The thesis aims to examine how gender structures are portrayed in the Swedish Armed Forces' advertising campaigns before and after 2018, because that is when the conscription became gender neutral. Furthermore, the thesis will discuss the potential consequences of these portrayals. To do so the methodology of the study consists of a critical discourse analysis complimented by a semiotic approach. The main finding suggests that the films prior to 2018 to some extent reproduce male-dominated discourses of how a soldier should be and reinforce traditional gender structures. In contrast, the films from 2018 and onwards challenge these dominant discourses by including more women and other signs that are not typically coded as masculine. It is assumed that this will lead to more women being recruited, as the profession of a soldier is no longer perceived as being exclusively for men, and a more inclusive environment is introduced. These assumptions are based on previous research on gender structures in military institutions, which historically have been structured around male norms and values which force women in the military to adjust to patriarchal rules. The topic is important, as a gender-equal military is believed to lead to increased safety and efficiency, which is desirable for various reasons.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Initial research on structuring the interview process investigated structure’s impact on the interview’s psychometric properties (e.g., reliability and validity). In contrast, the empirical literature has begun to consider the impact of increased interview structure on job applicant reactions to the interview and the companies that utilize them. Current research has studied the effects of interviewer characteristics on applicant reactions and the effects of different types of selection procedures on applicant fairness reactions. In addition, while studies have examined the impact of applicants’ perceived control on their reactions to selection procedures, few studies have examined this impact specifically for the employment interview. Given the widespread use of the interview in selection, this study adds to current research by focusing on applicant reactions to four elements of the interview identified as being salient to applicants (i.e., the degree to which the interviewee perceives that applicants are asked the same questions, the use of situational or behavioral type questions, controlling the use of ancillary information by the interviewer, and the degree to which questions from the applicant are controlled). In addition, this study focused on need for control as a moderator of the relationships between interview structure and fairness perceptions, recommendation intentions, and acceptance intentions. Participants consisted of 161 students voluntarily participating in three different interviewing scenarios: unstructured, semi-structured, and structured interviewing scenario. The participants completed post-interview measures asking them about their perceptions of fairness, their intention to recommend the company to others, and their intention of accepting an offer if one is made by the company. Although the hypothesized relationships between elements of structure and applicant evaluations of the interview were largely not supported, the results did indicate that student applicants perceived semi-structured and structured interviews to be fairer than unstructured interviews. In addition, the results suggest that more structured interviews may lead to lower behavioral intent to recommend the job to others or accept a job offer. Implications of the results are discussed in terms of how interview structure relates to the candidates’ perception of fairness, recommendation intentions, and acceptance intentions.

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No description available.

The purpose of this research was to gain insight into key factors contributing to the recruitment and retention of teachers of color in New York City, NY, with special attention to their identity formation and understanding of their professionalism as it relates to who they are and where they work. This research entails quantitative results from a survey of more than 100 public school teachers of different racial backgrounds, followed by in-depth interviews with 26 teachers of color across different social contexts of the New York City public school system. This research is grounded in a trifold conceptual framework based on identity formation, sociology of the professions, and critical race theory to examine the interwoven complexities of how teachers of color make meaning of their district and school work as it relates to their understanding of whether they are seen as professionals. This study seeks to address the gap between the current body of literature about the recruitment and retention of teachers of color and the lived experiences of teachers of color in New York City working in the post-No Child Left Behind education policy context. In the first survey phase of this study, participants are asked a series of questions about their perceptions of their sense of professionalism, including their relationships to other school community members and other parts of their work. In the qualitative, interview phase of this project, participants were asked to make meaning of the different facets of their work and the impact they have on their professional identity development, the role of racial and cultural identity in their endeavors, and how their social context informs these understandings. The research was conducted to help fill a consequential gap in the extant research literature on the role that race plays in the career prospects of teachers of color, how they see themselves and believe they are seen by others as professionals and people, and how that connects to larger policy questions about the recruitment and retention of teachers of color. The research finds that the field of education has severely under-researched the role of race and social context in their professional identity formation and in the sociology of professions. Almost all of the teachers of color in the study operate with a sense of professionalism that both allows them to survive and, in some cases, thrive despite and, in many cases, because of their working conditions. Their concentric professionalism – the confluence of preparation, dedication, and motivation, layered with their racial and cultural identities – is centered on the children (particularly of color) and communities they serve across contexts. This also demonstrates how, regardless of teachers’ expertise and experience, school as both a network of intertwined relationships and school as a tapestry of policies and practices can either elevate or decimate a sense of professionalism for teachers of color. Taken holistically, we have a plethora of evidence suggesting that teachers of color are ready, willing, and able to apply appropriate practice to their work. Yet so much of the onus to professionalize comes from people, policies, and ideas that obfuscate what it means to be professional.

