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About: Thera Mjaaland Academic publications Theses
Mjaaland, Thera (2013) At the frontiers of change? Women and girls' pursuit of education in north-western Tigray, Ethiopia. PhD-dissertation, Gender and Development, University of Bergen. Mjaaland, Thera (2004) Ane suqh' ile. I keep quiet. Focusing on women's agency in western Tigray, North-Ethiopia. Hovedfagsoppgave/Cand. polit. thesis, Department of Social Anthropology, University of Bergen. Bergen: Self published.
Peer-reviewed academic articles Mjaaland, Thera (2024) 'Self-reliant' refugees as 'development actors': Dignity or disawoval of responsibilty? The case of Eritrean refugees in Ethiopia. Forum for Development Studies, 1-24. DOI: 10.1080/08039410.2023.2293076. Mjaaland, Thera (2018) Negotiating gender norms in the context of equal access to education in north-western Tigray, Ethiopia. Gender and Education, 30(2):139-155.
Mjaaland, Thera (2017) Co-photographing in north-western Tigray, Ethiopia. AnthroVision, 5.2. Mjaaland, Thera (2017) Imagining the real: The photographic image and imagination in knowledge production. Visual Anthropology, 30(1):1-21. Mjaaland, Thera (2015) Whose authority? The religious conditioning of decision-making in the context of right to reproductive choice in north-western Tigray, Ethiopia. Annales d'Ethiopie. Special Issue: Women, gender and religions in Ethiopia, 30:151-171. Mjaaland, Thera (2014) Having fewer children makes it possible to educate them all: an ethnographic study of fertility decline in north-western Tigray, Ethiopia. Reproductive Health Matters, 22(43):104-112. Mjaaland, Thera (2009) Evocative Encounters: An Exploration of Artistic Practice as a Visual Research Method. Visual Anthropology, 22 (5):393-411. Mjaaland, Thera (2006) Saleni, fotografer meg! Om sammenhenger mellom fotografisk representasjon og forståelse av personen i Tigray, Etiopia. Norsk Antropologisk Tidsskrift 17(1):33-47. (English version).
Nordanger, Dag; Mjaaland, Thera; Lie, Gro Th. (2006) PTSD og traumekonfrontasjon i et kulturelt perspektiv. Tidsskrift for Norsk Psykologi Forening, 43(12):1292-1299.
Books and chapters in books
Mjaaland, Thera (2021) (In)decisive moments: Self-portraits before and beyond the selfie. Bergen: Theram Production.
Mjaaland, Thera (2021). Revolutionary struggles and girls’ education: At the frontiers of gender norms in North-Ethiopia. Lanham, Boulder, New York, London: Lexington Books.
Mjaaland, Thera (2016) Mapping decision-making; the case of Tigrayan women’s contraceptive use. In, Movements in Ethiopia/Ethiopia in Movements. Proceedings of the 18th International Conference of Ethiopian Studies (2 vol). Éloi Ficquet, Ahmed Hassen Omer & Thomas Osmond (eds.), 197-210. Los Angeles, CFEE/Institute of Ethiopian Studies of Addis Ababa University/Tsehai Publishers.
Mjaaland, Thera (2013) Traversing art practice and anthropology; notes on ambiguity and epistemological uncertainty. In, Anthropology and Art Practice. Arnd Schneider & Christopher Wright (eds.), 50-59. London, New Delhi, New York, Sidney: Bloomsbury.
Nordanger, Dag; Mjaaland, Thera (2006) Trauma avoidance in Tigrayan folk-psychology. Implications for psychosocial work with refugees and asylum seekers. In, Sosiology at the Frontiers of Psychology. Gwynyth Øverland (ed.), 130-148. Cambridge Scholars Press.
Mjaaland, Thera (2004) Betrayed? A gendered perspective on war and peace processes with focus on Tigrayan women's strategies. In, Prospects for peace, security and human rights in Africa's Horn. Gunnar Sørbø & Siegfried Pausewang (eds.), 86-101. Bergen: Fagbokforlaget.
