Witch-hunts on agenda at conference

The fear of being branded a witch has not featured in western research into the barriers to women studying science, but it has emerged as an obstacle among female students in Ghana, writes Olga Wojtas.

John Eminah, senior lecturer in education at the University College of Education in Winneba, will discuss Ghanaian attitudes to women and science at an international conference, Gendering the Millennium, opening today at Dundee University.

A survey of female science students found almost a quarter of 25 to 30-year-olds saw the fear of remaining unmarried as a hindrance to studying science. Many were concerned by the potential label of witch.

"We expect Gendering the Millennium to trigger a variety of international links and initiatives, and to set the agenda for discussion around the gender issues in the next millennium," said Gerda Siann, Dundee's NCR professor of gender relations.