Browsing by Subject "gender"

Now showing 1 - 19 of 19
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    All the (tricky) words: a glossary of terms on sex, gender and violence
    (Gender, Health and Justice Research Unit. University of Cape Town, 2014-01-01) Meer, Talia
    This glossary contains various definitions related to sex, gender and gender-based violence, accessible to young people, parents and educators. It also includes key South African laws that relate to sexual and reproductive health and gender-based violence. This glossary can be used by itself as a resource for understanding some of the more complex concepts and terms related to sexual health, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender-based violence. It can also be used in conjunction with the Tools for Talking Taboos classroom exercises.
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    An exploration of the (changing) roles, functions and challenges experienced by policewomen in the operational environment of the SAPS: Western Cape Province
    (2025) Retief, Rita; Van Der Spuy, Elrena
    Scholarly interest in gender and policing has grown exponentially over the past two decades. This study is situated within that body of literature and explores the changingrole, functions and challenges experienced by policewomen appointed in the operational policing environment of the South African Police Service (SAPS). The intent is to develop insight into the first-hand experiences and perceptions of operational policewomen and to inform practice initiatives that accommodate the specific needs of policewomen entering the operational sphere of policing in the SAPS. The overall research question in this study is: How has operational policewomen experienced and perceived the challenges and barriers encountered in the execution of their respective policing roles in the masculine domain of operational policing in the SAPS over the last twenty years? The question is explored by focusing on police women in the province of the Western Cape. Exploratory-descriptive research was done by adopting a qualitative research design. A semi structured interview schedule was utilised for one-on-one interviews and one focus group session with a sample of fifteen experienced operational policewomen, with rank levels ranging from Major General to Lieutenant Colonel. The sample size although relatively small can be deemed representative of the whole as the number of commissioned operational policewomen in the Western Cape province is limited. Collected data was analysed by means of thematic analysis and presented as narratives focussing on four major themes. The conclusions drawn from the study indicate that the evolvement and broadened scope of policewomen in operational policing are achieved through personal efforts and determination despite challenges encountered in navigating career paths in policing. Although not well represented in all operational environments in the WC, policewomen are making valuable contributions. Not only do they add critical value in enhancing operational effectiveness but also contribute towards enhancing police legitimacy, regardless of their minority status within the police organisation.
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    "Because the country says they have to change" : an analysis of a diversity intervention in a South African Police Service (SAPS) station
    (2011-12) Faull, Andrew
    This resource will be of value to scholars of transformation in South African organisations. The shift from apartheid to a constitutional democracy in South Africa brought with it a plethora of questions concerning ideas of nationhood, citizenship, and organisational transformation. Integrally caught up in the revolution, the South African Police Service (SAPS) faces transformative challenges on scales far larger than most other organisations in the country. From being the strong arm of the oppressive elite, it has had to restructure and re-articulate its function while simultaneously attempting to maintain law and order. Like many other corporations and organisations, the SAPS has engaged in interventions aimed at aiding the fluidity of this process. This report is an analysis of one such intervention. It attempts to ascertain the extent to which members are changing as a result of particular diversity workshops conducted in a region of the Western Cape. The analysis focuses on members at one particular station.
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    Children's constructions of gender: A participatory project
    (2019) Mohana, Malini; Boonzaier, Floretta
    Studies on the construction of gender have largely focussed on adolescents and young adults in South Africa. This leaves a significant gap in understanding the ways in which gender is constructed and negotiated by younger children. This study, therefore, investigated how younger children narrate and experience their gendered lives, and whether these stories resisted or maintained dominant narratives of gender. Twelve participants between the ages of eight and fourteen participated. The research used participatory action research (PAR) methods. Specifically, Photovoice, journaling, collages and drawing were used to represent the stories and narratives that the participants chose to share. The Photovoice component culminated in a community exhibition which showcased the participants’ photos. In addition, the participants took part in focus groups and individual interviews. The focus group transcripts, individual interview transcripts, collages, photographs, drawings and journal entries were analysed using thematic narrative analysis. The study showed that children construct gender based on contradictory messaging, and exercise defiance of normative gendered constructs within the limits of heteronormative gender identity. Four main narrative themes emerged: Negotiating gendered expression; Normalisation of gendered violence; Subjugating female bodies; Narratives of conformity and resistance. Based on the findings, the recommendation was made to use play as both a means of exploration and education in children’s understanding of gender.
