Thesis (M.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 1991.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 1991. / Also available in print.

Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Canterbury, 2009. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 49-55). Also available via the World Wide Web.

Thesis (MComm)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study investigated race-group similarity effects as a form of interviewer bias in selection interview ratings. Social Identity Theory predicts that interviewers would assign higher ratings to interviewees of the same social group (the so-called in-group) primarily through the mechanism of similarity attraction. Research findings up to now have lent only partial support to this hypothesis. This study argues that interview structure may help to explain inconsistent research findings since structure could inhibit the functioning of the similarity-attraction mechanism. The present research pursued two objectives, namely (1) to determine the degree to which race-group similarity (between interviewer and interviewee) exerts a biasing effect on selection interview dimension ratings, (2) to determine whether same-group bias increases when interview structure is experimentally diminished. This experimental study manipulated the degree of structure in interviews (high- and low-structured conditions) and compared the degree to which race group similarity effects were evident under each condition. Interviews were simulated by showing video-taped interview segments to a sample of participants and asking them to rate interview dimensions on rating scales that had been compiled to reflect the degree of structure in each condition. The data were analysed using Hierarchical Linear Modelling (HLM) and multiple regression analysis to determine whether similarity effects were present in the interview rating data. The results support the hypothesis that racial similarity effects are found under low-structured conditions, as well as the hypothesis that interview structure moderates the influence of similarity effects. However, racial similarity effects were also found with the highly structured condition. Although these effects were smaller than in the low-structured condition, they were statistically significant. Future research should attempt to replicate this study as a field study to test the generalisability of the findings. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie ondersoek onderhoudvoerdersydigheid in die vorm van rasgroepsoortgelykheidseffekte in seleksie-onderhoudbeoordelings. Sosiale Identiteitsteorie voorspel dat onderhoudvoerders diegene van dieselfde rasgroep (die sogenaamde ingroep) met hoër beoordelingstellings sal aanslaan, primêr deur die werking van die soortgelykheidaangetrokkendheidsmeganisme. Navorsingsresultate tot op hede leen slegs gedeeltelike steun aan hierdie hipotese. Hierdie studie argumenteer dat die rede vir teenstrydige navorsingbevindinge moontlik die gevolg van die bemiddelende effek van onderhoudstruktuur kan wees, aangesien struktuur moontlik die funksionering van die soortgelykheid-aangetrokkendheidsmeganisme kan inperk. Die studie streef dus twee doelwitte na, nl. (1) om die mate waartoe rasgroepooreenstemming tussen die onderhoudvoerder en onderhoudnemer ’n sydige invloed op onderhouddimensietellings uitoefen te bepaal en (2) om te bepaal of soortgelykheidseffekte toeneem namate onderhoudstruktuur eksperimenteel verlaag word. ’n Eksperimentele ontwerp is gebruik waarbinne onderhoudstruktuur (hoog- en laag gestruktuurde toestande) in video-opnames van onderhoude nageboots is. ’n Groep beoordelaars het hierdie stimilusmateriaal beoordeel aan die hand van beoordelingskriteria wat opgestel is om die mate van struktuur binne elke toestand te reflekteer. Gevolglik is die mate van rasgroepsoortgelykheidseffekte binne elke struktuurtoestand vergelyk. Die navorsingsdata is met gebruik van Hiërargiese Lineêre Modellering (HLM) en veelvoudige regressie ontleed om die teenwoordigheid van soortgelykheidsydigheid te bepaal. Die resultate steun die hipotese dat rassoortgelykheidseffekte onder laaggestruktuurde toestande voorkom, asook dat onderhoudstruktuur ’n modererende rol speel. Nietemin is soortgelyke effekte ook onder die hoog gestruktuurde toestand gevind. Alhoewel hierdie effekte kleiner as onder die laaggestruktuurde toestand was, was dit steeds statisties beduidend. Toekomstige navorsing kan poog om ‘n soortgelyke ondersoek as ‘n veldstudie te onderneem om die moontlikheid van veralgemening van die resultate te bepaal.

