01). BMI, hemoglobin A1c, triglycerides, and the free androgen index all increased across deciles of the PRS, while HDL and SHBG decreased across PRS deciles (p all <0.001). The relationship between the PCOS PRS and coronary artery disease, HDL, and triglycerides appeared to be mediated by BMI. In contrast, the associations between the PCOS PRS and type 2 diabetes mellitus and hemoglobin A1c remained significant after adjusting for BMI, suggesting independent mechanisms of pathogenesis. Conclusions: By demonstrating associations between PCOS genetic risk factors and cardiometabolic dysfunction and androgenic conditions in men, we have shown that these genetic risk factors can act independently of ovarian function. Thus, at least in some cases, the reproductive dysfunction of PCOS in women may arise secondarily from disruption of biological pathways common to both men and women. Future dissection of these biological pathways will further inform efforts to identify pathological mechanisms underlying PCOS.

Chinweizu’s Assumptions of Women’s Power in Anatomy of Female Power: A Critique

Culturally speaking, the African woman is saddled with onerous responsibilities that perpetually put her at a disadvantage over her male counterpart. Ranging from the kitchen to child bearing, care giving and child rearing to the farm and market and many more, the African woman spends her life playing the motherly role with its numerous sacrifices attached. Meanwhile, she is acquired by her man through the customary “bride price” to become a wife, and more so, she is disregarded by society if she does not have children. When she is not educated, or she gets impregnated and drops out of school, she assumes the status of a house wife and child-breeder, while her male counterpart continues his education. Most women depend on their husbands for financial support and also some go the extra mile to assume the responsibility of breadwinning when their husbands are faced with financial challenges. Nevertheless, a woman’s educational training is a potent weapon for her liberation. Against this background, this study critically assesses Chinweizu’s assumptions of female power in Anatomy of Female Power in the context of prevalent cultural practices to ascertain the true position of today’s African woman viś-a-viś existing patriarchal hegemony in the Nigerian society. To this end, Feminist Theory serves as the theoretical framework for this discourse. This article examines the kinds or nature of female power that exists through Chinweizu’s evaluation of women’s role in their marital home which could transcend into political and cultural powers when harnessed. This study concludes by stating that women’s perceived powers are natural roles due to their biology which may not indeed be considered as powers however, if given favourable conditions, they can become a potent force in exercising female leadership in society.

INTELLIGENCE QUOTIENT (IQ) AND SEX: PREDICTORS OF ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, EMOTIONAL STATE, SOCIAL ADAPTABILITY AND WORK ATTITUDE

This study focused on determining the association of IQ and sex to academic performance, emotional state, social adaptability, and work attitude of the students taking education in NEUST-Gabaldon Campus. Questionnaires are administered to find out the association of IQ and sex to academic performance, emotional state, social adaptability, and work attitude. A descriptive – correlational design was employed in this study. The study showed that there is a significant association of sex to academic performance, emotional state, social adaptability and work attitude. It implied that sex can be use as a predictor of academic performance, emotional state, social adaptability and work attitude. Data also implied that in this population the male group are more academically equipped than the female counterpart. Data also showed that the female group are more emotional than the male counterpart. Furthermore, the male group are more socially active and work directed. There is a correlation of IQ to academic performance, emotional state, social adaptability and work attitude. It implies that IQ is a predictor of academic performance, emotional state, social adaptability and work attitude, but there is no significant association between sex and IQ. KEYWORDS: Intelligence Quotient (IQ), sex, Academic Performance, Emotional State, Social Adaptability, Work Attitude.

The Paradox of Increasing Women's Space and Influence in Public Life in Africa

Although women in Africa have become socially and fairly economically visible of late, African women have not been as politically noticeable as their male counterpart. Yet knowledge of their interest and expectations has made them serve as appendages to men or become actors on the sidelines of public space. This chapter takes a look at the different ideological and political interest where women's involvement in politics is mostly dictated by men. It explores African women's emerging public space and influence in politics and political participation through the office of the first lady.

The Method of Da’wah of Jama’ah Mastūrah in Increasing Religious Awareness of Women in Aceh Besar

Jama’ah Mastūrah refers to a congregation of women division of Jama’ah Tabligh. As is the case of the male counterpart, Jama’ah Mastūrah also takes part in Islamic missionary activities. However, this group does not carry out da’wah in an open space or in front of the congregation. This study aimed to analyze the method of da’wah carried out by Jama’ah Mastūrah in raising women religious awareness in Aceh Besar. The study used qualitative approach and the descriptive analysis method. Data were collected by interview and documentation study. The results showed that the da’wah method carried out by Jama'ah Masṭurah was the method of da’wah bi al-lisān, bi al-kitābah and bi al-hāl. The bi al-lisān method is carried out by inviting the surrounding community to invite people to pray, wear a headscarf, recite the Qur'an and attend ta'lim activities in their homes. The bi al-kitābah is a method of da’wah by means of written materials, such as books, billboards, banners, bulletin boards, or pamphlets, containing messages of da’wah to mad’ū. The bi al-hāl method is carried out by showing noble morals, maintaining the limits of the genitals and avoiding meeting with men who are not mahram.

Business empowerment of women in the Mypes. Francisco I. Madero Case

Objectives. The objective of this work is to focus on the presence of women in the Mypes of the Municipality of Francisco I Madero, their impact on the social, economic and family environment. Methodology. A quantitative instrument is used to evaluate and analyze the management of women as directors of the Mypes of the municipality and make a contrast with the operation of their male counterpart. Contribution. The contribution of this document is the exploration of the female gender in the management of companies, to investigate if there is inequality and inequality of gender and to inquire about the business empowerment of women and their entrepreneurial capacity to direct, control and achieve the profitability of Mypes.

TO EVALUATE PRE- AND POST-OPERATIVE HEARING OUTCOME AFTER TYMPANOPLASTY: A COMPARATIVE STUDY.

Aims: The aim of this study is to evaluate hearing outcome in the pre- and post-operative after tympanoplasty Materials and Methods: The present observations study was conducted on 30 randomly selected patients visited the department of ENT, Nalanda Medical College and Hospital, Patna, Bihar, India. Thirty cases of diagnosed chronic otitis media, aged above 18 years, with a demonstrable conductive deafness not more than 40 dB was included in the study. Results: The mean age of the patients is 32.16 ± 3.61 years. Female outnumbered male counterpart. Commonest presenting complaints was Otorrhoea (93.3%) followed by Hearing loss (86.7%), Vertigo (53.3%) and Tinnitus is found in (40.0%) of patients. The mean pre- and post-operative outcomes in terms Pure tone (p<0.05), Air-bone gap (p<0.05) and Hearing gain (p<0.05). Conclusions: The present study concluded that Tympanoplasty is a beneficial procedure for hearing improvement and the eradication of the disease. Keywords: ENT