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    Exploring the experiences of breast cancer survivors
    (2012-11) UCT Knowledge Co-op
    This research was conducted to contribute to the knowledge base of the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA). Research indicates that breast cancer is diagnosed in approximately one in twenty-nine women in South Africa. Women with lower income often experience lengthy waiting periods between diagnosis and treatment. Very little qualitative research has been conducted to explore lived experiences of patients with breast cancer. This project set out to explore women's experiences at various stages of treatment. Understanding better what it is like for them will help CANSA and others to develop important emotional and other support for women on this journey.
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    Exploring the experiences of breast cancer survivors at various stages of treatment: an analysis of the constructions of breast cancer and of femininity - summary report for CANSA
    (2013-03) Mulder, Anja
    This research was conducted towards an Honours degree in Gender Studies at the University of Cape Town, as well as to contribute to the knowledge base of the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA). The focus of this research was to explore and document the experiences and needs of women with breast cancer, waiting for radiation treatment. By applying a gendered framework through which to view these experiences, emphasis was also placed on breast cancer survivors' conceptualisations of feminine identity and how their breast cancer and treatment trajectory impacted on these. Drawing on the narratives of women's lived experiences, it is my hope that information gained from this study will help CANSA to develop additional emotional support for women.
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    Gender and Access to Antiretroviral Treatment in South Africa.
    (Taylor & Francis, 2008) Nattrass, Nicoli
    This paper explores the gender dimensions of access to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in South Africa. It shows that women are more vulnerable to HIV infection than men, but that women access HAART in disproportionately large numbers. Regression analysis on data from the South African Demographic and Health Survey suggests that men in general access health services less readily than women. This 'masculinity factor' accounts for most of the difference between men and women when it comes to accessing HAART. Although men were more likely to favor traditional medicine than women, this was not a statistically significant factor, and it appears that visiting a traditional healer is complementary to, rather than a substitute for, accessing HAART. In short, it seems that gendered norms that make it difficult for men to admit weakness and seek medical attention are the main probable cause for the low proportions of men accessing HAART.
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    Gender and women’s studies in Africa : teaching and learning materials
    (2014-09-08) Radloff, Jennifer
    The resources presented here were created in the mid-2000's and are augmented by Feminist Africa journals as well as updated 'related' resources. The materials are diverse and include course outlines, review essays as well as profiles of individuals and organisations involved in the areas of gender teaching and activism in Africa. The resources can be used as guides for discussion, for planning course outlines or used as references. It is suggested that the materials are best used to generate debate and discussion. Taking into account the kinds of opportunities and challenges faced by feminists located in African universities, the GWS Africa project offers African-authored and African-centred material that takes gender seriously. Here we offer Teaching & learning resources developed by the project. GWS Africa uses Information and communication technologies for the development and dissemination of intellectual resources to support and strengthen African-based teaching and research in gender studies. The project started out of a need to respond to the challenges faced by higher education institutions on the continent and in particular, to the development of Gender and Women’s Studies programmes. There is a dearth of home-grown gender research that addresses the poorly understood realities of African gender relations and cultures. To augment the materials presented here, we suggest that you consult the journal, Feminist Africa. Feminist Africa is a continental gender studies journal produced by a community of feminist scholars. It provides a platform for intellectual and activist research, dialogue and strategy. We are constantly updating the materials with related news, events and resources relevant to the subject areas. We hope that you will find both the learning materials and related information useful in your teaching and research.
