The purpose of this exploratory research was to explore the causes of gender stereotyping in the workplace. The study sought to gain insights on stereotyping, particularly factors that cause the development of stereotypes and the role played by organisations in promoting stereotyping.In this qualitative study, thirteen purposefully selected participants were interviewed through in-depth face-to-face interviews using a semi-structured interview guide. Data was analysed using content, narrative and frequency analysis methods.Understanding of stereotyping and gender stereotyping was tested and confirmed amongst participants. Similarities in defining stereotyping and gender stereotyping were found, which implied an automatic association of stereotypes to gender. The study found evidence of the existence of stereotypes in the workplace; however stereotypes are formed in childhood, particularly in the school and home environments. Finally, the study found that the workplace plays a role in the formation of gender stereotypes through comments made by its employees, employee behaviours such as awarding special privileges to female employees, and through work social settings such as sports events, particularly where alcohol is served. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

This qualitative essay explores and compares women’s roles and identities in the gothic novels Rebecca and Jane Eyre. The investigation shall be a social critique on feminine ideals from a feminist perspective. Comparable analysis of the "other women" who act as doubles for the protagonists will be essential to understanding the alter egos of Mrs. de Winter and Jane Eyre. These double personalities raise questions of identity and the roles of femininity. Similarly the power struggles between husband and wives and other feminine influences shall throw further light on prevailing feminine ideals of the times. I shall analyze Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca in relation to the concepts of the "Angel in the house" and the "Mad Woman in the Attic" with Charlotte Bronte’s novel to explore parallels between the plot and female characters. I shall show how Daphne du Maurier offers varying feminine models and ultimately takes a feminist standpoint with her novel much like Brontë’s Jane Eyre before her. Finally, I will show how the suppression of women by men through gender stereotyping can lead to female rebellion and, in turn, the stigmatization of female madness.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the factors that influence the underrepresentation of women in managerial positions in engineering sector. The study is based on the fact that there are less female leaders both in management and in engineering. Design/Methodology/Approach: The method used in order to accomplish this research is a qualitative approach. The primary data was collecting by semi-structured interviews with employees of the case company (ABB). The sample consists of ten employees, males and females, who hold different positions in the company. Findings: The empirical findings and the analysis show the factors regarding the underrepresentation of women in managerial positions. The study indicates that glass ceiling, gender stereotyping, engineering culture and balancing professional and family life, are major obstacles in women‘s career today. Limitations: I limited my study to only one engineering company therefore the results cannot be generalized for the whole engineering industry. Also, even though this study examines why women are underrepresented in engineering industry, I interviewed both male and female employees in order to illustrate both perspectives about the issue. Contribution: This study confirms the existing theories regarding the affect of underrepresentation of women in engineering industry and highlights the facts that delay women‘s advancement. Engineering culture does not encourage mentoring towards women and women are seen as outsiders in networking activities. Thus, this study gives the opportunity to managers in engineering to consider the reality about females in the sector in order to improve the current situation.

Sport can have a profoundly positive impact on the world. It can unite diversity, extracts youthful communities from poverty and inject flaking nations with relentless spirit. Sport transcends barriers and mends people with tumultuous personal histories. Within this context, we examine the ability that sport has to direct the lives of women from an early age. Effectively operating beyond the limitations of a classroom, sport can teach essential life lessons. Women who compete in sport from a young age have the opportunity to actualise their innate potential, develop their intelligence, grow in confidence, fine-tune leadership skills and establish a sense of presence. The aim of this investigation was four fold: (1) to explore the reasons why women who compete at an intense level in sport terminate their careers prior to reaching their full potential. (2) To identify the essential factors that impact heavily on women in sport: stereotypes, the media, teaching methods, and other factors identified during the research. (3) To establish the similarities and/or differences between women who have terminated their careers and women who still compete at intense level, and (4) to identify coping strategies that may assist women to overcome the obstacles and persevere in their sporting careers. A qualitative approach was adopted: 64 women filled out the questionnaires. They had all competed in first teams at provincial, national or international levels. Some had terminated their sporting careers; others were still competing. Through analysis of data, women in this study terminated sport participation because of decreased motivation and interest in sport, coach dynamics, academic pressure, development of injury and politics in the administration of sport. The latter may be unique to South Africa following the demand for sport to be more representative of all population groups. This study endeavoured to identify eco-factors that would possibly appear to play a key role in whether women continue in or terminate their sporting careers. Men’s sports dominate the media in South Africa. There seems to be a direct correlation between the amount of coverage given to sportswomen and the number of women actively competing in sport. The media is an incredibly powerful tool and has the “potential to create and achieve an environment that promotes and supports the principles of equity.” (Goslin, 2008: 300) Until the media makes a concerted effort to modify the imbalance, not much will change for women in the sporting world. Stereotypes continue to prevail. Society and media conform to portraits of women as mother, wife, sex symbol or career seeker. One of few sports brands to reverse this affliction is Nike: “Somebody will give her a doll. And somebody will give her a ball. And then somebody will give her a chance" (Nike "There is a Girl in America”, 1996). The advertisement was never released in South Africa. The media, however, can only be responsible for so much. Ultimately, parents have to take responsibility for their child’s upbringing. During this study, differences in parenting styles and how these styles influence the longevity of participation were identified. The issue of how far to push a child to do something she/he does not want to do emerged as a regular theme. Results showed that within the group who were still competing; only 17% had parents who pushed them. Within the group who terminated their careers, 62% of them were driven beyond their will. Perceived peer acceptance was also identified as an influence contributing to the prediction of enjoyment and perceived competence in the sporting arena. Our coaches, their coaching methods and how they handle contemporary females also proved to have a profound impact on the termination or continuation of sport. Coaches provide encouragement, motivation and preparedness. There appears to be little published research to substantiate why women continue sport at a tertiary level. From this research, however, it appears that an athlete who has a growth mindset and is focused on task orientation is more likely to continue sport over someone who has a fixed mindset and is more ego-orient. / Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Biokinetics, Sport and Leisure Sciences / unrestricted

Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study focuses on discourses in the talk of female facilitators of a wilderness programme. The specific interest is whether and how beliefs and assumptions regarding gender permeate their conceptions of wilderness. This study explored how gender may influence the ways in which wilderness excursions are implemented, and sought to identify discourses that may reinforce male stereotyping of the realm of wilderness. It also aimed at assessing if and how wilderness experiences challenge or perpetuate gender stereotypes. The research design comprised an ethnographic approach and took the form of a case study. The particular group - or case - being studied was the female wilderness facilitators at Usiko, a non-governmental organisation in the Western Cape that offers programmes for youth-at-risk. Wilderness excursions form a crucial component of these programmes, which draw on the natural environment as a means of promoting healing and personal growth. The epistemological base on which the study rests is social constructionist feminism. There was thus a specific focus on the ways in which participants used language to construct meaning in relation to their lives. Data was gathered through six individual interviews and a focus group discussion. It was then analysed and interpreted using a discourse analytic approach. Findings indicated that participants have ambivalent views on gender and gender roles, and associate it with both disadvantages and benefits. This ambivalence was reflected in the ways in which participants both resisted – and seemed to perpetuate a discourse of male privilege. Beliefs and assumptions about gender were furthermore reflected in the implementation and facilitation of wilderness camps, and in the ways in which women conceptualise wilderness. One the one hand, wilderness was constructed as a place where pressure to conform to gender roles is significantly less than in an everyday urban environment. This view of wilderness opens up opportunities for utilising wilderness as a place where gender stereotyping might be challenged. However, a second view of wilderness constructed it as a masculine domain. This view was influenced by the assumption that masculine characteristics, such as autonomy, leadership, risk-taking and physical strength, are needed to participate in outdoor-based activities. In this view, wilderness becomes a place where gender stereotypes are perpetuated. This also reflected in the ways in which separate camps for adolescent boys and girls are structured. This view of wilderness, as well as the accompanying practices on wilderness camps which reinforce this view, could close down possibilities for utilising wilderness experiences as a means of challenging gender stereotyping. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie is gerig op diskoerse in die taalgebruik van vroulike fasiliteerders van „n wildernis program. Daar word spesifiek gekyk na of - en hoe oortuigings en aannames betreffende geslag, opvattings oor wildernis deurdring. Hierdie studie het die maniere waarop geslag die uitvoer van wildernis uitstappies mag beïnvloed ondersoek, en het beoog om diskoerse wat die stereotipering van wildernis as ‟n manlike gebied versterk, te identifiseer. Dit het ook beoog om vas te stel of – en hoe wildernis ervaringe geslagstereotipes uitdaag of voortsit. Die navorsingsontwerp behels „n etnografiese benadering en maak gebruik van ‟n gevallestudie. Die spesifieke geval wat bestudeer is, is die vroulike wildernis fasiliteerders by Usiko, ‟n organisasie in die Wes-Kaap wat programme vir hoe-risiko jeugdiges bied. Wildernis uitstappies vorm ‟n kritieke deel van hierdie programme wat gebruik maak van die natuurlike omgewing as ‟n manier om genesing en persoonlike ontwikkeling aan te moedig. Die epistemologiese basis van hierdie studie behels ‟n feministiese, diskoers analitiese benadering. Daar was dus ‟n spesifieke fokus op die maniere waarop deelnemers taal gebruik het om betekenis in verband met hul lewenservaringe te konstrueer. Data is ingesamel deur ses individuele onderhoude en „n fokus groep bespreking. Daarna is dit analiseer en interpreteer deur middel van diskoers analise. Die bevindinge dui daarop dat deelnemers ambivalente oortuigings betreffende geslag en geslagsrolle koester. Dit bevat vir hulle beide voordele en nadele. Hierdie ambivalensie kon opgetel word in die maniere waarop deelnemers ‟n diskoers van manlike voorreg beide ondersteun en uitgedaag het. Oortuiginge en aannames betreffende geslag is ook weerspiëel in die ontwerp en fasilitering van wildernis kampe, en in die maniere waarop die vroue wildernis konseptualiseer. Aan die een kant is wildernis gekonstrueer as ‟n plek waar daar aansienlik minder druk is om in te val by geslagsrolle, as wat daar in ‟n alledaagse, stedelike omgewing is. Hierdie indruk van wildernis skep die geleentheid om die wildernis te benut as ‟n plek waar geslagstereotipering uitgedaag kan word. ‟n Tweede opvatting van wildernis konstrueer dit egter as „n manlike gebied. Hierdie opvatting word beïnvloed deur die aanname dat tipies manlike eienskappe, soos die van onafhanklikheid, leierskap, risiko-onderneming en fisiese krag, benodig word om deel te neem aan buitelug aktiwiteite. Met hierdie opvatting word die wildernis ‟n plek waar geslagstereotipes versterk word. Hierdie opvatting word verder weerspieël in die maniere waarin aparte kampe vir meisies en seuns ontwerp is. Hierdie idee van wildernis, sowel as die bykomende gebruike wat dit versterk, beperk die moontlikhede wat die wildernis kan bied om geslagstereotipes uit te daag.

