Browsing by Subject "gender equality"

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
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    Carework and caring: A path to gender equitable practices among men in South Africa?
    (BioMed Central Ltd, 2011) Morrell, Robert; Jewkes, Rachel
    BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between men who engage in carework and commitment to gender equity. The context of the study was that gender inequitable masculinities create vulnerability for men and women to HIV and other health concerns. Interventions are being developed to work with masculinity and to 'change men'. Researchers now face a challenge of identifying change in men, especially in domains of their lives beyond relations with women. Engagement in carework is one suggested indicator of more gender equitable practice. METHODS: A qualitative approach was used. 20 men in three South African locations (Durban, Pretoria/Johannesburg, Mthatha) who were identified as engaging in carework were interviewed. The men came from different backgrounds and varied in terms of age, race and socio-economic status. A semi-structured approach was used in the interviews. RESULTS: Men were engaged in different forms of carework and their motivations to be involved differed. Some men did carework out of necessity. Poverty, associated with illness in the family and a lack of resources propelled some men into carework. Other men saw carework as part of a commitment to making a better world. 'Care' interpreted as a functional activity was not enough to either create or signify support for gender equity. Only when care had an emotional resonance did it relate to gender equity commitment. CONCLUSIONS: Engagement in carework precipitated a process of identity and value transformation in some men suggesting that support for carework still deserves to be a goal of interventions to 'change men'. Changing the gender of carework contributes to a more equitable gender division of labour and challenges gender stereotypes. Interventions that promote caring also advance gender equity.
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    The country we want to live in: hate crimes and homophobia in the lives of black lesbian South Africans
    (HSRC Press, 2010) Mkhize, Nonhlanhla; Bennett, Jane; Reddy, Vasu; Moletsane, Relebohile
    Based on a Roundtable seminar, held during the 2006 16 Days of Activism for no Violence against Women and Children, the text engages the heteronormative focus of the campaign, profiles aspects of the dynamic conversations, and builds strong arguments about violence against lesbians. The country we want to live in: Hate crimes and homophobia in the lives of black lesbian South Africans offers a refreshing perspective on violence perpetrated against black lesbians. It also profiles the voices of women who are central to the activism around hate crimes and homophobia. In capturing key aspects of the lively discussion of 2006, an update of subsequent events that have bearing on the original seminar is provided, concluding with recommendations that have relevance for research, policy and practice. The country we want to live in makes an impassioned plea about citizenship, belonging and social justice, confirming that silence about these issues is not an option. PART I: Context and History: *Context and socio-political background; *Language and vocabulary; *The delimitations of this report; PART II: Perspective and Profile: *Roundtable Seminar on Gender-Based Violence, Black Lesbians, Hate Speech and Homophobia; PART III: Current and Future Prospects; *Legally-focused campaigning; *Conclusions and Recommendations: a way forward?
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    Framing rights and responsibilities: accounts of women with a history of AIDS activism
    (BioMed Central Ltd, 2011) MacGregor, Hayley; Mills, Elizabeth
    BACKGROUND: In South Africa, policy with respect to HIV/AIDS has had a strong rights-based framing in line with international trends and in keeping with the constitutional overhaul in the post-Apartheid era. There have also been considerable advances since 1994 towards legal enshrinement of sexual and reproductive health rights and in the provision of related services. Since HIV in this setting has heavily affected women of reproductive age, there has been discussion about the particular needs of this subgroup, especially in the context of service integration. This paper is concerned with the way in which HIV positive women conceptualise these rights and whether they wish and are able to actualise them in their daily lives. METHODS: In 2003 a group of women involved with the Treatment Action Campaign and Medicines Sans Frontieres participated in an initiative to 'map' their bodies as affected by the virus. A book containing the maps and narratives was published and used as a political tool to pressure the government of the day to roll out antiretroviral therapy (ART) to the population. In 2008, the authors coordinated an initiative that involved conducting follow-up in-depth interviews in which five of these women reflected on those body maps and on how their lives had changed in the intervening five years since gaining the right to treatment through the public sector. RESULTS: Drawing upon this qualitative data and published sources, these new accounts are analysed in order to reflect the perspectives of these women living with chronic HIV with respect to their sexual relations and fertility desires. The paper reveals difficulties faced by these women in negotiating sexual relationships and disclosure of their HIV positive status. It focuses on how they perceive relative responsibilities in terms of taking preventative measures in sexual encounters. Women adopt tactics within a context characterised by various inequalities in order to 'make do', such as by remaining silent about their status. Concerns about childbearing can be addressed by information and support from a health care worker. CONCLUSIONS: Women's experience of HIV as a chronic illness and the need to adhere to ART, is linked to the way in which the language of responsibility can come to counter-balance a language of rights in treatment programmes.
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    The constitutionality of the Maiden Bursary
    (2022) Mdutywa, Asiphe; Barratt, Amanda
    The South African Constitution and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and other international law instruments are missioned to ensure the advancement and protection of women by eradicating discriminatory actions targeting women, on any platform. The introduction of the Maiden Bursary, to advance the futures of young women, seeks to empower women. However, the process of achieving this advancement perpetuates negative gender stereotypes and a safe haven for discrimination. Therefore, this thesis unpacks the constitutionality and assesses the extent to which the bursary may limit constitutional rights such as equality and dignity. This thesis roots its argument on case law, legislation, and existing literature on virginity testing.