3. Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) - All submissions
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Item The social exclusion of poor whites(2019) Ntshinga, ThandiweIn its attempt to ‘reverse the gaze’ in making white people the subject of analysis, this research report falls into critical whiteness studies. Critical whiteness studies places itself firmly in the post-colonial agenda as an anti-racist social movement seeking to dismantle whiteness and white superiority. My interest is therefore not in poverty as such but rather in the threat to whiteness of those who blur the race/class divide. In this research report, I (as a young Black middle class female scholar) explore the social exclusion of poor whites as it relates to the fragility of whiteness. My fieldwork experience amongst poor white people in East Lynne was marked by hostility. Poor white East Lynne residents made it known that they did not want me around them. Highlighting unaccounted for racial dynamics in reversing the gaze in ‘ethical’ anthropological fieldwork research guidelines, I found that for me to have looked at poor whites solely as they relate to my class position would only hinder the intersectional scope of analysis in a manner specific to being a Black female researcher and its ability to tease meaning and intention out of silence and hostility. With this, anti-Black racism became central to the argument that will be made throughout this research report. Taken from data collected in focus groups comprising of white middle class Wits anthropology students, interviews with poor white East Lynne residents and my own experiences of racism, I engage with African-American political scientist, Tiffany Willoughby-Herard’s ‘whiteness as misery’ as the theoretical framework to the conceptual tool of ‘white fragility’ (DiAngleo, 2011). I therefore turn away from viewing whiteness as prestige to seeing it as internalised racism, self-hatred and diminished white selfhood expressed in how the feeling of ‘anxiety’ surfaces when white middle class students see poor white people which they needed distance from. Poor whites, by blurring the race/class divide, are then symbolic reminders of the fragility of whiteness. Diminished white selfhood and self-hatred at not achieving the upward mobility required to distance themselves from Black people, I argue, is seen through poor whites everyday use of various racist strategies demonstrating a desperate attempt at maintaining the privileges of whiteness in post-apartheid South Africa.Item The bureaucratisation of gender mainstreaming and the role of political will: a case study of the department of public service and administration in South Africa(2019) Ramparsad, NitashaThis study is situated in the field of Gender Studies. The study investigates the South African State’s (in) ability to effectively mainstream gender as a strategy for gender equality. Despite having ratified several pieces of local, regional and international legislation, the gender agenda seems to be elusive when assessing the implementation of policy for gender equality. The major theoretical question being addressed is “What are the factors that enable and/or constrain the implementation of gender equality in countries that have formally committed to this goal?” The Department of Public Service and Administration has been selected as the case study for this research, as this Ministry is allocated the responsibility for the management of policy in State departments in South Africa. Despite the official support expressed by the State in ratifying major legislation for example, the Beijing Platform for Action and the Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, Dunker (2005) believes that the “gender wave has passed”. The study builds on the work of authors such as Hassim, Moser, Cornwall, Kabeer, Gouws and Rao et al. However, this larger body of research does not drill down into the barriers the State faces, but rather generalises findings in this area. This study offers unique insight into the barriers faced in the State’s implementation of gender equality legislation. This is done by assessing the role of political will, resourcing and constructing an enabling environment as major influences for the success of Gender Mainstreaming within the South African State. The study analyses the bureaucratisation of gender mainstreaming at the Department of Public Service and Administration and reveals how this allows for the disruption of initiatives and masks the failings of the driver for gender equality, namely political will. The study reflects on political will from outside as well as from within the Department. Through the case study, the powerful role of political will in the success of gender mainstreaming for gender equality is demonstratedItem Socio-demographic and gendered differentials in attitudes towards people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) among youths in South Africa.(2017) Mokgele, KgothatsoIntroduction: HIV/AIDS epidemic has become one of the most rampant infections known to humanity. Although steps have been taken to eliminate HIV-related negative attitudes towards both the infection and People Living with HIV/AIDS in South Africa, studies depicts that at least one-third of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) have been discriminated and/or attacked, as a result of their HIV-positive status (Human Sciences Research Council, 2015). This research study sought to explore gender and sociodemographic differences in attitudes towards people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). Furthermore, explore other demographic and socioeconomic characteristics that influence attitudes. Methodology: The study utilised secondary data obtained from the South African National HIV Prevalence, Incidence, Behaviour and Communication Survey (SABSSM) published in 2008. The total number of individuals sampled for the survey was 23 369, who are between the ages 2-99 years old. Due to the population of interest being youth (15-24 years old) the analytic sample size utilised in this study was 5 344 (N). Data was managed using the STATA 12 and was analysed in a way that answers the objectives of the study. The outcome variable was attitudes towards PLWHA and the predictors were sex, age, highest level of education, marital status, home language, employment status, HIV testing, Condom use, and race. The data analysis was done in different phases, for descriptive analysis the study provides a series of frequency tables and graphs. A chi-square test was conducted, to test for the association between socio-demographic factors and attitudes towards PLWHA, and for multivariate analysis the study employed Binary Logistic Regression. Results: The results showed that 75% of youth have positive attitude while 24% have negative attitude towards PLWHA. Positive attitude towards PLWHA was not associated to gender of youth’s. Socio economic indicators such as age and condom use have indicated a positive association to positive attitude towards PLWHA. Conclusion: The prevalence of stigma and discrimination needs to be addressed in South Africa, and more programs needs to be implemented. PLWHA not only have to suffer from medical problems