Mjaaland, Thera (2004) Beyond the coffee ceremony. Women's agency in western Tigray, North-Ethiopia. In, Betwixt and Between. Sosialantropologstudentenes Årbok: Master og Hovedfag, 14:171-187. University of Oslo.
Mjaaland, Thera (2002) Representation and Self-presentation. On photography as methodology in social anthropological research. In, Hovedfagsstudentenes Årbok, 13:73-86. University of Oslo.
Mjaaland, Thera (2000) Houses/Homes. Bergen Academy of Art and Design.
Films Mjaaland, Thera & Kibrom Mebrahtom (2023) Speaking the Unspeakable: In the aftermath of weaponized rape in Tigray, North-Ethiopia. Documentary published on Vimeo in Tigrinya with English sub-titles (28:07 min).
Mjaaland, Thera (2021) ‘The Music that Makes Wonders. Embilta players in Asgede Tsimbla Wereda, north-western Tigray, Ethiopia.’ Documentary published on Youtube in Tigrinya with English sub-titles (19:39 min).
Ali, Chiku, Thera Mjaaland, and Agnete Strøm (2020) ‘No going back! Anti-FGM activism in Singida Region, Tanzania.’ Documentary to be published on YouTube in Nyatutu/Swahili with English sub-titles (59:12 min).
Mjaaland, Thera (2020) ‘Moments of Communication: Learning Science Diplomacy.’ Documentary film from Bergen Summer Research School 2019. Production: BSRS and UiB Learning Lab, UiB. Published on YouTube (28:18 min).
Mjaaland, Thera (2019) ‘Dialogues about abortion.’ Research documentary from north-western Tigray, Ethiopia published on YouTube in Tigrinya with English sub-titles (28:48 min).
Mjaaland, Thera (2019) ‘Participants.’ Documentary on youth who participated in Thera Mjaaland’s research-based edutainment drama ‘Choices & Consequences’ in north-western Tigray, Ethiopia. Published on YouTube in Tigrinya with English sub-titles (48:18 min).
Mjaaland, Thera (2019) ‘Masho’s monologue.’ On the prospect of becoming a professional actor in Ethiopia. Published on YouTube in Tigrinya with English sub-titles (17:04 min).
Mjaaland, Thera (2018) Producer of the edutainment drama, Love Complications, by Shewit Goytom, Dejen Fisseha, Helen Girmay, Mekonnen Goytom, Masho Azenaw, Merhawit Teshome, Bethelhem Haileselassie, Tedros Guesh, Tewelde Negassie and Tekleweyni Berhe. Cinematic drama published on YouTube in Tigrinya and English (23:19 min). Mjaaland, Thera (2018) Choices & Consequences: An edutainment drama about youth sexual and reproductive health. Part 3 & 4. Cinematic drama published on YouTube in Tigrinya and English (19:36 & 20:57 min). Tewodros Hailemikael & Thera Mjaaland (2018) Three days of freedom. Women’s Ashenda celebration in Mekelle, Tigray, North-Ethiopia. Documentary published on Youtube (46:42 min). Mjaaland, Thera & Anna Webster (2018) Fighting for fitness. Student work from Grenada Centre for Visual Anthropology, Manchester University, June 2017. Short documentary published on YouTube (7:43 min). Mjaaland, Thera (2017) Choices & Consequences. An edutainment drama about youth sexual and reproductive health. Part 2. Tigrinya and English versions available on YouTube. Mjaaland, Thera (2016) Choices & Consequences. An edutainment drama about youth sexual and reproductive health. Part 1. Tigrinya and English versions available on YouTube. Mjaaland, Thera & Genet Ashebir (2014) At the frontiers of change. Girls’ education in north-western Tigray, Ethiopia. Documentary film disseminating PhD findings. Tigrinya and English versions available on YouTube. Conferences/seminars/film festivals
Mjaaland, Thera (2022) Screening of the documentary, ‘The Music that Makes Wonders. Embilta players in Asgede Tsimbla Wereda, north-western Tigray, Ethiopia’ at the 41st NAFA film festival, Transylvania, Romania, 6-11 September.
