Research problem: The research revolved around the problem: What extrinsic barriers play a role in the promotion of the female educator and to what extent are these barriers experienced? Research objectives: Arising from the problem, the aim of the research firstly was to determine from the literature what the nature of extrinsic promotion barriers were within and outside the school. Secondly, to establish empirically the extent to which extrinsic barriers influenced the career promotion of female educators in secondary schools. Thirdly, to determine what the relation was between biographic variables and different extrinsic promotion barriers. Research Design: * Literature study - In the literature overview in Chapters 2 and 3 the different extrinsic promotion barriers to female educators were investigated. It transpired that the following aspects/factors in the literature occur as extrinsic promotion barriers, namely networks, mentorships, appointment procedures, organisation climate and the female educator’s career profile. These identified aspects/factors formed the basis for the compilation of a structured questionnaire. * Empirical investigation - A quantitative research approach in the post-positivistic paradigm was followed in this research. The data collection instrument was a structured questionnaire consisting of five constructs divided into 50 questions/items. The questionnaire was distributed to female educators on post level 2 and higher (n=365) of which a feedback response of (n=305; 83.6%) was obtained. This questionnaire was used to determine to what extent extrinsic barriers influence the career promotion of the female educator and to establish the relation between certain biographical variables and the different extrinsic promotion barriers. Cronbach Alpha coefficients, means, standard deviations (SD), rankings and frequencies, percentages of the responses to the questionnaire, hierarchic linear models and practical significance (d-values) were calculated. During the discussion of the results, descriptive statistics were used. Main findings: It was evident from the research that the respondents did not experience to a medium and to a large extent any aspect regarding networks, mentorship, appointment procedures, organizational culture and the educators’ career profile as extrinsic promotion barriers. Recommendations: Finally, recommendations were firstly made to the Department of Basic Education, secondly to the female educator and thirdly for further studies focussing on extrinsic promotion barriers to the female educator. Recommendations to the Department of Basic Education: * The DoBE has to provide and distribute policy documents about gender equility to members of the SGB and especialy female teachers. * The DoBE need to train the persons involved in the appointment process (SGB members and educating staff) to understand the policy documents and juridical framework of the appointment process and to apply it correctly. Such training could be considered as a prerequisite to be elected to the SGB. Recommendation to the female educator: * Female educators who hold promotion posts, and those that aspire for promotion posts, must be afforded the opportunity to indicate what they wish to be trained in. Recommendations for further research: * That research of a qualitative nature by means of interviews and focus group discussions should be undertaken on extrinsic promotion barriers found in this study and possible other extrinsic promotion barriers. Such research could be expanded by doing a mixed-methods investigation in two or three provinces. * It became evident from this research that the majority of female educators are heads of department (post level 2) and the minority of female educators fill posts on higher post levels (3 and 4). Research needs to be done on what extrinsic promotion barriers are obstructing female educators from being promoted to principal posts and vice-principal posts. / MEd (Education Management), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

The Gender Equity Task Team’s (1997) report, Gender Equity in Education, recommends that further research be done to identify the practices perpetuating inequitable gender relations in classrooms and to provide guidelines for teachers and learners to understand the meaning of the gender issues presented in the curriculum (South Africa, 1997:14&16). This research study echoes some of the desires of The Gender Equity Task Team through an exploration that engages with the extent to which gender equity is enacted in Human Rights Education curricula. In particular, the aims of this research study were to; • contest and deconstruct the notion ‘gender equity’ from scholarly perspectives as well as from explicit curriculum, female teachers’ and schoolgirls’ narratives, so as to create an awareness of gender equity in society and curriculum; and • engage with Human Rights Education pedagogical approaches so as to consider the promotion of gender equity through Human Rights Education curricula. The aims of the study were explored through a theoretical framework that engaged with Human Rights Education -, curriculum -, feminist - and gender studies theories. The methodological framework was that of qualitative narrative inquiry. A purposeful sample consisting of South African national curriculum policy documents as well as secondary school female teachers and Grade 9 schoolgirls in semi-rural and inner-city environments was selected. Document research, semi-structured one-on-one interviews and narrative-photovoice were the data collection methods, and critical discourse analysis the analytical framework. These theoretical and methodological stances were purposefully selected juxtaposed to the interests of the international SANPAD (South Africa Netherlands Research Programme on Alternatives in Development) project in which this research study resides, entitled: ‘Human Rights Education in diversity: Empowering girls in rural and metropolitan school environments’ (Roux, 2009). The findings and interpretations derived from the empirical data reveal that the formal Human Rights Education curriculum portrays gender and gender equity nuances as health, social and wellbeing dilemmas that have detrimental and destructive consequences on individuals and on society as a whole. The female teachers and schoolgirls experience gender equity primarily in terms of sameness