Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters in Management Sciences(Peace-building), Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2015. / This study examines gender based violence in a mining community and uses the case study of Trojan Nickel Mine in Mashonaland Central Province of Zimbabwe. Studies have shown that Mashonaland Central has the highest incidence rate of gender based violence in Zimbabwe. Mining communities are more susceptible to incidences of gender based violence because of their cultural heterogeneity which engender and generate conflict. The research examines gender based violence within the confines of several theories and conceptual frameworks such as social-learning theory, sex-role theory and ecological framework. It reveals that no factor can be singled out as the cause of gender based violence, but argues that patriarchy whose norms are embedded through culture contributes the most in constructing attitudes and perceptions which legitimize gender based violence. The study also identifies religious practices and the environment as playing key roles in encouraging gender based violence. The study in the end constructs an intervention model based on the ‘catch them young theory’ where young boys were trained on non-violent strategies of reducing gender based violence. This is against the background that men play an influential role in communities as decision makers and policy makers. This intervention targeted changing the behavior and attitude of boys over women and girls.

Previous researches show that women with substance abuse are more likely to be exposed to domestic violence and that they are having a hard time to get help and support from Social Services. Our study aims to understand how social workers experience both their professional role and organisation when working with women who suffers from domestic violence and abuse ubstances such as drugs and alcohol. This study is qualitative and was done with semi-structed interviews with eight professionals who work in various Social Services in the south of Sweden. The results show that among other things the organization’s economy together with lack of protective houses plays a big part in the professional’s work with these women. We also found that the structure of the Social Services’s organization and the way the professional relate to his work affect these women’s needs av help and support.

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Management Science: Public Management (Peace-building), Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2016. / The purpose of the study was to assess or investigate the forms, causes and effects of violence towards lone women from Pumula Township, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. In finding these it seeks to prevent violence towards these lone women. It is noted that structural male dominant culture and inequality are the major causes of violence towards lone women in Pumula; this is also similar in Sub-Saharan Africa. Many studies on lone women have been done worldwide and to the best of my knowledge, none that seeks for substantive solutions has been done in Bulawayo. This study was exploratory and qualitative in nature. This was done through a forum, focus group interviews and personal interviews. The data in the forum was collected by an advisory team and the researcher was the facilitator in all interviews. The major method of data collection was the focus group interviews. Also for triangulation purposes, and to complement the focus group interviews, individual interviews were done. Stakeholders’ workshops and lone women workshops were conducted to propose the means that could be used to reduce violence against lone women. Ethical standards were observed during the study. The findings of the study indicate that violence towards lone women is caused by a patriarchal culture and the social norms that make lone women to be stigmatised, ostracised and discriminated against because of their status. The confiscation of their property after the death of their spouses, or divorce, the struggle to shelter and care for their children often causes lone women ill-health and low self-esteem. They also find it difficult to find time for self as they are the breadwinners. It was proposed that the community and the lone women work together to curb violence against lone women and to combat all the injustices that are happening within society. Women empowerment and development can eradicate violence against the lone women. / M

This study tested the applicability of the Transtheoretical Model of Behavior Change in predicting early termination, appropriate termination, and ongoing treatment of Hispanic battered women residing at domestic violence shelters. Self-efficacy, decisional balance, and acculturation were examined in relation to the applicability of this model with the Hispanic women population. One hundred and eight women residing in two shelters for survivors of domestic violence, located in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex, were asked to provide information regarding the problems in their relationships, the pull and the strain of their relationship, their level of temptation to stay in the abusive relationship, and how confident they felt that they would not return to their abuser (The Process of Change in Abused Women Scales- PROCAWS). In addition, the women were asked to complete a questionnaire regarding their level of acculturation. This study confirmed the stage of change profiles found in a population of battered women as well as in other clinical populations and the results suggest that this model is applicable to Hispanic populations. The results indicated that the women in this sample could be meaningfully grouped according to their level of involvement in different stages of change. Furthermore, this study provided support for the validity of this theory by finding significant relationships among the profiles of change and the intervening variables that moderate movement across the stages of change. The women in this study differed with regard to their level of temptation to stay in their relationships and the amount of cons they to making changes. The findings also confirmed that the Transtheoretical Model can be used to predict termination status from domestic violence shelter programs. Although there were no significant differences in termination status among the women with different stage of change profiles, a trend existed that women in earlier stages of change terminated earlier and women in later stages of change terminated appropriately. Overall, the results of this study provide evidence for the applicability of the Transtheoretical Model and the usefulness of the PROCAWS in identifying profiles of change that can potentially guide treatment interventions and predict early termination with the Hispanic population.