Mjaaland, Thera (2021) Screening of the documentary, ‘The Music that Makes Wonders. Embilta players in Asgede Tsimbla Wereda, north-western Tigray, Ethiopia’ at the 10th International Festival of Ethnographic Film. Kratovo, 1-3 October.
Mjaaland, Thera (2021) Screening of the documentary, ‘Participants’, and Roundtable at SIEF2021 15th (digital) Congress: Breaking the rules? Power, participation, transgression. Helsinki 19-24 June.
Mjaaland, Thera (2021) Youth engagement in research on sexual and reproductive health in North-Ethiopia. Panel presentation at RAI Online Conference. Bristol 25-28 March.
Mjaaland, Thera (2019) Exploring methods of engagement in research on youth sexual and reproductive health (with sceening of the edutainment drama 'Love Complications'). Global Health Conference: Competence building for impact - time for revolution. Bergen, 2-3 April. Mjaaland, Thera (2019) Sexual and reproductive health edutainment with and for youth in Ethiopia. SAFEZT Conference. Dar es Salaam, 5-6 March. Tewodros Hailemikael & Thera Mjaaland (2018) ‘Three days of freedom. Women’s Ashenda celebration in Mekelle, Tigray, North-Ethiopia.’ Documentary screened at the 7th International Festival of Ethnographic Film, Kratovo, 5-7 October. Tewodros Hailemikael & Thera Mjaaland (2018) ‘Three days of freedom. Women’s Ashenda celebration in Mekelle, Tigray, North-Ethiopia.’ Documentary screened at ICES20, Mekelle, 1-5 October. Mjaaland, Thera (2018) The myth of female virginity from a comparative perspective. Paper presented to the panel, Gendering reproduction and fertility control in Ethiopia’ (convened by Mulumebet Zenebe and Thera Mjaaland). ICES20, Mekelle 1-5 October. Mjaaland, Thera (2018) Film screening of 'Choices & Consequences: An edutainment drama about youth, sexual and reproductive health’, on the seminar & workshop, Abortion Rights & Health Effects: Global perspectives. Bergen Resource Centre, 1 February.
Mjaaland, Thera (2017) Exploring methods of engagement in research on youth SRH. Invited speaker to the Royal Norwegian Embassy Conference on Health, Science and Higher Education. Film screening of Choices & Consequences, Part 2 and project presented with three of the participating youth, Shewit Goytom, Tekleweyni Berhe and Kibrom Mebrahtum. Addis Ababa, 8 November.
Mjaaland, Thera (2017) Houses/Homes: the material demarcation of the middle-class. Photo exhibition in the audio-visual program ‘Dwelling: crisis, craft, creativity in audiovisual media’. SIEF2017 13th Congress, Göttingen, 26-30 March.
Mjaaland, Thera (2016) Negotiating normativity in gender research: A case from Tigray, Ethiopia. Paper presented at the Nordic Intercultural Communication Conference, NLA, Bergen, 24-26 November.
Mjaaland, Thera (2016) The Travelling Self. Artist presentation at the international seminar SELF | IMAGE | PUBLIC. Fritt Ord Oslo/Preus Museum Horten, 1-2 October. Mjaaland, Thera (2016) Method of engagement in gender research. Paper presented to the panel 'Gender research and gender-responsive methodologies', Nordic Africa Days, Nordic Africa Institute, Uppsala, 23-24 September. Mjaaland, Thera (2016) Photographic ambiguity and academic knowledge. Paper presented at the international conference Photography in Academic Research, University College of London, 8-9 September.