and ‘being equal’. The elusive, complex nature of gender equity was not prevalent. However, the lived experiences of some female teachers and schoolgirls demonstrated the situatedness of their gender identity through the hidden curriculum and reinforced the notion of gender equity as a social construct. The findings of this research study have refined my understanding of the nuances of gender and gender equity, creating in me a deeper awareness of these concepts. This awareness permeates my vision of the curriculum in particular and the education system and society in general, and makes me want to strive toward fostering transformative curriculum spaces. Another contribution of this research study emerged from the desire to elicit schoolgirls’ narratives with the aid of photographs. By disrupting the boundaries between narrative and photovoice as data collection methods, narrative-photovoice was coined as a methodological contribution to this research study. The value of narrative-photovoice for and within gender studies research is also revealed. The third contribution of this research study emerged in response to the need to enrich the concept of gender equity within Human Rights Education. In effect, critical human rights literacy (HRLit) was conceptualized as a developing normative theory to deconstruct the discursive spaces emerging in Human Rights Education and to critically engage with their meanings. / Thesis (PhD (Curriculum Development Innovation and Evaluation))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

Research problem: The research revolved around the problem: What extrinsic barriers play a role in the promotion of the female educator and to what extent are these barriers experienced? Research objectives: Arising from the problem, the aim of the research firstly was to determine from the literature what the nature of extrinsic promotion barriers were within and outside the school. Secondly, to establish empirically the extent to which extrinsic barriers influenced the career promotion of female educators in secondary schools. Thirdly, to determine what the relation was between biographic variables and different extrinsic promotion barriers. Research Design: * Literature study - In the literature overview in Chapters 2 and 3 the different extrinsic promotion barriers to female educators were investigated. It transpired that the following aspects/factors in the literature occur as extrinsic promotion barriers, namely networks, mentorships, appointment procedures, organisation climate and the female educator’s career profile. These identified aspects/factors formed the basis for the compilation of a structured questionnaire. * Empirical investigation - A quantitative research approach in the post-positivistic paradigm was followed in this research. The data collection instrument was a structured questionnaire consisting of five constructs divided into 50 questions/items. The questionnaire was distributed to female educators on post level 2 and higher (n=365) of which a feedback response of (n=305; 83.6%) was obtained. This questionnaire was used to determine to what extent extrinsic barriers influence the career promotion of the female educator and to establish the relation between certain biographical variables and the different extrinsic promotion barriers. Cronbach Alpha coefficients, means, standard deviations (SD), rankings and frequencies, percentages of the responses to the questionnaire, hierarchic linear models and practical significance (d-values) were calculated. During the discussion of the results, descriptive statistics were used. Main findings: It was evident from the research that the respondents did not experience to a medium and to a large extent any aspect regarding networks, mentorship, appointment procedures, organizational culture and the educators’ career profile as extrinsic promotion barriers. Recommendations: Finally, recommendations were firstly made to the Department of Basic Education, secondly to the female educator and thirdly for further studies focussing on extrinsic promotion barriers to the female educator. Recommendations to the Department of Basic Education: * The DoBE has to provide and distribute policy documents about gender equility to members of the SGB and especialy female teachers. * The DoBE need to train the persons involved in the appointment process (SGB members and educating staff) to understand the policy documents and juridical framework of the appointment process and to apply it correctly. Such training could be considered as a prerequisite to be elected to the SGB. Recommendation to the female educator: * Female educators who hold promotion posts, and those that aspire for promotion posts, must be afforded the opportunity to indicate what they wish to be trained in. Recommendations for further research: * That research of a qualitative nature by means of interviews and focus group discussions should be undertaken on extrinsic promotion barriers found in this study and possible other extrinsic promotion barriers. Such research could be expanded by doing a mixed-methods investigation in two or three provinces. * It became evident from this research that the majority of female educators are heads of department (post level 2) and the minority of female educators fill posts on higher post levels (3 and 4). Research needs to be done on what extrinsic promotion barriers are obstructing female educators from being promoted to principal posts and vice-principal posts. / MEd (Education Management), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