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    Investigating post-apartheid black workers' barriers to career progression and the role that the intersection of race and gender plays in shaping their experiences in the banking sector
    (2023) Khunyana, Siphenathi; Tame, Bianca
    This study explores workplace barriers that black women encounter in the post-apartheid banking sector in relation to their career progression from junior and mid-management levels to senior leadership roles in the banking sector. The study used a qualitative research approach with semistructured interviews to understand the lived experiences of black women in the banking sector. Data was analysed thematically, drawing on intersectionality and post-colonial theory to understand the challenges that impede career growth and transitional experiences of black women. The key findings are that the perception of intergroup racism in the Western Cape maintains racial divisions among black women and further blocks black African women from easily moving up the career ladder. African women are less privy to internal information about career progression and earning potential, with intergroup racism adding to this racial, often gendered wage-gap divide. The study revealed that many black women lack strong mentorship and coaching guidance to prepare them for senior and leadership roles. This is contrary to whites and their male colleagues who rely on old forms of networking that keep them ahead of women in advancing their careers in the bank because the banking culture remains male oriented. In relation to the male-oriented organisational culture, work-life balance stood out as a key barrier for black women's career progression because many struggled to balance work pressures with household commitments. For example, black women felt that they had to choose to first grow their families and later take on demanding work commitments. However, their white and male colleagues had access to departments such as investment banking that allowed them to juggle family and work remotely, which points to the intersection of gender, race and class in limiting black women's opportunities in the banking sector. As such, thisstudy argues that race and gender, in the context of a historically white male dominated sector, remained central as barriers to advancement to mid-managerial and senior positions in the banking sector. This study therefore advocates for black women's experiences to be central to any intervention that seeks to deracialise and invest in black women's career progression in the banking sector.
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    “It is what it is”: an ethnography of women's experience of drought in Madziva, Zimbabwe
    (2020) Kanengoni, Mistancia; Solomon, Nikiwe
    Bad weather conditions such as drought have had detrimental effects on the agrarian life of the people in Madziva rural area, Zimbabwe. Due to the unfavorable weather conditions in this area, poverty and unemployment, most men migrated and continue to migrate to the urban areas in search of greener pastures. This research focuses on how these more frequent extreme weather conditions in Madziva, resulting in less predictable seasons, have increased incidences of precarity. This is important as it portrays how the climate has changed, its effect and the anxiety and expectations around it. Furthermore, providing perception of the nature of climate change in the village is important in order to assess the evidence of nature and level of climate change (manifesting through drought). As a result of the uncertainty caused by drought, the migration of men had been rampant in Madziva, and thus the village is characterized by a significant number of female-led households. To understand the social, political and economic dynamics of what it means to survive in a time of drought for ‘fragmented' families, an ethnographic research was conducted in Madziva over two months (14 June 2017 to 15 July 2017) and (10 December 2017 to 11 January 2018) during one of the worst droughts in Zimbabwe. This research follows the everyday lives of eight women and the interactions with 15 more women through focus group interviews in order to understand the strategies used to achieve survival. In this thesis, the results of an ethnography of women's experience of drought particularly in Madziva rural area in Zimbabwe between June 2017 and mid-January to mid-February 2018 are presented. It further explores, the locals' understandings of extreme weather conditions particularly in Madziva rural area and how practices, particularly those linked to gender, are shaped or reinforced. This research found out that the people of Madziva rural area, particularly women are severely affected by drought as compared to men. This is because of the expectations of managing the household and caring for children which requires them to be heavily reliant on natural resources. The reliance on natural resources has been due to the very poor and non-performing Zimbabwean economy, however, these are the resources which become scarce in a time of drought, which exacerbates precarity. Additionally, women in rural areas such as Madziva have less access to critical information on shifts in cropping patterns and weather alerts, and this can be linked to the gendered structure of the village, where men are seen as the principle holders of knowledge of the land. Furthermore, women also have very little power in decision making and access to resources because of the land ownership titles often given to the men of the household. However, with iv the high migration to urban centers, there is a gap that the women of Madziva must navigate and this thesis aims to explore how this occurs. For instance, during the fieldwork, it became evident that irrespective of all these challenges that are caused by drought, women are always expected to make a plan to provide for their families although there is a stiff competition for the remaining natural resources. Women in Madziva negotiated relationships of marginality, responsibility, togetherness and belonging through the ways they experienced the challenges ushered by drought.