This thesis is an exploration of how professional status is gained and sustained. Sociologists, in taking for granted which occupations are universally identified as professions have concentrated their studies on elite occupations, primarily law and medicine. Their attention has been focussed on the occupational, organizational and behavioural characteristics of these professions, rather than the personal or social characteristics of the incumbents. Consequently, although acknowledging that class, gender and race can provide or limit the resources for professionalizing, these personal attributes have not been considered central to the understanding of the term profession. The research is concerned with the relationship between professional status and gender in probation during a period in its history when it faced considerable threats. It traces the profession's history and maps its rise and fall in relation to its changing gendered composition, culminating in the government's decision to remove the prior qualification for practice in 1995 in order to attract ex-servicemen into probation. The reconstruction of probation into a credible profession is the substantive focus of this study. The analysis of the reconstruction is through a gendered lens and a discourse analytical approach is used to examine texts prepared by probation to promote its cause. This thesis concludes that the status of an occupation is directly related to its gendered construction and to be considered a 'full' profession requires middle class masculinity. Whilst masculine characteristics continue to be necessary for influence and success, the constant drift towards the masculinization of everyone undermines the contribution women can make to organizations and services. In retrospectively revealing the processes through which masculinization and professionalization are discursively achieved, the study opens up the possibility for future challenges to the devaluation of occupations dominated by women.

There are few female teachers who hold principal positions in schools, especially in secondary schools. This study investigates teachers' perceptions of secondary school female principals' leadership abilities and styles.It also investigates whether teachers' perceptions are influenced either by their sexes or experience or lack of experience of working with female principals. The reseacher hopes that this research findings will help to either: develop and improve female leadership (where it is found to be wanting); and or influence authorieties to appoint more female teachers to head secondary schools. The literature surveyed revealed that the appointment of principals in seconday schools is discriminatory against female teachers. It further revealed that principals (mainly male) do not prepare female teachers for management and leadership positions. As a result female potential leaders become demotivated. This is unfortunate as research has found that female principals are as effective as leaders as male principals are. One disadvantage of having a small number of female leaders in education is that this results in an education that only reflects the male perspectives and values. This in turn alienates girls' perspectives from education. In order to establish teachers' perceptions of female secondary school principals a survey of the percptions of teachers in the Maphumolo circuit of female principals in this area was first carried out by means of a questionnaire. This was followed by a case study of one female principal. In depth, semi-stuctured interviews were undertaken with the principal and three teachers working with her in order to establish this principal's leadership style and the teachers' feelings towards her. A statistical analysis of the survey and a conten~ ~alysis of the case study were carried out. These revealed that the majority of teachers perceive female principals as effective and transformational leaders. These perceptions were found to be minimally influenced by either the teachers' sexes or experience of working with female principals. The..majority of those teachers who perceived female principals negatively tended to be males and to be from a group of teachers who had never worked with female principals. Recommendations for the increase of the number of female principals in secondary schools and for the improvement ofleadership in these schools are made.

Thesis (MTech (Construction Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2008 / The construction industry in South Africa defines a large sector of the economy. The total construction spend in 2002 exceeded R57.5 billion, of which 29.5% came from public sector orders and tenders, 13.6% from public corporations, and 56.9% from the private sector. The size and markets of a construction firm influence its level of professionalism and working practices. Gendering and sexual division of labour are important issues. Presently the construction industry employs a limited number of women at all levels. Additionally there is a low level of participation and representation of women on the committees of the learned societies associated with the industry. The low number of female students majoring in construction management at South African higher education institutions results in a limited number of qualified female construction managers. The consequent gender imbalance suggests a lack of empowerment of women in construction. Historically, job discrimination was institutionalized by law, including job reservation clauses. These laws were abolished following recommendations by the Weihahn Commission of Enquiry in 1979.In South Africa discrimination on the grounds of race and gender constitutes an unfair labour practice. Further, the South African Constitution outlaws discrimination in Section 8.2, but makes provision in Section 8.3 for measures designed to achieve adequate protection and advancement of persons or groups or categories of persons disadvantaged by unfair discrimination. This study explored the factors enhancing or impending career mobility for women in the South African construction industry, with the aim of investigating the factors influencing the choices of careers in construction by South African women. Relevant literature was comprehensively reviewed. Previous relevant research was studied. Both quantitative and qualitative research methods were used to gather data from multiple samples. Key findings included that women had a role to play in the construction industry and that they could build successful construction careers. However, there were various barriers to entry such as, for example, discrimination against women due to gender bias, the work environment on site and lack of sufficient successful role models. These factors impacted negatively on the choices of careers in construction by South African women.