The Gender Equity Task Team’s (1997) report, Gender Equity in Education, recommends that further research be done to identify the practices perpetuating inequitable gender relations in classrooms and to provide guidelines for teachers and learners to understand the meaning of the gender issues presented in the curriculum (South Africa, 1997:14&16). This research study echoes some of the desires of The Gender Equity Task Team through an exploration that engages with the extent to which gender equity is enacted in Human Rights Education curricula. In particular, the aims of this research study were to; • contest and deconstruct the notion ‘gender equity’ from scholarly perspectives as well as from explicit curriculum, female teachers’ and schoolgirls’ narratives, so as to create an awareness of gender equity in society and curriculum; and • engage with Human Rights Education pedagogical approaches so as to consider the promotion of gender equity through Human Rights Education curricula. The aims of the study were explored through a theoretical framework that engaged with Human Rights Education -, curriculum -, feminist - and gender studies theories. The methodological framework was that of qualitative narrative inquiry. A purposeful sample consisting of South African national curriculum policy documents as well as secondary school female teachers and Grade 9 schoolgirls in semi-rural and inner-city environments was selected. Document research, semi-structured one-on-one interviews and narrative-photovoice were the data collection methods, and critical discourse analysis the analytical framework. These theoretical and methodological stances were purposefully selected juxtaposed to the interests of the international SANPAD (South Africa Netherlands Research Programme on Alternatives in Development) project in which this research study resides, entitled: ‘Human Rights Education in diversity: Empowering girls in rural and metropolitan school environments’ (Roux, 2009). The findings and interpretations derived from the empirical data reveal that the formal Human Rights Education curriculum portrays gender and gender equity nuances as health, social and wellbeing dilemmas that have detrimental and destructive consequences on individuals and on society as a whole. The female teachers and schoolgirls experience gender equity primarily in terms of sameness and ‘being equal’. The elusive, complex nature of gender equity was not prevalent. However, the lived experiences of some female teachers and schoolgirls demonstrated the situatedness of their gender identity through the hidden curriculum and reinforced the notion of gender equity as a social construct. The findings of this research study have refined my understanding of the nuances of gender and gender equity, creating in me a deeper awareness of these concepts. This awareness permeates my vision of the curriculum in particular and the education system and society in general, and makes me want to strive toward fostering transformative curriculum spaces. Another contribution of this research study emerged from the desire to elicit schoolgirls’ narratives with the aid of photographs. By disrupting the boundaries between narrative and photovoice as data collection methods, narrative-photovoice was coined as a methodological contribution to this research study. The value of narrative-photovoice for and within gender studies research is also revealed. The third contribution of this research study emerged in response to the need to enrich the concept of gender equity within Human Rights Education. In effect, critical human rights literacy (HRLit) was conceptualized as a developing normative theory to deconstruct the discursive spaces emerging in Human Rights Education and to critically engage with their meanings. / Thesis (PhD (Curriculum Development Innovation and Evaluation))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

The Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (28 of 2002) (MPRDA) and the accompanied Broad-based Socio-economic Empowerment Charter aimed to rectify previous inequalities and disadvantages in the mining sector and specifically provide for the inclusion of women in core mining activities. According to the Act and the Charter, the mining industry was supposed to reach a quota of 10% women in core mining activities by 2009. The amendment of the Broad-based Socio-economic Empowerment Charter for the South African Mining and Minerals Industry (launched in 2010) set further requirements in terms of employment equity targets; the Charter requires a 40% historically disadvantaged South African representation in core and critical skills by 2015. Although well intended, the establishment of gender equality in the male-dominant mining sector remains one of the biggest equity challenges in the country and numerous problems accompany the deployment of women in core mining activities. Against this background, the main objective of the study was to critically analyse gender issues in the mining sector and to subsequently develop a conceptual framework that will enable the mining sector to contribute to and ensure the sustainable employment of women in the mining sector. A literature review was done, firstly to provide an understanding of persistent inequalities in society and the workplace, and secondly to gain an in-depth understanding of the variables that have an impact on women in the world of work in general and in the mining sector specifically. An empirical study was conducted to determine and investigate relevant gender-related issues in the mining sector. Quantitative (questionnaires) and qualitative (semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions and direct observation) research paradigms were used. From the literature review as well as the empirical study, it is evident that the deployment of women in core positions is still accompanied by various challenges, not only for managers but also for male co-workers as well as the women themselves. Although the numbers of women in the South African mining industry have risen, there is still a long way to go to successfully and sustainably ensure women‟s participation in the industry. Through the literature study and the empirical research, it became clear that various factors need to be considered for the successful and sustainable deployment of women in the mining sector. The study concludes by making recommendations and offering a conceptual framework, with the main pillars being company policies, workplace opportunities, infrastructure facilities, physical ability, health and safety and workplace relations. This framework can be implemented and used by various stakeholders in the mining sector to contribute to the successful and sustainable deployment of women in the mining sector. / PhD (Sociology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

The Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (28 of 2002) (MPRDA) and the accompanied Broad-based Socio-economic Empowerment Charter aimed to rectify previous inequalities and disadvantages in the mining sector and specifically provide for the inclusion of women in core mining activities. According to the Act and the Charter, the mining industry was supposed to reach a quota of 10% women in core mining activities by 2009. The amendment of the Broad-based Socio-economic Empowerment Charter for the South African Mining and Minerals Industry (launched in 2010) set further requirements in terms of employment equity targets; the Charter requires a 40% historically disadvantaged South African representation in core and critical skills by 2015. Although well intended, the establishment of gender equality in the male-dominant mining sector remains one of the biggest equity challenges in the country and numerous problems accompany the deployment of women in core mining activities. Against this background, the main objective of the study was to critically analyse gender issues in the mining sector and to subsequently develop a conceptual framework that will enable the mining sector to contribute to and ensure the sustainable employment of women in the mining sector. A literature review was done, firstly to provide an understanding of persistent inequalities in society and the workplace, and secondly to gain an in-depth understanding of the variables that have an impact on women in the world of work in general and in the mining sector specifically. An empirical study was conducted to determine and investigate relevant gender-related issues in the mining sector. Quantitative (questionnaires) and qualitative (semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions and direct observation) research paradigms were used. From the literature review as well as the empirical study, it is evident that the deployment of women in core positions is still accompanied by various challenges, not only for managers but also for male co-workers as well as the women themselves. Although the numbers of women in the South African mining industry have risen, there is still a long way to go to successfully and sustainably ensure women‟s participation in the industry. Through the literature study and the empirical research, it became clear that various factors need to be considered for the successful and sustainable deployment of women in the mining sector. The study concludes by making recommendations and offering a conceptual framework, with the main pillars being company policies, workplace opportunities, infrastructure facilities, physical ability, health and safety and workplace relations. This framework can be implemented and used by various stakeholders in the mining sector to contribute to the successful and sustainable deployment of women in the mining sector. / PhD (Sociology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

The Mpumalanga Education Department has put in place various mechanisms aimed at promoting equity and equality between male and female educators and learners within the education system. Such initiatives were established from a position of strength that sociocultural stereotypes such as patriarchy, lack of access to resources and the sexual division of labour have been internalised and reinforced as acts of discrimination within the school system, community, home and workplace. Within the school system, gender stereotypes are used to determine and perpetuate the educational provisioning for learners as separate groups (boys - girls) through the school curriculum and the educators' classroom practices of "masculine" and "feminine" activities. Equally so, senior management positions are mostly occupied by males whilst females are relegated to lower positions of the management echelon. The focus of this study was to identify the root causes of inequalities in senior management positions between male and female managers. The Participatory Action Research (PAR) method using a case study and a literature review were used as data collection techniques. Affirmative Action policies and programmes are recommended as strategies for empowering women and girls with an aim of preparing them to be competent in the labour market. There are diverse interpretations of the affirmative action concept and different people attach different meanings to its definition. It (Affirmative Action) impacts differently on different groups under different conditions. The study also suggests that education, training and development (ETD) are dependent variables of affirmative action in the sense that they create an environment where individuals who were (under)privileged can learn to accept and understand one another as partners. AFRIKAANS : Die Mpumalanga Onderwysdepartement het verskeie meganismes daargestel om billikheid en gelykheid tussen manlike en vroulike opvoeders en leerders binne die onderwysstelsel te bevorder. Sodanige inisiatiewe is gevestig vanuit 'n aanname dat sosio-kulturele stereotipes soos patriargie, gebrek aan toegang tot hulpbronne en verdeling van werk op geslagsgrondslag gei'nternaliseer en versterk is as diskriminerende handelinge binne die skoolstelsel, gemeenskap, huis en werkplek. Binne die onderwysstelsel word geslagstereotipes gebruik om onderwysvoorsiening vir leerders as afsonderlike groepe (seuns dogters) te bepaal en te laat voortbestaan deur die skoolkurrikulum en die klaskamerpraktyk van die opvoeders wat "manlike" en "vroulike" aktiwiteite gebruik. Insgelyks word senior bestuursposisies gewoonlik deur mans beklee terwyl vroue gerelegeer word na laer posisies in die bestuurskader. Die doe I van hierdie studie was om die hoofoorsake van ongelykhede in senior bestuursposisies tussen manlike en vroulike bestuurders te identifiseer. Die PAR-metode wat van 'n gevallestudie gebruik maak en 'n literatuurstudie is aangewend as data-insamelingstegniek. Die beleid van regstellende aksie, asook programme met betrekking daarop, word aanbeveel as strategiee om vroue en dogters te bemagtig met die doel om hulle voor te berei om bevoeg te wees in die arbeidsmark. Daar is 'n verskeidenheid vertolkings van die begrip regstellende aksie en verskillende mense koppel verskillende betekenisse aan die definisie. Regstellende aksie het verskillende invloede op verskillende groepe onder verskillende omstandighede. Die studie dui ook aan dat Onderwys, Opleiding en Ontwikkeling (000) afhanklike veranderlikes van regstellende aksie is in die sin dat hulle 'n omgewing skep waar individue wat (minder)bevoorreg was kan leer om mekaar te aanvaar en te begryp as vennote. / Dissertation (MEd (Education Management))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Education Management and Policy Studies / unrestricted