Kiana Stewart and 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.
Figure 1 – Table representing the responses concerning the gender of the author of violence and victim
Figure 2 – Pie Chart of responses concerning victims of gender-based violence in the educational sphere