Orientador: Salvador Antonio M. Sandoval / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Educação / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-05T08:40:22Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Costa_ElianaCeliaIsmaelda_D.pdf: 1648595 bytes, checksum: 2cc7a7835bf2a945584ee89732c08a0c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2005 / Resumo: Os estudos, que têm a mulher como objeto central de discussão, cresceram muito a partir da publicação de "O Segundo Sexo", de Simone de Beauvoir, na década de 50. Este desenvolvimento trouxe fortes críticas tanto aos valores vigentes, como aos parâmetros dominantes nas ciências sociais, particularmente às explicações androcêntricas, que tratavam a mulher sob óticas naturalizante e a-histórica. Nas décadas de 80 e 90 o leque de estudos sobre a mulher se ampliou consideravelmente, com pesquisas nas áreas da história, antropologia, literatura, psicologia, educação e sociologia, sobre as diversas condições da mulher. Tanto a diversidade de interpretações possíveis, como a multiplicidade de perspectivas analíticas e de métodos de pesquisa permitiu a construção de diferentes olhares sobre as mulheres e as relações de gênero. estacando-se estudos sobre a construção da identidade de gênero, sobre o discurso social da subordinação, sobre estereótipos e preconceitos, e particularmente, sobre as formas sutis com as quais as mulheres são subjugadas e desvalorizadas. Acompanhando esta vertente de pesquisas, especificamente sob a perspectiva da psicologia social, recolocando o preconceito e o estereótipo nos processos de exclusão social, apresentamos um trabalho empírico que objetiva avaliar as formas atuais de discriminação da mulher, em seu ambiente de trabalho. Especificamente, este estudo analisa os processos de categorização, construídos por mulheres e homens, ocupantes de cargos de comando, acerca de discriminações sofridas por mulheres, em seu processo de ascensão profissional, buscando entender como se apresentam as novas formas sutis de discriminação, sofridas por mulheres em cargos de comando, praticadas nas relações de trabalho, bem como, as estratégias que desenvolvem para adquirir, ou manter-se no cargo. Para tal fim, nosso estudo empírico teve duas etapas. Na primeira, abordamos um grupo de 50 homens, que exerciam função de chefia em empresas públicas e privadas e possuíam nível superior. Na segunda etapa, entrevistamos 20 mulheres profissionais, também com nível superior, que, exerciam funções de comando em cargos proeminentes, em diversas instituições públicas e privadas. Para análise do material coletado, foram utilizados a técnica de Análise de Conteúdo e um soft de análise do discurso, o programa estatístico chamado Alceste - Analise Lexical por Contexto, que se ajusta com muita propriedade aos objetivos dessa investigação, por permitir interpretações quantitativas e qualitativas das entrevistas realizadas. Os/as participantes entrevistados/as tendem a reconhecer algum grau de discriminação em suas relações de trabalho, porém, esse reconhecimento é limitado aos aspectos objetivos do problema. As conclusões apontam para uma visão estereotipada do papel da mulher no trabalho, como se observa ao longo da análise / Abstract: Since the publication of Simone de Beauvoir' s book "The Second Sex" in the 1950's, works with woman as the central object have increased. This development has brought about strong criticisms towards society' s dominant values as well as towards the social sciences dominants parameters, particularly those linked to andocentric explanations that saw the woman from a natural and a-historical point of view. In the 1980's and 1990's, studies about woman's different conditions have increased considerably and in areas such as history, anthropology, literature, psychology, education and sociology. The diversity of possible explanations, as well as the multiplicity of analytical perspectives and research methods have allowed the construction of different views about women and gender relationships. We can point out studies on gender identity development, social discourse about subordination, stereotypes and prejudices and, specially about subtle ways that women are dominated and devaluated. Following this research perspective specially from a social psychology angle and replacing prejudice and stereotypes in the social exclusion process, we present an empirical work that aims at analyzing current forms of discrimination towards woman on the working place. Specifically, this study analyses the social categorization processes developed by women and men, who have an authority position, about the discrimination towards women in their process of professional ascension, trying to understand the configuration of the new subtle discrimination forms suffered by women in authority positions and which are performed in the working relationships. Also, it is analyzed the strategies developed by women to gain or to maintain in their professional place. In order to achieve those goals, this empirical study has had two stages. In the first one, we approached a group formed by 50 men who were head of personal departments in public or private companies and who also had a graduated title. In the second stage we interviewed 20 women who were in high hierarchical positions in several public and private institutions. To analyze those interviews, we used the Content Analysis Technique and a Discourse Analysis Software, the statistical software ALCESTE (By Context Lexical Analysis) which were appropriated to this study objectives because it allows qualitative and quantitative interpretations of the interviews / Doutorado / Educação, Sociedade, Politica e Cultura / Doutor em Educação

