3. Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) - All submissions
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Item Understanding gender inequality in a rural African family unit (household): a case study of a village in the Greater Giyani Municipality, Limpopo Province(2019) Mahlaule, TsakaneDespite gender mainstreaming through various legislation and policies geared towards addressing gender inequality in South Africa, discrimination against women remains prevalent in South Africa. Society is not only gendered, it is structured to reflect, reinforce and perpetuate divisions along variables such as customs, race and class. On the whole, it is constructed to create what Ely & Fletcher (2003: 07) refer to as interlocking systems of power. For this reason, there is need for a deeper understanding on how women in rural communities confront the issue of inheritance, especially in a dual legal system as the one they are subjected to in traditional authority-led villages. I argue that historically the VaTsonga communities are not inherently patriarchal. I claim that colonialism and apartheid policies invented traditions that forced these communities to be patriarchally structured for practical reasons. This was achieved in various ways including, land dispossession, codification of African customs into formal customary laws, migrant labour, destruction of the African family structure, and many more. I argue that gender inequality persists in rural families of the VaTsonga people of South Africa due to structural conditions that have since permeated all aspects of public and private life. Wekker (cited in Franken et al. 2009: 73) defines gender as ‘a layered social system that gives meaning to the biological differences between women and men while operating on different levels such as the personal, symbolic and institutional levels.’ These inequalities play out in the home and in institutional spaces. For example, role allocation and the gender division of labour in the household keep women in unpaid labour, while the economic factors which force women’s perpetual dependence on men have far-reaching consequences for especially rural women. Furthermore, distorted customary laws such the Traditional Courts Bill 2012 implied that rural women will have even fewer rights than they had under apartheid. Article 9 of the Constitution demands that ‘custom, culture and religion shall be subject to the equality clause contained therein. Despite the Bill of Rights, in rural areas women are treated like minors with no substantive rights and equality. Often they are denied custodianship of the family unit’s assets and resources including land. Girls are socialized to embrace set feminine roles which prescribe submissiveness and dependence. These traits and manners of existence extend into adulthood with lines drawn between them and men along gender biases and entrenched discrimination. Women are forced by convention to put their goals and needs secondary to those of their male relatives, be it the father, boyfriend, male siblings, husband and so on. It is in this context that the woman is perpetually viewed as a mere subject for the performance and satisfaction of patriarchy.Item A comparative analysis between the representations of black women and black men in political leadership in the South African mediain(2018) Khumalo, Enhle LucindaIn an ever shifting world the study of gender is an expanding field. However, there remains wide knowledge voids within academia around theories of representation and media framing. This is especially important in contemporary times where our daily lives are centered on media access. Moreover, since knowledge and information are increasingly available through the media, it is imperative to study gender representation through the media frame. This research project investigates the many gendered representations of black women in political leadership in South Africa. These various representations of black women in political leadership by the media are compared to some of the representations of black men in political leadership. The knowledge void which relates to black women in comparison to black men in political leadership in the South African media is thoroughly studied. Finally, the project seeks to understand the relationship the media have with female leaders as a representation of the scene of ‘womanhood’ or what it means to be a black woman leader in a patriarchal societyItem Inequalities in public Further Education and Training colleges in South Africa.(2012-11-08) Pule, Makoko CharlesThis report investigates the implementation of the Further Education and Training (FET) College Act of 2006 whether it achieved the founding purpose of promoting quality education and expansion of equal opportunities for South Africa. The study followed a qualitative comparative case study in which two campuses of one college were examined. Data was collected through interviews, observation and documentary analysis. The study was based on the views expressed by the college management, lecturers, and students who are the role players in the Public Further Education and Training (FET) Colleges in South Africa. Interviews were conducted to college management, lecturers and students of Centurion and Odi Campuses of Tshwane South College with the intention of determining if the students at this college were exposed to equal and quality opportunities for teaching and learning. Data from documents such as students results, staff establishment, budget, were analysed with the purpose of profiling the students and staff at Tshwane South College. Participant observation of physical facilities and usage of these facilities was done with the aim to verify the developments aimed at improving both campuses. The fundamental principles shaping the FET College Act of 2006 are quality education and equalisation of teaching and learning opportunities. The study shows that the implementation of the FET College Act of 2006 has been to a lesser degree a success in so far as number of factors is concerned. A case in point is that there is increasing evidence that the gap that existed when it comes to job opportunities has diminished leaving more blacks, particularly women in senior positions when it comes to management and administration of the FET Colleges in South Africa. Notwithstanding the elementary changes brought by the FET College Act, the fundamental principle that is central to education and training being the quality education and equalisation of learning and teaching opportunities is still a challenge 15 years later into the democratic rule in South Africa. There is evidence of poor infrastructure, shortage of basic learning materials and poor results due to poor quality of education and training. The overall findings of this study suggest that the FET College Act of 2006 has significantly contributed to delivery of inferior quality education and it has further widened a gap between the ‘have and the have not’s’. The study therefore recommends the government to review the current policy and it calls for students of public policy to persuade a study on the impact that the FET College Act of 2006 had on the education of the ‘African child’.Item An exploration of young women and men's perceptions of gender roles and their impact on relationships.(2010-05-31T10:13:34Z) Kilroe, Maire-ClareGender roles and the nature of heterosex have been clearly outlined in the literature as having a significant impact on both individuals and societies. Some debate has existed in the field of psychology as to the nature and origin of gender and gender roles. Furthermore, it is believed that the current South African context offers a rich source of material for debate and discussion around which social factors are impacting on gender role development and how. In order to gain a deeper understanding of the perceived origins of such gender roles the study explores qualitative accounts of the various social elements of both South African and international origin which individuals perceive as impacting on gender role ideology. Individual interviews were conducted with 8 participants (4 males and 4 females) between the ages of 20 and 30, who were either living with their partner at the time of the study or had co-habited before. While all social constructs identified in the study can be understood as impacting internalised notions of gender roles some factors appear to play a more significant role than others in creating knowledge around egalitarian roles rather than perpetuating less contemporary views or gender inequality. In particular culture, religion and the family were found to be sights of perpetuation of more traditional roles, while globalisation, education, media, work and urbanisation appeared to be significant constructs in creating more egalitarian gender role ideologies. Recommendations for future research include a closer examination of these relationships within broader realms of class, religion and age.