4. Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) - Faculties submissions

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    Bisexuality in Democratic South Africa: Experiences of Women in Johannesburg
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Khuzwayo, Zuziwe; Roy, Srila
    The field of gender and sexuality studies has been growing in academic institutions since the 1970’s. One of the reasons for its growth is that women across the globe are challenging conservative ideas and norms on how they should engage in romance, sexuality and heteronormativity which has implications for broader society. There has also been an increase in LGBTQI+ rights globally including in parts of the world where historically these identities were viewed as illegal and foreign to the indigenous people. In recent years though, there has also been a growing anti-gender backlash across the globe that has resulted in hard-won legal rights being reversed, or new legislation being imposed that is homophobic and transphobic. When it comes to research on sexuality, studies on bisexuality, however, and specifically research stemming from Global South contexts, is limited. This research contributes to the field of sexuality studies by looking at how bisexual women construct and express their sexuality, looking at multiple factors such as race, class, age and space in the city of Johannesburg. Using qualitative methods of life-history and in-depth interviews conducted during the six years of the PhD, this study shows how each of these factors shapes and influence an individual’s sexuality in a democracy where LGBTQI+ rights exist but are inadequately materialised. Drawing on feminist and queer theory, the study delves into how bisexuality is expressed and performed by women living in Johannesburg, and how challenges in claiming their sexuality exist outside but also within LGBTQI+ spaces. The study shows how queer women continue to carve out public and private spaces for themselves amid high levels of violence against women. Lastly, the research shows the continued regulation of women’s sexuality through heteronormativity in public and private spaces, and what this says about how women living on the African continent claim their sexuality in different wa
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    I thought I was dying”: Menstruation experiences, knowledge gaps, and knowledge-seeking practices among young black South African women
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Mahumapelo, Mmabatho; Lewins, Kezia
    This research studies how (if at all) and to what degree knowledge about menstruation and menstrual health is disseminated; how it is received and from whom; how the quality of the source is determined, and how the information received shapes the recipient’s understanding of their own body. I contribute to existing literature by investigating how black South African women gather knowledge on menstruation and how the sources of information they encounter shape their perceptions and experiences of menstruation. By drawing upon literature on the menstruation experiences of women in the Global South and especially the African continent, I explore and analyse how the intersectionality of gender, socioeconomic status, religion, culture, and tradition shape what and how South African girls learn about menstruation pre-menarche, at the onset of menarche and post-menarche. Semi- structured interviews with young black South African women of menstruating age from diverse backgrounds in South Africa reveal retrospective accounts of their menstruation experiences from menarche until date. Through these interviews, I establish the important knowledge sources on menstruation in the lives of these women and uncover the effectiveness and reliability of these sources for knowledge on menstruation. I also explore the possibility of knowledge gaps, communication delays and the subsequent knowledge seeking strategies applied to meet any learning deficits. I explore how primary networks such as parents, schools, friends, and peer groups influence menstruators, and consider the awareness of, access to and use of alternative resources like digital media and mHealth tools like period tracking apps to build on prior knowledge. The study draws upon feminist, shame, and self-policing (Foucault) theories to explain the social inferences about menstruation. In addition, I apply Jaccard et al.’s (2002) five aspects of communication to explain how sharing and receiving knowledge on menstruation is influenced by the characteristics of those who are engaging in the communication, their context, the content of the message communicated and how the message is delivered. The study shows that girls and young women pick up information from multiple sources and knowledge accumulates as they progress on their menstruation journey. In some cases, information on menstruation is shared actively by parents or primary caregivers and schools while in other cases, menstruators learn about aspects of menstruation passively. Where information received is insufficient, girls and young women rely on online sources like Google, social media platforms like Twitter and TikTok, and period tracking apps for knowledge. This research contributes fresh insights to the discussion of menstruation in South African women by placing menstruation at the forefront of discussions with youth about sexual and reproductive health.