Våld i nära relationer är ett globalt folkhälsoproblem. Våldsutsatta kvinnor söker sig till ett flertal instanser inom hälso- och sjukvården för att få stöd och hjälp med de symptom som är en följd av våldet. Som en konsekvens är hälso- och sjukvården den samhällsinstans som når flest våldsutsatta kvinnor. Tyvärr visar forskning att hälso- och sjukvården inte lyckas ge våldsutsatta kvinnor den vård de behöver. Många av kvinnorna upplever brister i mötet med hälso- och sjukvården vilket kan innebära att lidandet förstärks. Syftet med studien var att belysa sjuksköterskans upplevelse av att möta våldsutsatta kvinnor. Studien är en analys av kvalitativa artiklar som grundar sig på Fribergs analysmodell. Nio kvalitativa artiklar har granskats för att identifiera sjuksköterskors upplevelser. Resultatet visar att sjuksköterskors upplevelse av de organisatoriska förutsättningarna, de känslomässiga rädslorna och det egna förhållningssättet kan försvåra mötet med våldsutsatta kvinnor. Omständigheterna bidrar till att sjuksköterskor undviker att fråga om våld eller inte ger rätt omvårdnad. Grundläggande kunskap och förståelse för våldets mekanismer är viktigt för sjuksköterskans förhållningssätt i mötet med kvinnorna. Stöd och trygghet som arbetsplatsen erbjuder har betydelse för att sjuksköterskor skall känna sig både fysiskt och känslomässigt trygga att möta och vårda våldsutsatta kvinnor.

Thesis ((M.A. (Clinical Psychology)) --University of the North, 2002 / Violence against women ts a manifestation of historically unequal power relations between men and women, which has led to the domination of women by men and to the prevention of the full advancement of women. It is an old phenomenon that was kept secret, and people pretended that the problem did not exist. It wasn't until the feminist activists openly addressed the issue of inequality that included women's lack of rights and low status within marriage and society as well as battering that the taboo topic was changed into a subject extensively investigated. Extensive research on the topic now exists. As is the case in many developing countries, research on violence against women in Namibia is relatively rare. Research regarding the mental health consequences of abuse is virtually non-existent. It is to this area of research that the present study addressed itself. This study aimed at describing and determining the mental health consequences of battering to which Namibian women are subjected. The study followed both qualitative and quantitative research approaches. Qualitative research used in-depth interviews based on a semi-structured questionnaire. The measures utilized was an Abuse Disability Questionnaire (ADQ). A demographic questionnaire identifying battered women variables was also utilized. A total of 60 battered women were surveyed and all 60 women completed the questionnaires. In quantitative methods, data were analysed in terms of descriptive statistics. In qualitative methods, closely related data were grouped together under specific titles to serve as categories. The results indicated that Namibian battered women endure physical, emotional, sexual and financial abuse. The results has shown that age, education, religion, employment status and marital status do not matter. Women are still being battered. The results also indicated that Namibian battered women are indeed subjected to various negative mental health consequences.

Thesis (Ph.D. (African Languages)) --University of Limpopo, 2005 / This study investigates the expression of women abuse through female songs. Groups of singers from twenty-two communities were listened to during the study. A qualitative analysis was undertaken. Songs obtained from secondary sources, were compared and analysed in the same way in which those obtained from the singers themselves were analysed. In particular, the usefulness of these singing groups was examined. It was found that most of the women who are experiencing abuse of some kind, derive perceived social support from fellow singers. All the women in the different singing groups declared that they were not singing for the sake of singing but that they were sending messages to the perpetrators of abuse in the expectation that a change will be realized. Singing groups were found to be effectively providing assistance in dealing with emotional abuse. The study thus illuminates the subjective use of referential expressions in expressing abuse. This emphasizes the challenge for singers to check whether or not the manner in which they present their pleas is appropriate.

Thesis (M.A. (Psychology)) -- University of Limpopo, 2015 / The study investigated the psychological factors that compel battered women to remain in abusive relationships. According to statistics in South Africa (SA) one in every five women is battered by her partner, and one in every four of all women in SA are assaulted by their partners weekly. The research approach was qualitative in nature. Sampling for the study was purposive and utilised eight participants who met the criteria for the investigation. The study was conducted at Tshilidzhini Hospital Trauma Centre and The Sibasa Victim Empowerment unit in Thohoyandou, Vhembe District in the Limpopo province. Data was gathered using a semi-structured questionnaire guide. Data was analysed, using Thematic Content Analysis (TCA), to gain an in-depth account of each participant’s experience of abuse. The results of the study indicate that cultural factors still play an important role in facilitating women abuse. The women in the study used religion, denial and avoidance, guilt and self-blame as coping mechanisms. Low self-esteem, depression, cognitive dissonance and relationship hope and commitment were identified as psychological factors compelling battered women to remain in abusive relationships. The study recommended that educational programmes and workshops on woman abuse be provided to empower women in rural areas.

Diss. Göteborg : Göteborgs universitet, 2006. / Med sammanfattning på engelska.

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