The key aspect to stimulating economic and individual growth in the workplace has been shown in numerous case studies to be the removal of discrimination. Affirmative Action looks at dealing with, and making amends for past injustices, as well as moving towards equal employment opportunities in a constructive manner. It is about recognizing that people are inherently different whilst trying to achieve a “colour – blind” society. The Employment Equity Act No. 55 of 1998 was put in place by Government to facilitate the implementation of fair workplace practices, which will correct the imbalances of the past as well as creating a workforce, which reflects the demographics of South Africa. The inequalities in employment patterns and practices with respect to access to employment, training, promotion and equitable remuneration especially for black people, women and people with disabilities are addressed in the said Act. The Employment Equity Act is quite specific about the minimum requirements of an organisation’s Employment Equity Plan, which make it easy to identify what progress is being made towards ending discrimination in the workplace. The minimum penalty for contravening the Employment Equity Act is R500 000 and the maximum is R900 000. The question arises as to whether South African organisations are merely implementing Employment Equity policies to adhere to the basic requirements and deadlines of the Act. Or, are these policies genuinely based on commitment to the principles of equality and equal opportunity for all in the workplace. Calsonic Kansei South Africa has put into place various training and succession plans, which will help to achieve the organizational goal of being more equitable in terms of the Employment Equity Act. Employment agency databases have also been analysed to determine the availability of suitably qualified Affirmative Action employees. In this paper the writer will investigate the progress that Calsonic Kansei South Africa has made towards achieving Employment Equity in relation to other organisations within the same industry.

The term affirmative action originated in the United States some 30 years ago to describe a process of liberating minority groups. The objective of affirmative action within an organisational context, is to democratise the workplace by enabling members of previously disadvantaged groups to progress higher up the ranks of the corporate world. The affirmative action drive only took off in South Africa when it became part of the democratisation process and the focus was directed towards liberating the historically disadvantaged black majority. Prior to 1994, the reasons for implementing affirmative action programmes were largely political because of the race-based discrimination. Historically disadvantaged people were a minority in senior positions, the reason being that although the blacks were given a chance to compete with their white counterparts, due to their poor education standards and lack of experience only a few was appointed. The Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998 aims to correct the demographic imbalances in the nation’s workforce by compelling employers to remove barriers to advancement of blacks, coloureds, Indians, women and disabled, and actively to advance them in all categories of employment by affirmative action. The Employment Equity Act consists of two main sections. The first replaces and refines the prohibition on unfair discrimination in item 2(1)(a) of Schedule 7 of the Labour Relations Act. The second aspect deals with imposing a duty to the employers to adopt affirmative action programmes. The Employment Equity Act places a positive obligation on all employers “to promote equal opportunity in the workplace by eliminating unfair discrimination in any employment policy or practice”. Where unfair discrimination is alleged, the onus of proving that discrimination is fair, or practice is not discriminatory at all, rests upon the employer. Disputes about unfair discrimination must be referred to the CCMA, and if not settled by conciliation, to the Labour Court, which has the power to order compensation or the payment iv of damages, or to direct the employer to take steps to prevent the same unfair discrimination or similar practice occurring in the future in respect of other employees. The second section of the Employment Equity Act deals with the imposition of the duty to designated employers to adopt affirmative action programmes. All employers with more than 50 employees, or which have annual turnovers equal to or above the annual turnovers for small businesses of their class, municipalities, organs of state, and those designated as such by collective agreement, must implement affirmative action measures for people from designated groups. This entails consulting with employers, conducting an analysis of employment policies, practices, procedures and the working environment to identify barriers, drawing up employment equity plans and reporting thereafter to the Director-General of the Department of Labour on progress made in implementing the plan. Any employee may bring alleged contraventions of the Act to the attention of the employer, another employee, or any trade union, workplace forum, labour inspector or the Director- General of the Employment Equity Commission. Labour inspectors appointed under the Basic Conditions of Employment Act may enter and inspect employer’s properties and documents, and are responsible for ensuring that the employer has consulted with employees as required, conducted the pre-equity plan analysis prepared its plan and is implementing it, submitted and published its reports, set up the necessary managerial infrastructure, and informed its employees of progress. Should employers be found not to have complied with these requirements, labour inspectors must request a written undertaking that they will do so. If an employer fails to give such an undertaking, the labour inspector can issue a compliance order setting out inter alia what steps the employer must take and when, and the maximum fine, if any, that can be imposed if the employer fails to comply. If the employer does not pay attention to the compliance order within the prescribed period, the Director-General may apply to have it made an order of the Labour Court. The Director-General may also conduct independent ad hoc reviews of selected designated employers. Failure by an employer to comply with the provision of the Act lead to the employer being liable for the contravention of the Act.