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    Sub-Saharan African Refugee Women’s Lived Experiences of Gender-Based Violence and Their Adaptive Processes
    (2024) Davis, Catherine; Patel, Ruby
    Political refugees from sub-Saharan African countries are often internally displaced and forced to flee from their homes and countries of origin out of fear for their lives. Many sub-Saharan African refugees migrate to South Africa in search for refuge and hope to resettle in the new host country that will award them the opportunities and support to start anew. However, refugee women face significant adversities before, during and after resettlement, with their experiences often characterised by gender-based violence (GBV) violations and daily hardships that cause immense stress, trauma, and at times, psychopathology. This study aims to shed some light on how the sub- Saharan African refugee women experience and navigate spaces of violence, discrimination and oppression, in order to inform future therapeutic interventions and policy focused on addressing inequalities and striving for a more just system and society. Furthermore, despite the refugee women facing such adversities, many refugees demonstrate an enormous ability to adapt, adjust and cope that aids their resilience and resettlement process in the host country. The adaptive processes one employs, and the efficiency of such, is deeply rooted within context and is influenced by cultural, social, economic, political, and personal factors. Accordingly, this study endeavours to contribute to the body of knowledge by using an intersectionality approach to explore sub-Saharan African refugee womens’ experiences of GBV and the adaptive processes they use to manage and cope with the trauma, stress and adversity they have experienced throughout the migratory process. To do this, a qualitative study was conducted amongst 15 sub- Saharan African refugee women from a therapeutic NGO, using source data in the form of therapeutic Intervention Process Notes (IPNs). The findings from the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) reveal themes of perpetual sources of GBV and stress, both within South Africa and their countries of origin of the DRC, Burundi, Ethiopia and Somalia, as well as the pervasive role of patriarchy in contributing to the participants’ experiences of domestic violence and intimate partner violence (IPV). Within each of these themes, various intersectional identities played a role in facilitating and compounding the sub-Saharan African refugee womens’ unique experiences of vulnerability, GBV, oppression and marginalisation. Nonetheless, many of these women have continued to be resourceful, adjust and find creative ways of surviving. Hence, resilience emerged as a fourth salient theme. Their experiences suggest a tumultuous process of escaping and/or enduring violence and establishing a sense of safety and belonging amongst daily multifaceted stressors and inequalities, but also perceive the women as agentic drivers in their ability to hold onto hope, cope and persevere through adversity.
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    The ripple effect of demographics on the entrepreneurial behaviour-performance relationship in the South African tech sector
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Ngcobo, Makhosazana Nomcebo; Murimbika, McEdward
    South Africa’s enduring inequality, stemming from the lingering effects of apartheid laws, disproportionately impacts entrepreneurs across various demographic dimensions, specifically race and age. This study adopts an intersectionality lens to examine how these demographic variables influence entrepreneur means, particularly the reliance on intangible resources, and consequently their impact on the entrepreneur behaviour - firm performance nexus within the South African tech sector. Despite some progress, this area of research remains relatively underexplored, necessitating this study to bridge the existing knowledge gap. Upholding the utmost confidentiality and anonymity of respondents, in accordance with the approved protocol (H21/10/34) sanctioned by the ethics committee at Wits Business School, the research meticulously explores how demographic variables influence entrepreneur means and the subsequent impact on firm performance. The main objectives of this study are as follows: 1. To investigate the relationship between effectual entrepreneur behaviour and firm performance among technology founders. 2. To examine the relationship between effectual entrepreneur behaviour and firm performance through entrepreneur means (intangible resources). 3. To examine the mediating effect of entrepreneur means in the relationship between effectual entrepreneur behaviour and firm performance, with a specific focus on how this mediating effect might be moderated by race and age. 4. To establish and validate a measurement model for entrepreneur means (intangible resources). iii In this quantitative study, a cohort of 159 technology firm founders in South Africa, each with a minimal operational tenure of three years, participated in this study through self-administered online structured questionnaires. To unravel the intricate relationships within the data, the analysis utilised Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) complemented by Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) alongside SPSS Amos. The findings shed light on the intricate interplay between effectual entrepreneur behaviour, entrepreneur means, and firm performance, supporting several hypotheses (H). First, a positive correlation was established between effectual entrepreneur behaviour and entrepreneur means, and firm performance, supporting several hypotheses (H). A significant positive association between effectual entrepreneur behaviour and firm performance validated H1, underscoring the critical role of intangible resources in driving firm performance. However, the study’s examination of the mediating effect of entrepreneur means on the relationship between effectual entrepreneur behaviour and firm performance yielded only partial support. While the mediation was observed to be positive, its strength was moderate, suggesting the presence of unexplored variables beyond the scope of this study, influencing firm performance and providing partial support for H2. Regarding H3, the combined influence of race and age did not directly affect reliance on entrepreneur means, but it significantly affected firm performance. Nonetheless, the interaction among race, age, and entrepreneur means demonstrated the potential for a negative influence on firm performance. Lastly, a positive correlation was established between effectual entrepreneur behaviour and entrepreneur means, affirming H4. iv In conclusion, while this study highlighted the crucial role of effectual entrepreneur behaviour and intangible resources for technology founders, it also suggests the presence of unexamined variables that may exert significant influence on firm performance within South Africa’s highly unequal landscape. Despite the influence of race and age on firm performance, their combined impact with entrepreneur means was not as pronounced as anticipated. Further research is warranted to identify and understand these additional factors, thus enriching our understanding of entrepreneur means, behaviour, and firm performance within South Africa’s unequal landscape.