In South Africa prior to 1994, community-based care and support services were established for whites only. The majority of older African (black) persons received informal support from their adult children and relatives. This has waned over the years due to the social and economic changes that have put into doubt the continued viability of such support. The Older Persons Act of 2006 requires social workers to establish community-based care and support services for older persons. Hence, the study was conducted to understand the factors that influence social workers in establishing CBCSS for older persons in Bloemfontein in the Free State Province. A qualitative research method was undertaken to accomplish the goal of the study. Purposive and snowball sampling techniques were used to identify suitable participants. Face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted with fifteen social workers who provide services to older persons. The data was analysed through Tesch’s (cited by Creswell, 2009:186) eight steps of qualitative analysis and data verification was conducted following Guba’s (Kreftling, 1991) model. The major finding is that there is a need for social workers to specialise in older persons programmes (gerontology). For the programmes to be a success, it is recommended that the Department of Social Development (DSD) strive to retain social workers who are knowledgeable and experienced in older persons programmes. / Social Work / M.A. (Social Science)

Nursing is a female dominated profession; making it difficult for men in the profession to excel in their caring capacities as nurses. This study aimed at identifying and describing male and female nurses' insights into and perceptions of socio-cultural influences on the recruitment and retention of men in the nursing profession and also explores their experiences in providing intimate care to patients of opposite gender. The study adopted a qualitative research methodology: 16 male and 11 female nursing students were purposively sampled and were interviewed using semi-structured questions. Themes of nursing seen as women's work; low status; stigma; caring and helping others were developed. Feelings of embarrassment and discomfort; fear and refusal of care were experienced when providing intimate care to patients of opposite gender; this has led male participants to develop strategies to protect themselves from sexual accusations. The Nursing Education Institutions (NEIs) have insufficient toilets for male nursing students; there is a lack of male role models and feminine pronouns are used when relating to professional nurses. Evidently socio-cultural perceptions of nursing enforce a negative image. The difficulties experienced by male and female nurses when providing intimate care and lack of male-friendliness in NEIs were discussed. These factors will lead to a further decline in the recruitment and retention of men in nursing; skilled and intelligent nurses are leaving the profession. / Health Studies / M.A. (Nursing Science)