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    “Je Cherche La Vie!”: Women's Labour Politics in Masisi's Artisanal Coltan Mines
    (2021) Furniss, Allison; Benya, Asanda; Scanlon, Helen
    In considering how women navigate the complexity and gendered aspects of the artisanal mining industry, this study seeks to unpack women's labour at step one of the global supply chain of coltan, in the post-conflict context of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Female miners are largely excluded from mine work by blurry regulatory frameworks, gendered social norms and financial disparities, however they manage to remain active labourers in the artisanal mining industry. Within a broader socio-political context of poverty, political instability and rural livelihoods, women maintain access to mine work through strategies, often premised on a gendered solidarity, such as organizing into collectives, engaging in small group collaborations and employing creative ruses to maintain the secrecy of their labour. This thesis seeks to analyze women's exclusions from mine work and the subsequent strategies they employ to circumvent those exclusions and maintain work in the mines. Based on three months of ethnographic fieldwork at artisanal coltan mine sites in Masisi Territory in the province of North Kivu, this study employs ethnographic observations, focus group and interview methodologies.
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    Patches, Silos, Networks: Women's Ways of Leading in South African Fisheries Value Chains
    (2021) Fonto, Lauren; Norton, Marieke
    Women's contributions to fisheries have often been made invisible. Their leadership in general and in fisheries has also not always been recognised, especially if it is informal or more "behind-the-scenes". The aim of this study is to contribute to the gap in the women and fisheries literature on what leadership roles women play in the South African fisheries value chain. While it is more widely known that women play diverse roles within the fisheries value chain, the leadership roles they play (at various scales) are currently less well-known. This research involved finding women to interview from the various "patches" in the value chain. Without the generation of new relationships/leads occurring in the background, it would not have been possible to find particular patches. When the research was pivoted to digital research due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the "patches" seemed more adrift, and possibly more "siloed", than ever. However, three common threads emerged that showed how these patches are not so isolated after all. The threads were: Networks and relationships; lineage, blood and sustainability; and acts of pioneering, innovating and self-empowerment. Interviews were semi-formal, with most in-person, one done via the messaging service WhatsApp, and one done via email. Digital research consisted of collecting Instagram posts, finding relevant news articles, looking at newsletters, and industry body-related media. Women in fisheries are situated within various networks and "patches" of knowledge. This dissertation has drawn on the notion of "patches" as a central concept. Underlying this were the sub-themes of gender and market access (in this case, markets for marine resources). It is clear that while different women in different patches may not necessarily know each other or interact with each other, the patches themselves still have an effect on each other. This is especially true in the case of how the Covid-19 pandemic affected small-scale fisheries. Effects higher up the value chain meant that small-scale fishers were negatively affected. Thus, fishing industry patches do not seem to exist in silos. Specifically, women in the fisheries value chain are not in silos either. Both print and online media can still allow women to find out where women are working in the value chain, and for which companies or organisations. Such media can also allow women in fisheries to develop knowledge about each other. Firstly, technology, including digital newsletters, allows for women to extend themselves and enrich themselves with relationships with or knowledges of, other people. With the proliferation of both online media and cell phone access in South Africa, parasocial relationships may be formed. These parasocial relationships may help women in fishing to know "who's who" and also for consumers desiring a more transparent buying experience to form a type of relationship with each other, through learning about people's stories. Fishers encountered both in real life and online tended to come from a long history of working in fisheries themselves, as well as coming from multi-generational fishing families. While not all of the women interviewed are leaders in formal positions and/or formal organisations, their knowledge of species, fish processing and other areas was something that seemed to be valued within fisheries-related spaces. This is one factor that indicates the importance of keeping the fishing lineage going into the future for fishers. Fishers were also concerned about the effects on them which were caused by changes at the commercial level, such as a decline in market access due to Covid-19. Keeping a fishing livelihood going, both for this generation and the next, is something very important to the fishers encountered throughout this research. The diversity of jobs women held, both those personally interviewed and those interviewed in digital publications, was significant throughout this research. Some women are in supportive spaces that allow them to pioneer new paths for women in the fishing engineer, such as being a boat skipper or engineer. Women are gradually making their way up through middle management and to executive management levels. However, it is also important to consider the intersections of women's identities, e.g. socioeconomic status, geographic location, and education obtained. Different approaches to empower different groups of women can help the process of women's empowerment in fisheries to be inclusive.