Laine, Anna & Mjaaland, Thera (2016) An Ethnography of Photographies. Lab (conveners), 14th EASA Biennial conference, Milano, 20-23 July. Mjaaland, Thera (2016) Power and agency in visual anthropology. Paper presented to the panel ‘Producing and transmitting knowledge audio- and/or visually’, 14th EASA Biennial conference, Milano, 20-23 July. Mjaaland, Thera (2015) Girls’ education: Lessons for a post-2015 development agenda. Paper presented to the working group "Re-politicising 'gender' in the global development agenda" (conveners Edmé Dominiguez, Hauda Mahdi, Thera Mjaaland & Haldis Haukanes), Nordic Conference on Development Research (Nordev15), Gothenburg, Sweden, November 5-6. Mjaaland, Thera (2015) What about girls’ education in conflict-affected populations when most of the refugees are boys and young men? The case of Eritrean refugees in UNHCR camps in Tigray, Ethiopia. Paper presented to the seminar/workshop, Mapping girls’ education in conflict and emergencies. Bergen Resource Centre/CMI, June 23-24. Mjaaland, Thera (2015) Screening of the documentary: 'At the frontiers of change', 14th RAI International Festival of Ethnographic Film, Bristol, UK, June 16-19. Mjaaland, Thera (2014) Dissemination of findings back to the local community where the research took place. Screening of the documentary film: At the frontiers of change. Hemil Research Day: Dissemination and visibility of research and researchers. University of Bergen, December 5. Mjaaland, Thera (2014) Climate change, population and sustainable development: A gender perspective. Paper presented to the Open MC-venues seminar, Climate Change: Links to Health, Gender and Sustainable Development. Hemil/University of Bergen, November 14. Mjaaland, Thera (2014) At the frontiers of change. Girls’ education in North-western Tigray, Ethiopia. Documentary film disseminating PhD findings screened in the stream ‘Feminist resistance, resistance to feminism’, NORA Conference - Voices in Nordic Gender Research, Roskilde University, November 5-7. Mjaaland, Thera (2014) Feminist paradoxes in gender egalitarianism. Paper presented in the stream 'Feminist resistance, resistance to feminism', NORA Conference - Voices in Nordic Gender Research, Roskilde University, November 5-7. Mjaaland, Thera (2014) Ethiopian Encounters: Power and agency in development research. Paper presented to the panel 'What do we learn from "shared" research projects?', NFU conference, On Whose Terms? University of Tromsø, October 1-2. Mjaaland, Thera (2014) Presence in photographic representation through absence. Paper presented at the RAI conference Anthropology and Photography in the panel 'Reasserting presence: reclamation, recognition and photographic desire', British Museum, London, May 29-31. Mjaaland, Thera (2014) The issue of imagination in knowledge production. Paper presented to the panel 'Art-Science-Anthropology', NAF annual conference, Bergen, May 2-4. Mjaaland, Thera (2013) Maernet biqalsi, equality through struggle: some notes on the Tigrayan context, Ethiopia. Paper presented to the panel 'Tracing Gender in Aid: Global dynamics', Ida Blom Conference: Gendered Citizenship: History, Politics and Democracy, University of Bergen, October 14-15. Mjaaland, Thera (2013) Portrait photography as mediating anthropological knowledge. Paper presented to the panel 'Photography as mediating anthropological knowledge' (conveners (Anna Laine & Thera Mjaaland), 17th IUAES conference Evolving Humanity, Emerging Worlds, University of Manchester, August 5-10. Mjaaland, Thera (2012) Mapping decision-making; the case of Tigrayan women’s contraceptive use. Paper presented to the panel 'Movements in Gender/Gendered Movements' (conveners Anne Britt Flemmen, Emezat Hailu & Thera Mjaaland), 18th International Conference of Ethiopian Studies, Dire Dawa University, Ethiopia, October 29 - November 2. Mjaaland, Thera (2012) Traversing art and science: examples from photographic practice. Paper presented to the panel 'Photography as Mediation' (conveners Anna Laine & Thera Mjaaland), SANT-NAF conference, Stockholm, May 4-6. Mjaaland, Thera (2011) At the frontiers of femaleness in north-western Tigray, Ethiopia. Paper presented to the second International Visual Methods Conference, Open University, Milton Keynes, UK, September 13-15. Mjaaland, Thera (2010) Transnational circulation of representations with a focus on Ethiopia. Paper presented to the international and interdisciplinary seminar Transnational/Global Feminism: Issues, Contestations, Challenges (conference conveners Kari Jegestedt, Marit T. Østebø & Thera Mjaaland), University of Bergen, May 25-26. Mjaaland, Thera (2010) Girls' educational strategies and visual practice: a gendered case from Tigray, Ethiopia. Paper presented in the thematic group Poverty, intersecting inequalities and girls' right to education for the e-conference of UNGEI E4, April 12 - May 14.