This study analyzes gender portrayals in Swiss prime-time television advertising with regard to gender stereotypes. A content analysis of 449 characters of 412 distinct advertisements sampled from four selected German-speaking TV channels in Switzerland was carried out. Characters in the ads were coded for physical appearance, sexualization, social role, and occupation. The data show significant variations between the representation of women and men in all four aspects. An international comparison of the gender portrayals used in Swiss advertising suggests that they are almost identical to internationally used stereotypes. Only small deviances occur, such as the portrayal of both women and men in a home setting, an equal share of female and male characters doing housework, and no differences in the arguments given by women and men on why to use a product they advertise.

Confucianism is the doctrine that ruled Eastern Asian countries for thousands of years. The doctrine focused on the order of the society and the dependence among individuals in the society. One critique for Confucianism is the under-evaluation of women's role and presence in the society. In the thesis, I will detect Confucianism-related gender stereotypes appearing on feature interviews in the entertainment section of online newspapers in Vietnam, one of former Confucian countries. The thesis also makes the effort to connect the global journalism theory to the solution for removing gender stereotypes from journalism. Three methods namely critical discourse analysis (CDA), conversation analysis (CA) and interviewing are employed in the thesis to address three research questions. Four Confucianism-inspired gender stereotypes are pointed out and the connection between Confucianism-related gender stereotyping and global journalism is basically sketched out in terms of journalistic style.

Aim: The aim of the study is to investigate the impact of national culture on female’s career advancement and different barriers that females may confront in University of Gävle and GuizhouUniversity   Method: Both qualitative and quantitative methods are employed in the current study. Qualitative data is collected by sixteen interviews including ten participants from University of Gävle and six participants from GuizhouUniversity. And the quantitative data is collected by one hundred questionnaires in the two universities.   Result and Conclusions: The study finds out that Hofstede’s six cultural dimensions: power distance, collectivism vs. individualism, uncertainty avoidance, masculinity vs. femininity, long-term orientation vs. short-term orientation and indulgence vs. restraint could affect female’s career advancement in varying degree in which power distance and masculinity vs. femininity differentiate the two universities to a large extent. Moreover, the study shows gender stereotyping, lack of networking, and lack of mentorship are most obvious barriers for female’s career advancement while the impact of glass ceiling, opportunities and self-confidence is relatively.   Suggestion for further studies: Future studies could take more cultural models into consideration. Bigger samples in two countries should be collected to view a whole picture of female’s situation in Swedish and Chinese tertiary education field.   Contribution of the thesis: The model of relationship between national culture and female’s career advancement provides a framework for the further studies relating to female’s under-representation in tertiary field. Barriers identified by the authors remind the universities to improve their organizational management.

Within the Folds is a 70,000 word novel where prehistory and the near future meet together in a narrative examining the forces of evolution and duration. The work particularly focuses on the conceptual changes taking place in parenting models as biomedical science gives opportunities to reproductive paradigms which were previously impossible. Taking the premise that developments in human engineering are unstoppable, I explore the transgenic boundaries between 'natural evolution' and proactive human design, conceptually and thematically, as new models of gender roles within family life become inevitable.

Women percussionists have historically been the minority in professional percussion roles. After a discussion of women’s roles as drummers in ancient history, this document reviews the role of women percussionists in the rapidly evolving field of percussion. The purpose of this study was to see if there has been an increase in female percussionists in professional positions since Meghan Aube’s 2011 study, Women in Percussion: The Emergence of Women as Professional Percussionists in the United States, 1930-Present. Because female percussionists have been subject to gender stereotyping of instruments and gender discrimination, this study also aimed to discover if any progress has been made toward the presence of women in percussion education and as performers. In order to update results from Meghan Aube’s study, the personnel lists of the top two tiers of orchestras (the top 11.28 percent of 452 orchestras according to the ranking system established by the League of American Orchestras) were surveyed to find the gender ratio of their percussion sections. Likewise, data collected from the College Music Society directory was used to determine the number of women teaching percussion at universities in the United States. In addition, percussion professors from institutions offering graduate degrees in music were surveyed and asked to provide their experiences with gender discrimination toward female percussionists. This document may serve as a resource for further studies and research on the evolving roles of female percussionists.