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    Salary disparities in South Africa: an analysis on race and gender in the Labour Market
    (2020) Mabuza, Nokulunga; Alhassan, Abdul Latif
    One of the most definitive identifiers of socio-economic status within modern society is a person's salary. In South Africa, labour market income is the largest source of household income when compared to other income sources namely social grants, remittances, income from a business, and pensions (Stats SA, 2019). Labour income is thus the primary source of an individual's sustenance. It determines the lifestyle they can afford and ultimately also conveys their sense of worth to their employer organization and to society at large. Consequently, employees want to be compensated fairly in exchange for their employment contributions. They want to know that they are being paid well relative to others tasked with the same work and with the same level of experience and qualification irrespective of their gender and/or race. Through a quantitative approach with an explanatory research design using regression techniques, salary disparities by race and gender have been analysed in this study using the LMDSA 2018 data. The analyses of earnings distributed across race and gender revealed that females consistently across all racial groups earn less than their male counterparts. The regression results showed that females overall earn 14% less than males and amongst the four prominent racial groups in South Africa, Blacks earn the least followed by Indians, then Coloureds and Whites earning the most (23% more than Blacks). This puts Black females at the bottom of the labour earnings hierarchy and White males at the top. From this study, salary disparities based on race and gender can be seen very distinctly in South Africa's labour market. The reasons for these disparities are at the very least multidimensional, however the most prominent of these reasons is Education. Education is multifaceted because not only is the level of education completed by employees a cause of the salary disparities but the variance in quality of education received by employees. The variance in quality of education is distinguished by race in this country which at its root cause lies the history of apartheid, and consequently, the quality of education will have an adverse effect on the level of education completed. Income inequality is but one element to many moving parts which contribute to overall inequality in South Africa. Another element is unemployment, and another is the accessibility of quality education. With Blacks being on the lower end of the spectrum in terms of labour earnings, having the highest levels of unemployment amongst all other racial groups and again being on the lowest end of the spectrum in terms of access to quality education and the level of education completed, it comes 3 as no surprise that Blacks are the poorest in South African society and that overall inequality is steadily rising. We conclude this study by providing recommendations for future studies based on the limitations we encountered as well as policy recommendations to address the high levels of income inequality proven to be prevalent in South African labour market. These include revised HR practices, a rebalance to the tax system and an amendment to the BBBEE scorecard criteria.
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    South African quantity surveyors: issues of gender and race in the workplace
    (2008) Bowen, Paul; Cattell, Keith; Distiller, Greg
    A web-based questionnaire survey of the opinions of SA quantity surveyors was undertaken to establish gender- and race-based differences in job satisfaction. Issues explored included demographic factors, issues of gender and race in the workplace, and gender and racial harassment and discrimination at work. 'Significant' differences on the basis of gender exist on a number of issues. Women, more than men, have strong positive feelings regarding their levels of job satisfaction, feel that their career expectations have been fulfilled, would choose the same career again, and would unequivocally recommend the career to others. Females see QS practices as male-dominated, see themselves as being blocked from advancement to managerial ranks, participating less in decision-making, and remunerated at a lower level than equivalent colleagues. Issues important to women include : gender representivity in the profession, flexible working hours and maternity leave above the statutory minimum. Although both gender groups report racial harassment and discrimination at work, women experience significantly more sexual and gender harassment and religious and gender discrimination than do males. 'Significant' differences on the basis of race are evident concerning : feelings of job satisfaction and views on maternity / paternity leave above statutory minima. 'Highly significant' differences on the basis of race arise over issues of : being subjected to greater supervision because of race, not being allowed to contribute meaningfully to the decision-making process, viewing PDI status as a valid basis for promotion, seeing race representivity in the profession as important in combating discrimination at work, having personally experienced racial harassment and discrimination at work, and seeing respect for individual diversity in the workplace as important - with 'Whites' viewing these issues less 'empathically' than their 'Non-white' counterparts. The results provide valuable indicators for how the quantity surveying firms can create a more conducive work environment for professional staff, particularly females.
