Agrarian change in Nanchilnadu

Inter-relationships in a changing Agrarian economy

The democratic decentralization of the polity and the Economy

Empowerment of women and DWCRA

Work And Status of Women in Rural Areas

Women's empowerment is considered a key driver for social change and an important development objective. Empowerment describes as a process in which women gain the ability to redefine gender roles and the ability to extend possibilities for being and doing. This includes resources and active agency. Despite this, research is limited in scope and geography. Measures to assess empowerment in the development sector often focus on evident forms of agency that do not reflect local meanings of the concept. In South Africa, studies of empowerment are primarily limited to women's decision-making within the household or in their reproductive roles. While many scholarly texts showcase the importance of women practicing their agency for the survival of their households and local communities, few investigate women's own experiences. As such, this thesis aims to raise the importance of women's empowerment in the field of development and to add to understanding of gender in South Africa through ethnographic research methods. Ethnographic research focus on describing and understanding, rather than explaining phenomena. Through semi-structured interviews and participant observations, I explore the ways in which seven women in their local community of Hangberg exercise their agency to develop the community, and the empowerment outcomes of such work. I find that engaging in development activities has realised a proliferation of outcomes relevant to empowerment among the women participants. This includes better intra-household relations, cooperation, wellbeing, and sense of purpose. The women participants see themselves as empowered women who attribute their own personal growth to participating in the development of their community. Furthermore, I find that women actively exercise their agency in response to social, economic and political change. In this, the women participants are exemplars of an alternative ‘solution' to overcoming social and economic despair in their community. At the same time, their empowerment and agency remain limited in terms of levels and reach. The women participants are not able to overcome the broader economic, social and political structures that shape their lives. They remain poised precariously between economic uncertainty and responsibilities of care.

There is limited knowledge about autism as a disability in Africa: thus far, most autism research studies have been limited to families in high-income western countries, resulting in a gap in research regarding studies from low-income countries. Despite their vulnerability, people with disabilities have been largely unnoticed as a goal of development work despite disability’s economic impact on families and communities, and the associated discrimination, stigmatisation and exclusion. Education has been identified as an essential building block of human and economic development, yet children with disabilities face unequal barriers in accessing educational services and schooling. Focusing on early intervention services is vital for the growth and development of children with disabilities, as early human development services and programmes for young children and families play a critical role in alleviating poverty and achieving social and economic equity. The aim of this study was to identify the major barriers to accessing early intervention services for autistic individuals in Cape Town and achieving well-being. I drew on Sen’s capability approach to inform my theoretical framework. I used an embedded mixed methods design, with a quantitative questionnaire playing a supportive secondary role in this qualitative study, which included in-depth interviews and some documentary research. The sample consisted of ten participants: five parents of autistic children, and five autistic adults. Qualitative data for this study was analysed using thematic analysis, informed by Miles and Huberman’s (1994) process of first and second-level coding. The quantitative data for descriptive statistics was recorded and analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). This study brought six themes into focus, namely services, financial constraints, practitioners, home environment, stigma, and lack of support services. A variety of recommendations were highlighted by the participants, including an adaptation of services; developing better trained practitioners in autism-specific strategies; making increased parent-training and support services available; together with creating a better system to help support, monitor and guide families and autistic individuals in navigating the field of services.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 181-185).

Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 82-88).

Includes abstract. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 69-77). / This study examines how children who are exposed to the impact of HIV/AIDS in their immediate families are affected; what their experiences are and what coping strategies they employ on a day to day basis. Such children are referred to as HIV/AIDS orphans and vulnerable children (OVC). Furthermore, the study examines the response proposals of key role players, such as government departments, civil society organisations and the affected communities, in dealing with the challenges faced by HIV/AIDS OVCs.