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Looking at Gender in Seychelles from the outside

This article discusses the author's observations and experiences with gender in Seychelles, including insights from their research in gender studies and interactions with the local society and education system.

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Looking at Gender in Seychelles from the outside

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  1. Looking at Gender in Seychelles from the outside Impressions and Experiences

  2. My relation to Gender Studies in Research • French teacher at UmU since 1989 • No expert on Gender Studies • I do use GS in my PhD on 19th century Women Writers in the French literary canon as presented in French textbooks Florence Sisask

  3. George Sand, Aurore Dupin, BaronessDudevant (1804-1876), wroteIndiana THE exception ”Rural” novels Cross gender Florence Sisask

  4. My relation to Seychelles • No expert on Seychelles (yet) • Twice a visitor (Nov 2014 and Feb to March 2016) • Taught French 19th and 20th male literature (Université de La Réunion – French standards) • Had no trouble dropping a few women writers’names and introducing new texts • Observed ca 10 French lessons from Crèche, P, S and University • State and private schools • Ecole française des Seychelles and the Vijay International School Florence Sisask

  5. Gender symbols in Seychelles The offspring, which grow at the foot of the female palm trees are given a healthy supply of nutrients and water thanks to this plant version of parental care. The coco de mer palm engages in a lot of effort for reproduction, producing large amounts of pollen and huge fruits that cannot spread around, but rather fall to the ground at the base […] – it does not really make sense. Florence Sisask

  6. Society at large • A matriarchy? • 58% of households headed by women Florence Sisask

  7. No apparent gender separation Florence Sisask

  8. World of Education • Female predominance • Teacher: a feminized profession • French: a feminized subject • Mixed pupils. French is compulsory as one of three official languages. • All teachers were female • 14/16 female students at UniSey • 18/19 female teacher students at SITE • No general rule to draw from such a small sample (age, personality, provenance, etc) Florence Sisask

  9. March 8th 2016 • Acknowledgment of International Women’s Day • Gave a lecture on my research • Attended a class at SITE • Women in general: ”pillar of society”, ”key of the family”, ”responsible”, ”independent”, etc; ”beautiful and respectful” • Women in Seychelles in particular (poems) Florence Sisask

  10. A poem (my translation) The mystery of a coco de mer symbolizes the mystery of the Seychellois woman. We are unique, we are endemic. God placed the cocos de mer exclusively in Seychelles. He also placed us exclusively in Seychelles. Florence Sisask

  11. A rather unnuanced conclusion • Omnipresent and empowered women • Cherchez l’homme! • Witnessed attempts at discussing gender issues • No problem challenging gender imbalance • Visits to come Florence Sisask

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