This research study investigates the current staffing processes at the former South African Model C schools in the Eastern Cape Department of Education and aims to identify critical issues regarding staffing processes employed by SGBs of former South African Model C schools. It suggests guidelines in support of a more transformative staffing process to address the gap between the staffing needs of SGBs and departmental policy for transformative staffing, and recommends strategies that can be applied by SGBs to address challenges concerning transformative staffing. An in-depth investigation of the literature revealed that much of governance depends on partnerships among different institutions and the great need to teach SGBs and other stakeholders how to collaborate—not just how to monitor or adhere to contracts. The literature revealed that school governance, although complex, is an important part of the education systems around the world (especially in South Africa). A qualitative research design and methodology were employed to investigate the phenomenon of staff transformation at former Model C schools in the Eastern Cape Department of Education by means of interviews with participants. A complete and strict process for ethical clearance was followed to validate the study. The empirical investigation revealed that there are no clear transformational guidelines from the Department of Education (DoE), which creates the notion that former Model C schools are not compelled to transform their staff to be representative of the demographics of their learners. In addition, the data revealed that some SGBs are particularly resistant to staff transformation at their schools because (as some have put it) their schools are for white people in the same way as township schools are for black and coloured people. They do not see the need for the transformation of staff at their schools, because even black parents choose to send their children to former Model C schools for the quality of education offered by these schools. The study further revealed that most of the principals are concerned about the lack of role models for the overwhelming number of learners of colour at their schools; they acknowledge the need for urgent staff transformation at their schools. Based on the findings of the study, a transformative framework for staffing former Model C schools was developed. This framework requires the collaborative cooperation of all the stakeholders to transform the staff of the former Model C schools in the Eastern Cape Department of Education successfully and efficiently. / Hierdie navorsingstudie ondersoek die huidige personeelvoorsieningsprosesse by die eertydse Suid-Afrikaanse Model C-skole in die Oos-Kaapse Departement van Onderwys en stel ten doel om kritieke vraagstukke ten opsigte van personeelvoorsieningsprosesse te identifiseer wat deur skoolbeheerliggame (SBLe) van eertydse Suid-Afrikaanse Model C-skole gebruik word. Dit stel riglyne voor ter ondersteuning van ’n meer transfomatiewe personeelvoorsieningsproses om die gaping tussen die personeelbehoeftes van skoolbeheerliggame en die departementele beleid vir transformatiewe personeelvoorsiening te vernou en stel ook strategieë voor wat deur die skoolbeheerliggame gebruik kan word om uitdagings wat betref transformatiewe personeelvoorsiening die hoof te bied. ’n Omvattende ondersoek van die literatuur dui daarop dat die bestuur in ’n groot mate afhang van vennootskappe tussen verskillende instellings en die groot behoefte om skoolbeheerliggame en ander belanghebbers te leer hoe om saam te werk ‒ nie net hoe om kontrakte te moniteer of na te kom nie. Die literatuur het ook aan die lig gebring dat die bestuur van skole, hoewel ’n kompleks saak, ’n belangrike deel van onderwysstelsels wêreldwyd is (veral in Suid-Afrika). ’n Kwalitatiewe navorsingsontwerp en -metodologie is gebruik om die verskynsel van personeeltransformasie by eertydse Model C-skole in die Oos-Kaapse Departement van Onderwys te ondersoek deur onderhoude met die deelnemers te voer. ’n Volledige en streng proses vir etiese uitklaring is gevolg om die studie te bekragtig. Die empiriese ondersoek het gewys dat die Departement van Onderwys (DvO) geen duidelike transformasieriglyne gegee het nie, wat die opvatting ondersteun dat eertydse Model C-skole nie verplig is om te transformeer ten einde hulle personeel verteenwoordigend van die demografie van hulle leerders te maak nie. Bykomend hiertoe het die data aan die lig gebring dat sommige skoolbeheerliggame besonder weerstandig staan teenoor personeeltransformasie by hulle skole omdat (soos sommiges dit gestel het) hulle skole vir wit mense is op dieselfde manier as wat townshipskole vir swart en bruinmense is. Hulle sien nie die nodigheid om die personeel by hulle skole te transformeer nie omdat selfs swart ouers verkies om hulle kinders na eertydse Model C-skole vir die gehalte van die onderrig wat hierdie skole bied, te stuur. Die studie het ook gewys dat die meeste van die skoolhoofde besorg is oor die gebrek aan rolmodelle vir die oorweldigende aantal leerders van kleur by hierdie skole; hulle erken die behoefte aan dringende personeeltransformasie by hulle skole. ’n Transformatiewe raamwerk, gebaseer op die bevindings van die studie, is vir die personeelvoorsiening van eerstydse Model C-skole ontwikkel. Hierdie raamwerk verg die samewerking van al die belanghebbers om die personeel van die eertydse Model C-skole in die Oos-Kaapse Departement van Onderwys suksesvol en doeltreffend te transformeer. / Esi sifundo siphanda iinkqubo zokuqesha ezisetyenziswa kwizikolo zoMzantsi Afrika ezazifudula ziziiModel C kwiSebe lezeMfundo kwiphondo leMpuma Koloni. Injongo yaso kukuchonga imibandela etshis’ibunzi kwiinkqubo ezisetyenziswayo xa kuqeshwa abasebenzi ziikomiti ezilawula izikolo (iiSGB) zoMzantsi Afrika ezazifudula ziziiModel C. Sicebisa izikhokelo zokuxhasa inkqubo yenguqu ekuqesheni abasebenzi ukwenzela ukulungisa umsantsa ophakathi kwezidingo zokuqesha kweeSGB nomgaqo nkqubo wokuqesha obonakalisa inguqu, kwaye sinika iingcebiso ngamacebo anokwenziwa ziiSGB ekusabeleni imingeni emalunga nokuqesha okulandela inkqubo yenguqu. Uphando olunzulu loncwadi ludize ukuba ulawulo oluninzi luxhomekeke kwintsebenziswano phakathi kwamaziko ahlukeneyo kwanakwisidingo esikhulu sokufundisa iiSGB nabanye abathathi nxaxheba ngendlela yokusebenzisana – hayi nje ukuhlola okanye ukubambelela kwizivumelwano zengqesho (iikhontrakthi). Uncwadi ludize ukuba ulawulo lwezikolo, nangona lungxakangxaka, luyinxalenye ebalulekileyo yeenkqubo zemfundo kwihlabathi liphela (ngakumbi eMzantsi Afrika). Kwasetyenziswa indlela yophando lomgangatho ekuphandeni umbandela wokuqesha okubonakalisa inguqu kwizikolo ezazifudula ziziiModel C kwiSebe lezeMfundo kwiphondo leMpuma Koloni ngokwenza udliwano ndlebe nabathathi nxaxheba. Kwalandelwa inkqubo engqongqo yokuhlela ngendlela engenabuqhophololo xa kwakuqinisekiswa esi sifundo. Uphando olusekelwe ekuqwalaseleni amava lwadiza ukuba akukho migaqo nazikhokelo zokulandela inguqu kwiSebe lezeMfundo (iDoE), nto leyo inika uluvo lokuba izikolo ezazifudula ziziiModel C azinyanzelekanga ukuba ziguqule ubume babasebenzi ngendlela eya kuhambelana nobume namanani abafundi bazo. Ngaphezulu, idatha yaveza ukuba ezinye iiSGB aziyifuni inguqu ekuqesheni kwizikolo zazo ngoba (ngokokutsho kwabanye) izikolo zazo zezabantu abamhlophe ngendlela efanayo nokuba izikolo zasezilokishini izezabantu abantsundu nabebala. Ezo SGB azisiboni isidingo senguqu ekuqesheni abasebenzi kwizikolo zazo ngoba nabazali abantsundu bayazikhethela ukuthumela abantwana babo kwizikolo ezazifudula ziziiModel C kuba kufundiswa kakuhle kwezi zikolo. Esi sifundo saphinda sadiza ukuba uninzi lweenqununu luyakhathazeka kukungabikho kwabantu abangumzekelo omhle kubantwana abantsundu ezikolweni zazo; ziyavuma ezi nqununu ukuba kukho isidingo esingxamisekileyo senguqu ekuqesheni iititshala ezikolweni zazo. Okufunyaniswe kwesi sifundo kukhokelele ekuphuhliseni isikhokelo sokusebenza sokulandela inkqubo yenguqu ekuqesheni kwizikolo ezazifudula ziziiModel C. Esi sikhokelo sokusebenza sifuna intsebenziswano phakathi kwabathathi nxaxheba ekuguquleni abasebenzi kwizikolo ezazifudula ziziiModel C kwiSebe lezeMfundo kwiphondo leMpuma Koloni ngempumelelo nangokufezekileyo. / Educational Management and Leadership / Ph. D. (Education)