Mjaaland, Thera (2010) Visual practice and educational strategies; a gendered case from Tigray, Ethiopia. Paper presented to the Annual Gender and Development seminar, University of Bergen, 2 February. Mjaaland, Thera (2009) Reflections on empowerment, violence and gender identity. Paper presented to the Annual Gender and Development Seminar, University of Bergen, January 12-13. Mjaaland, Thera (2008) Art practice, research practice? Paper presented to the panel 'Art and Ethnography', 9th SIEF conference, University of Ulster, Derry, Northern Ireland, June 16-20. Mjaaland, Thera (2005) Are 'free choice', 'force' and 'false consciousness' the only alternatives when analysing women's agencies? Paper presented to the panel 'Women's agency and choice as a controversy in multicultural society', Crossroads. Debating Women's Rights, Racism and Religion. University of Oslo, May 30 - June 1.
Public presentations/commentaries/feature articles
Mjaaland, Thera (2020) Moments of Communication: Learning Science Diplomacy. A teaching-learning experiment at Bergen Summer Research School 2019. Essay in partial fulfillment of the basic module of the university pedagogy course (10 ECTS). Published in BORA.
Mclean, Emily, Thera Mjaaland, and Mette Løkeland, (2020) Abort heime og ute: Siste nytt fra Norge, verda, Etiopia. Innlegg og visning av Mjaaland’s dokumentarfilm ‘Dialogues about abortion’. Bergen Offentlige Bibliotek, 5. mars.
Mjaaland, Thera (2018) Altogether 8 public screenings of the edutainment drama 'Choices & Consequences', Part 1-4, and 'Love Complications' in Asgede Tsimbla Wereda (district) Tigray. Endabaguna 19 October & 1 November, Mayshek 20 October, Edaga Hibret 21 October, Hitsats 27 October, May Hanse 28 October, Adi Mehameday 3 November, and Kisadgeba 4 November. Mjaaland, Thera (2018) Film launch of the documentary, Three days of freedom. Women’s Ashenda celebration in Mekelle, Tigray, North-Ethiopia, by Tewodros Hailemikael & Thera Mjaaland. Litteraturhuset i Bergen, 14 March. Mjaaland, Thera (2017) Public screenings of the edutainment drama ‘Choices & Consequences’, Part 1 & 2, Endabaguna, Tigray, 6 and 29 October.
Mjaaland, Thera and Camila Gianella (2017) US re-instating the ‘Global Gag Rule’ – what now? Breakfast Forum, Bergen Resource Centre, 21 February.
