Stewart, Kiana

Change for Women, Change the World

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Daryl Lee, French Department

Introduction

My project goal was to translate from French to English significant chapters of a study
on gender-based violence (GBV) in Senegal documented by Dr. Fatou Diop Sall. Dr Sall
is the head coordinator of GESTES, a Senegalese research group focused on gender
equality. A previous group of BYU students and ORCA recipients translated sections of
the document that focused on domestic violence, and published the translation with the
WomanStats Project, which is the largest statistical database regarding the status of
women in the world (Hudson, 2015). The chapters I translated deal with GBV in different
spheres, specifically educational spaces (schools, institutes and universities). The
quality of these environments is essential to promoting the success of women. As with
the previous translation efforts, my data is in the process of being published with the
WomanStats Project.

Methodology

My project did not have a traditional scientific format. Thus, my main methodology was
individual translation work. In addition, weekly meetings were a crucial resource to
coordinate team efforts and provide support. During those weekly meetings, Dr. Lee
was able to provide language expertise and teach essential skills to aid the translation
efforts. I personally acted as a liaison to the WomanStats Project in order to harmonize
our translation formatting with the numerous different variables. In addition, we were in
contact with Dr. Fatou Diop Sall who was able to clarify and guide our efforts to ensure
that our understanding of the text and the ensuing translation is precise and accurate.

Results

I was able to translate all seventeen pages concerning gender-based violence in
educational spaces in Senegal. As previously mentioned, this chapter was formerly
available only in its original French language. The chapter gave extensive information
on both the prevalence and types of gender-based violence that occur in each level of
the educational sphere from elementary school to university. In addition, I translated
each of the tables and charts associated with the chapter material. These tables and
charts assisted with the understanding of the presented information.

Discussion

This project is important in two different respects, firstly due to the nature of the data
translated and secondly, the manner in which the finished translation data is being
published. Isobel Coleman, previous senior fellow on the Council of Foreign Relations
and current U.S. representative to the United Nations, said, “educating girls is the single
most effective way to boost economic progress”. The progress of women is linked to
national development across multiple sectors including economic, agriculture, and
health. In fact Kofi Annan, the seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations, stated
“The world is starting to grasp that there is no policy more effective in promoting
development, health and education than the empowerment of women and girls.”
GESTES is one group that is on the forefront to empower women by researching and
gathering information on the issues that threaten them and their actual conditions in
Senegal.

Not only is the information I have translated meaningful, but so is the forum upon which
our translation is being published. A meaningful translation merits a meaningful means
of publication and as significant as our data is, the translation alone would be
incomplete if we did not make this data largely and publicly available. The data was
previously available to a limited audience due to its original French language. However,
translating this research into English now allows it to be available to a significantly larger
international audience. As previously mentioned this data is being published through the
WomanStats Project. The United Nations, the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S.
Congress have vetted this project’s data (www.womanstats.org). Publishing on the
WomanStats Project means that the data will be easily and readily accessible to large
groups and individual researchers. Non-profit groups, organizations and even
governments will ultimately be impacted by the work of GESTES. Our translation and
publication will play a major role in bringing this information to light.

Conclusion

The research I have translated plays a critical role in promoting the development and
the empowerment of women and raising overall awareness of these issues. Once all the
data is published on the WomanStats Database, the information will be accessible
worldwide! Our project could impact the future legislation of African developing nations
that will be able to utilize this study to better understand the prevalence and significance
of gender-based violence. When we bring change to women we bring change to the
world.