Electronic Theses and Dissertations (Masters)

Permanent URI for this collection

https://hdl.handle.net/10539/37997

Browse

Now showing 1 - 6 of 6

Gender-based violence in Sri Lanka: Has Sustainable Development Goal 5 been an effective policy tool?
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023-03) Jurgensen, Kim; Zähringer, Natalie
This research paper is an investigation of gender-based violence and gender inequality in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka was chosen as a case study because it ended the 26-year civil war in 2009, and has had over a decade since this reset moment to rebuild the country. The paper builds on feminist research which says that high levels of gender inequality give rise to high levels of violence against women. The research is based on a gender structural inequality theoretical framework, and uses the Sustainable Development Goals (specifically SDG 5 which talks to gender equality) as the measurements of these structures. While there has been work done on various aspects of development in Sri Lanka, the purpose of this research project was to pull together the targets under SDG 5 and, using a process tracing methodology, demonstrate their effect on levels of violence against women. The research stated upfront that data for the dependent variable (violence against women) was already known, and that data would be sought for the independent variables (i.e. the remaining targets under SDG 5) to show correlation between the DV and IVs. The research showed that there has been poor implementation for most of the targets under SDG 5, and as such the outcomes were mostly negative. These findings were in line with the theoretical framework of gender structural inequality, and the feminist writings of the link between gender inequality and violence against women. It was interesting to see that on two main areas i.e. sexual health and education (which does not fall under SDG 5), Sri Lanka has almost complete gender parity. This demonstrated that women’s economic power and participatory parity (i.e. participating at senior level in the labour market and in government) were decisive factors in entrenching conservative societal views that undermine women’s agency and entrenches unequal power dynamics in the home, where most of the violence occurs.
In Search of Blackwomen’s Voices – Engendering South African Liberation Movement
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Rodwell, Karabo-Maya; Shange, Kholeka
The Black Consciousness Movement played a vital role in South Africa’s fight for liberation against the apartheid government. A significant part of this movement were the Black women that risked their lives for the country. Despite the work that they have all done and continue to do, Black women in this movement have faced multiple challenges related to their gender. I am interested in sharing the experiences of these women to add to the growing literature on the role and impact of Black women in South Africa’s history. To do this, I conducted interviews with six Black women over six months, between July 2022 and January 2023, all of whom have been involved in the Black Consciousness Movement. The participants in this research represent a small glimpse into the experiences of Black women in South African liberation movements. This research report follows the lived experiences of Black women in South Africa’s liberation movement, looking specifically at the Black Consciousness Movement. My research found that while each of these women were involved in the movement at different time periods, and in different areas of South Africa, many of their experiences overlap. I have broken these findings into three major themes. The first ethnographic chapter follows their early consciousness building and when they believe they came into consciousness. This chapter explores the formative years of Black women in the Black Consciousness Movement, namely who and or what influenced their political consciousness. The second ethnographic chapter examines Black women’s subjective interpretations of Black Consciousness and the impact this has on the self. While they were all part of the same movement they all seemed to have experienced the ideology differently. The third and final ethnographic chapter interrogates the marginalisation of Black women in the BCM. Here I discuss how women joined this structure for the emancipation of Black people at large, as well as connections to the ideology, and yet many felt that as women they were not always allowed the space to fully participate.
The role of Mzansi Magic’s ‘Makoti, Are You the One’ in facilitating gender discourses
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Vabaza, Ncumisa; Muparamoto, Nelson; Vanyoro, Kudzaiishe
The South African Bill of rights prohibits all forms of discrimination based on gender and sex. The government through the National Development Plan encourages stakeholder involvement in the promotion of gender equality. Yet, the experiences of women in various spheres reveal that normative patriarchal socialization persists. This research evaluates the role of local media in facilitating gender discourses that permeate modern-day South African society. This research employs critical discourse analysis (CDA) and critical diversity literacy (CDL) to interpret the dominant gender discourses on the locally produced reality television show Makoti Are You the One? CDA and CDL are used to interpret the representation techniques used to empower and disempower men and women respectively. The research adopts a qualitative research approach, specifically non-participatory observation to comprehend the dynamics in the relationships between the show’s male-female participants as well as the inter-group relationships between female participants on the show. Using discourse, framing and gender theories the study provides an understanding of the techniques used by the media in representing gender, and how these contribute to the co-construction of social meanings assigned to gender. The findings show a persistent imbalance in the representation of gender through local programming, by hegemonically positioning men in superior standing to women who are represented as subjects in their homes and the broader society. These imbalances are contrary to the ideals of gender equality.