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    Tools for talking taboos: classroom exercises on sex, gender and violence
    (Gender, Health and Justice Research Unit. University of Cape Town, 2014-01-01) Moult, Kelley; Meer, Talia; Corral, Carmen; Mpofu-Mketwa, Tsitsi
    This book of classroom exercises can be used by high school educators to address foundational concepts around sexuality, gender and gender-based violence in a classroom context. Exercises are grouped into chapters that address the topics: (1) Gender, (2) Gender and Power, (3) Family Relationships, (4) Teen Dating, (5) Sexual Health, (6) Popular Culture and Media, (7) Sexual Orientation, (8) HIV, (9) Domestic Violence and (10) Sexual Offences. Exercises are in a variety of formats and use a variety of methods and each contains a comprehensive activity plan that educators can follow to address these complex issues in a holistic, interactive, accessible and non-judgmental way.
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    Twelve-year mortality in adults initiating antiretroviral therapy in South Africa
    (2017) Egger, Matthias; Davies, Mary-Ann; Boulle, Andrew
    Introduction: South Africa has the largest number of individuals living with HIV and the largest antiretroviral therapy (ART) programme worldwide. In September 2016, ART eligibility was extended to all 7.1 million HIV-positive South Africans. To ensure that further expansion of services does not compromise quality of care, long-term outcomes must be monitored. Few studies have reported long-term mortality in resource-constrained settings, where mortality ascertainment is challenging. Combining site records with data linked to the national vital registration system, sites in the International Epidemiology Databases to Evaluate AIDS Southern Africa collaboration can identify >95% of deaths in patients with civil identification numbers (IDs). This study used linked data to explore long-term mortality and viral suppression among adults starting ART in South Africa.
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    Understanding Period Poverty: Socio-Economic Inequalities in Menstrual Hygiene Management in Eight Low- and Middle-Income Countries
    (2021-03-04) Rossouw, Laura; Ross, Hana
    Menstrual hygiene management and health is increasingly gaining policy importance in a bid to promote dignity, gender equality and reproductive health. Effective and adequate menstrual hygiene management requires women and girls to have access to their menstrual health materials and products of choice, but also extends into having private, clean and safe spaces for using these materials. The paper provides empirical evidence of the inequality in menstrual hygiene management in Kinshasa (DRC), Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Rajasthan (India), Indonesia, Nigeria and Uganda using concentration indices and decomposition methods. There is consistent evidence of wealth-related inequality in the conditions of menstrual hygiene management spaces as well as access to sanitary pads across all countries. Wealth, education, the rural-urban divide and infrastructural limitations of the household are major contributors to these inequalities. While wealth is identified as one of the key drivers of unequal access to menstrual hygiene management, other socio-economic, environmental and household factors require urgent policy attention. This specifically includes the lack of safe MHM spaces which threaten the health and dignity of women and girls.
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    Women's lived experiences of the breast cancer trajectory: the waiting period for treatment and the impacts on feminine identity
    (2012-11) Mulder, Anja
    Breast cancer, according to research, is diagnosed in approximately one in every twenty-nine women in South Africa. Differences in gender, race and class produce disparities in health care, subjecting lower class women to lengthy waiting periods between diagnosis and treatment. Present research studies on breast cancer predominantly use quantitative methods. To understand women's lived experiences of the breast cancer trajectory this study explores experiences encountered during the waiting period, as well as the impacts of breast cancer and its treatment on feminine identity. For this a qualitative method was applied. Semistructured, in-depth interviews were conducted with five black and coloured breast cancer patients residing at two of CANSA's care homes. Participants varied in age and phases of treatment, were all married or widowed, had minor dependants, and had all travelled from distant and outlying areas. Based on a thematic analysis, six themes emerged from the data collected. These included: First experiences of cancer in the body; breast cancer and waiting periods from the patient's perspective; sources of support; meanings and perceptions of being a woman; conceptualising disease, and patients' needs. The analysis illustrates the importance of researching women's lived experiences and highlights that these need to be understood within a framework of socially constructed notions of gender, race and class in order to improve breast cancer treatment and psycho-social care.