which can deplete quality of life, but also affects the broader health perspective and increase social prejudice. Key Words: Stigma, Discrimination, People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHA)Item Women's empowerment: a discourse analysis of the coca-cola 5by20 global initiative(2017) Mupavayenda, MercyWomen's 'empowerment' has in the past few years become a central focus and major theme on the global development agenda. As a result of a causal link established between women's 'empowerment', gender equality, and economic growth by dominant development institutions (World Bank 2011; IMF 2013; IFC 2013) women have been framed as the answer to end world poverty (World Bank 2011) (UN Women, 2011). This huge claim has caused high contestation among development scholars and feminists who have argued that the development discourse and campaigns emanating from these institutions are deliberately designed to feminise poverty and feminise responsibility thereby creating a double burden for women (Chant & Sweetman 2012). The emerging partnerships between dominant developments institutions and multi-national corporations (MNCs) have further brought about a complex dimension to women's' empowerment'. These institutions argue that investing in women is common sense or 'smart economics'. However, feminists and other development critics suggest 'empowerment' campaigns mask the exploitative relationships private corporations and international banks have with the global South which seek to keep the system intact, turns girls and women into consumers while expanding market penetration and diffusing blame for poverty (Hengveld, 2015). This study takes a critical social science and feminist research paradigm approach, and employs a discourse analysis in order to analyse the Coca- Cola 5by20 global women's empowerment initiative. The study relies on a documentary analysis and uses documents collected mainly from the Coca-Cola website and other relevant institutional websites and research repositories. Findings show that the initiative is conceptualised around the gendered work carried out by women in the developing world. The concept of womanhood (strong, resilient, long suffering mother figure/ matriarch) employed in the empowerment development discourse exaggerates women's capabilities and has its roots in colonial and racist depictions of the 'masculinised black woman who possesses sub-human strength' (hooks, 1990). This concept of womanhood is overburdening to women, and ignores/entrenches the social order which keeps women 'powerless' to trump structural causes of poverty. The contribution of this research lies in that it offers an insight in the use of older women's bodies by the development discourse. It also interrogates the meaning and implication of the UN formalising Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as a way of doing development thereby privileging markets as unproblematic spaces and a solution to promote gender equality.Item Exploring the perceptions of male student activists in relation to gender transformation and equality: the case of Wits(2017) Nyaose, ThandazileThis research report explores how male Wits university students, who are actively involved in SASCO, a student organisation that advocates for amongst other things, none sexist society, perceive gender transformation and equality. The research approach utilised was qualitative and exploratory in nature with a broad aim of explaining the perceptions of the male students. Informal interaction and semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with ten male student activists and a key informant as methods of data collection. The data, in the form of interview transcripts was than analysed using the IPA approach. Although the participant’s perceptions of gender transformation and equality varied, it was evident, however, that all of the participants agreed that women have been previously and currently disadvantaged in society. The main findings that show the concepts of gender transformation and equality are much more digestible on paper and policies but difficult to implement. It becomes unreasonable to aspect individuals when they get into institutions of higher learning to now unlearn patriarchy and disown patriarchal privileges and benefits that they have enjoyed for most of the lives. The introduction of sustainable gender transformation and equality needs a complete overhaul of gendered societies and societal injustices. Gender injustices should be afforded the same attention that is given to economic inequalities, access to education and political instabilities.Item Challenges and prospects of the South African Women Empowerment and Gender Equality Bill(2016) Sibanda, NonhlanhlaThis research assesses the challenges and prospects of the South African ‘Women Empowerment and Gender Equality (WEGE) Bill’. The bill, passed by the National Council of Provinces in March, 2014 seeks to reinforce rights and opportunities in advancing gender equality and women empowerment in the country. The scope of this study is national and uses scenario planning to explore the future of the WEGE Bill through reviewing fifteen written parliamentary submissions and eighteen questionnaires. Questionnaires were distributed to representatives from government, civil society organisations and the private sector. The findings of the study revealed that while South Africa has made great legal and policy strides in advancing gender equality, a lot still needs to be done to realise that end. The promulgation of the new WEGE Bill has also not provided sufficient justification or prospects for any greater impact in addressing gender inequalities more than any other existing laws or policies would. Greater political will and more robust processes of consultation and stakeholder engagement are essential to making decisions on future gender equality policy making.Item Income inequality and household consumption expenditure in South Africa: 2000-2014(2016) Mosime, Dineo RonaldThis paper investigates the nature of relationship between income inequality and consumption expenditure by households. The link between the distribution of income and household spending was determined by exploring the relationship between income inequality and household saving. The econometric estimates show that the propensity of the bottom earners to consume is higher than that of the high income earners. The conclusions from this paper are that; the bottom earners used credit to smooth their consumption expenditure, income inequality has not boosted saving of the top earners and wealth inequality has a minimal effect (although positive) on aggregate consumption Some of these finding are consistent with the theoretical view on income and wealth inequality (Kaldor, 1957) and Aghion et al. (1999). The absence of coping mechanism (such as access to credit and employment), suggests high inequality might result in a decline in the household demand, since the bottom and low earners has high marginal propensities to consume compared with that of the top earners. The existence of imperfect capital markets suggests distributive policies and economic growth are important channels for reducing income and wealth disparities in South Africa.