Mjaaland, Thera, Karen Marie Moland & Agnete Strøm (2017) Kan Trump stoppe kvinners abortrett? Kronikk, Bergens Tidende, 20. februar. Mjaaland, Thera (2016) Norwegian film launch of the edutainment drama 'Choices & Consequences'. Global Day of Action for Access to Safe and Legal Abortion. Bergen Public Library, 28 September. Mjaaland, Thera (2016) Public screening of the documentary film 'At the frontiers of change' and the cinematic edutainment drama 'Choices & Consequences', Mayshek, Tigray, Ethiopia, 5 June. Mjaaland, Thera (2016) Public screening of the documentary film 'At the frontiers of change' and the cinematic edutainment drama 'Choices & Consequences', Endabaguna, Tigray, Ethiopia, 13 and 17 May. Mjaaland, Thera (2015) Lessons for SDG 5: achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. Open presentation and screening of the documentary film: 'At the frontiers of change'. Bergen Resource Centre, May 7. Mjaaland, Thera (2014) Jenters utdanning skaper ikke nødvendigvis likestilling og utvikling. Kronikk på forskning.no, 11. desember. Mjaaland, Thera and Agnete Strøm (2013) Norway: Time to unite. Kvinner Sammen, nr 3. Wubs, Annegreet; Masego Tameku & Thera Mjaaland (2014) Sexuality, gender dynamics and development goals. Public presentation. Bergen Resource Center, University of Bergen, September 17. Mjaaland, Thera (2013) Re-thinking photography in anthropological research: Reflections based on visual encounters in Tigray, Ethiopia. Open lecture. Bergen Resource Center, University of Bergen, June 4. Mjaaland, Thera (2010) Opening address to the international and interdisciplinary seminar Transnational/Global Feminism: Issues, Contestations, Challenges, University of Bergen, May 25-26. Mjaaland, Thera (2004) Bokanmeldelse av Aud Talles bok Om kvinnelig omskjering: debatt og erfaring. Samlaget 2003, og boka til Hege Storhaug, Feminin integrering: utfordringer i et fleretnisk samfunn. HRS 2003. Babylon. Tidsskrift om Midtøsten og Nord-Afrika, (1):151-154. Oslo: Universitetet i Oslo.
Mjaaland, Thera (2003) Debattinnlegg om Terje Tvedts bok Utviklingshjelp, utenrikspolitikk og makt: den norske modellen. Makt og demokratiutredningen 1998-2003. Oslo: Gyldendal akademiske, hos FOKUS 2. desember.
Mjaaland, Thera & Tsegay Negash (2003) De glemte flyktningene. Bergens Tidende 6. april.
Mjaaland, Thera (2000) Samhold satt på prøve. Klassekampen 7. oktober.
Mjaaland, Thera & Agnete Strøm (2000) De har begynt å gå. Kvinnejournalen (1).
Mjaaland, Thera (1999) Kvinnelig kjønnslemlestelse – hva handler det om? Kvinner Sammen (4).
Mjaaland, Thera (1999) Jenter sprenger grenser [Operasjon Dagsverk til kvinneprosjekter]. Kvinnejournalen, 2.
Mjaaland, Thera (1999) Sårbart tema. Kvinnejournalen (2).
Mjaaland, Thera (1999) Barnebrudene. Klassekampen 9. mars.
Mjaaland, Thera (1999) Krigen. Klassekampen 8. mars.
Mjaaland, Thera (1999) Kampen mot skadelige praksiser. Klassekampen 6. mars.
Mjaaland, Thera (1998) Fastlåst konflikt på Afrikas Horn. X-magasin (5).
Mjaaland, Thera (1998) Reisen tilbake. Klassekampen 8. april.
Mjaaland, Thera (1998) Portretter fra landsbyen. Kvinner Sammen (2).
Mjaaland, Thera (1998) Eritrea - Klar for avgang med folket om bord. Klassekampen 7. mars.
Mjaaland, Thera (1997) Glemte dere Zula? Medmenneske (6).
Mjaaland, Thera (1996) 'Du må ikke gråte', sier de. Kvinnejournalen (5/6).
Mjaaland, Thera (1995) Dager hos Zafo. Medmenneske (6).
Mjaaland, Thera (1995) Øyne som ser. Appell (5).
Mjaaland, Thera (1994) Gi meg kameraet ditt, kvinne. Klassekampen 27. august.
Mjaaland, Thera (1994) Kvinnelige fightere i Eritrea. Kvinnejournalen (2). | 