The ‘Gay Plague’: Community responses to AIDS in South Africa 1982-1987
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023-08) Chernis, Linda; Glaser, Clive
South Africa became the epicentre of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in the 1990s, and still has the highest HIV rate in the world. Consequently, much has been written about HIV/AIDS in South Africa across a variety of academic disciplines, though with very little emphasis on the first five years (1982-1987) in which the epidemic first manifested in South Africa. This thesis explores these early years from the perspective of the “gay community” in which the virus was first identified, while also unpacking what is meant by community in this context. How did gay organisations, activists and individuals respond, rally and organised in a time of fear, oppression, ignorance and upheaval? Initial responses to AIDS fell on fledgling, mostly white, gay community organisations, and a few healthcare workers. By analysing the services and programmes initiated from this (admittedly disparate and problematic) group, and by placing these responses within the broader context of AIDS internationally, and apartheid locally, we can see a very specific and complex local response develop. This laid the groundwork for what was to become the much larger-scale gay and HIV/AIDS organising of the 1990s, which is generally where most researchers pick up the thread. Certainly, no previous research has sought to include all aspects of this organising, including fundraising, counselling, the gay press, public education initiatives, and caregiving. An intensive audit of the relevant material in the collections of the GALA Queer Archive in Johannesburg, including new additions, has contributed to a more in-depth understanding of this time period.
Their Narrative: A Feminist Study Examining The Everyday Lives of Migrant Girls Who Sell Sex In Chipinge, Zimbabwe
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023-08) Nyahuma, Gloria Nyaradzo; Oliveira, Elsa
This thesis explores the everyday experiences of unaccompanied migrant girls who sell sex in Chipinge, a small town in eastern Zimbabwe. The participants of this qualitative study were four adolescent girls, ages 16 to 18 years old, of Mozambique descent. Guided by feminist standpoint theory, intersectionality, and adolescent theory, the study examined three main areas: (1) factors that lead adolescent girls to migrate unaccompanied; (2) trajectories of unaccompanied migrant girls into selling sex; and (3) how unaccompanied migrant girls who sell sex access their daily needs in their host countries. Drawing on arts-based research (ABR), the main methods used were storytelling and mapping. Unstructured interviews were also conducted with each participant after the ABR phase of the study ended. Although each participant had unique circumstances that led them to migrate unaccompanied, most explained family circumstances such as, death of parents, violence in the home, and poverty as being immediate drivers for migrating to Zimbabwe alone. Each participant also had unique experiences that influenced their decisions to sell sex, but social networks and exploitation in other informal livelihood activities played a major role. Selling sex was the primary livelihood strategy that the participants in this study engaged, which enabled them to access their basic needs of accommodation, food, and childcare. Whilst being an important livelihood strategy, selling sex exposed the participants to risks of violence and health, including HIV.
Women in Union Leadership: A case study of the Ghana Public Service Workers’ Union (PSWU.
(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Eva, Oteng; Sefalafa, Thabang
This research examines the extent to which affirmative policies (gender mainstreaming, gender equality) lead to substantive improvements in the position of women within the Public Services Workers Union (PSWU) in Ghana. The research data for this study was collected using two methods: An online survey that focused on the experience and perceptions of 46 women leaders in the National Executive Council (NEC). The research is a mixed method in the sense that it generated both qualitative and quantitative data. Semi-structured interviews online with 7 key stakeholders, including women and men, in the national office. Data was triangulated to deal with issues of validity and reliability. Analysis is framed under how the equality plan has been implemented in PSWU and the challenges in terms of women’s leadership efforts in decision-making. It was observed that improvement in women participation in the union is because of gender mainstreaming policy and interventions. This proves an argument in a similar study by Britwun et al (2014) that when women are significantly represented in leadership especially in the mainstream there is a possibility of achieving negotiations for women related issues that is perceived as cost to the organisation. This cost includes childcare facilities and additional maternal/paternal leave (Britwum et al 2014). The survey also projects that there are women leaders who play double roles in the union and at home which affects performances and contributions to union affairs as stated by Kirton and Healy (2008,4) in their research stated that “paid work and work in the home constitute a ‘double burden’ and trade union participation (and other such voluntary activities) adds another ‘burden’ for many women''. The trend of domestic or household responsibilities should be carefully studied and used as a tool to address the issue of women’s lack of interest and commitment to union activities and other leadership roles. iii In this regard, increase in women's representation increases women’ consciousness about their demands and strives to realize them.

Browse

Browsing Electronic Theses and Dissertations (Masters) by SDG "SDG-5: Gender equality"

Results Per Page

Sort Options