This empirical study analyses whether and how the Imbusa initiation rite is used to construct ‘subordinate femininities’ among married Bemba women of Zambia. Imbusa initiation rite is very significant for Bemba and Zambian women despite the many changes that have significantly altered their religio-cultural practices. It is something that makes every parent proud of their daughter because it is more or less a public declaration that they have raised their daughter with good morals as understood by Bemba people. This study has used two frameworks, first, African women theologies because African women theologies draw their sources from rites, rituals, songs, proverbs, riddles and so on. Secondly, I used status construction within social psychological theory because those with authority in groups define the outcomes and expectations of their group. For instance, banacimbusa among the Bemba people determine what should comprise the teachings in Imbusa and how an initiated woman has to behave in marriage. Utilizing mixed methods, the aim was to understand women’s views about ways in which the Imbusa rite contribute to the identity of Bemba and other Zambian women in marriage. I have proposed a framework for a life-giving marriage; first the need for banacimbusa who are gender sensitive in their teachings; second, African feminist Imbusa pedagogy, teachings that equip women for dialogue in marriage. And third, a holistic approach to sexuality in marriage. / Thesis (M.Th.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2013.

The pervasiveness of sexual violence on college campuses poses a significant problem for students and administrations that seek to promote healthy, safe, and equitable access to higher education. Although federal legislation under Title IX prohibits sexual violence as a form of gender discrimination, cultural climates that promote sexual violence—or rape cultures - continue to inform student experiences on college campuses. This thesis roots the discourse on campus sexual violence in the specific localized context at Scripps College. As a women’s college situated in a small, interconnected consortium of co-ed liberal arts colleges, the case of Scripps College raises critical questions about the ways in which gender and sexism play out on women’s bodies, and influence students’ experiences with embodiment on campus. In this thesis, I present a feminist analysis of the current institutional policies that address sexual violence on campus, in addition to the perspectives of eight student activists currently involved in gender justice work at Scripps College. Due to the fact that each of the Claremont Colleges, including Scripps, is currently in the process of re-evaluating their policies and grievance procedures that address sexual violence on campus, now is a key time to reflect on the past, present, and future of the Claremont Colleges and the role that these institutions play in either deconstructing or reinforcing patriarchal structures of power.