Nursing is a female dominated profession; making it difficult for men in the profession to excel in their caring capacities as nurses. This study aimed at identifying and describing male and female nurses' insights into and perceptions of socio-cultural influences on the recruitment and retention of men in the nursing profession and also explores their experiences in providing intimate care to patients of opposite gender. The study adopted a qualitative research methodology: 16 male and 11 female nursing students were purposively sampled and were interviewed using semi-structured questions. Themes of nursing seen as women's work; low status; stigma; caring and helping others were developed. Feelings of embarrassment and discomfort; fear and refusal of care were experienced when providing intimate care to patients of opposite gender; this has led male participants to develop strategies to protect themselves from sexual accusations. The Nursing Education Institutions (NEIs) have insufficient toilets for male nursing students; there is a lack of male role models and feminine pronouns are used when relating to professional nurses. Evidently socio-cultural perceptions of nursing enforce a negative image. The difficulties experienced by male and female nurses when providing intimate care and lack of male-friendliness in NEIs were discussed. These factors will lead to a further decline in the recruitment and retention of men in nursing; skilled and intelligent nurses are leaving the profession. / Health Studies / M.A. (Nursing Science)

The research entailed an exploration of the reasons behind corruption and related offences in selected Gauteng police stations of the South African Police Service (SAPS). Corruption refers to the illegal and unlawful activities performed by police officials when they enrich themselves by taking money and other valuable property from offenders, victims and other people they come into contact with. The participants in this study were purposefully chosen and comprised of two groups. The first group included ex-police officials convicted and sentenced for committing corruption and related offences. The second group were active police officials suspected to have committed corruption and related crimes and some in this group were dismissed by disciplinary tribunals. The research was done at four of the police stations in Gauteng Province. There were 18 participants interviewed and nine were chosen from these police stations, with the remaining nine from two correctional facilities in Gauteng. The participants were asked an open-ended question which aimed at exploring convicted police officials’ reasons for having committed corruption. The interviews were recorded with the participants’ permission. The recorded data were transcribed verbatim and analysed. The five main themes that emerged are the high incidence of corruption involving all levels of police, multiple environmental factors which contribute to corruption, forms of corruption, dynamics resulting from corruption and anti-corruption mechanisms to prevent corruption. The themes were described using “in vivo” quotes from the transcribed data. To learn other trends about corruption, the nature and extent of corruption in the political, economic and the governmental sphere were discussed. In the summary of the research recommendations and conclusions were provided. A model has been identified which consists of preventative and reactive mechanisms, including selection, recruitment, the code of conduct, supportive leadership, supervision, mentoring and coaching, targeted inspections and auditing. Life style audits, disciplinary measures, dismissals and prosecution in these corruption case hearings also form part of the proposed model. / Corrections Management / D.Litt. et Phil. (Criminal Justice)