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Boston University. University Professors Program Senior theses. / PLEASE NOTE: Boston University Libraries did not receive an Authorization To Manage form for this thesis. It is therefore not openly accessible, though it may be available by request. If you are the author or principal advisor of this work and would like to request open access for it, please contact us at open-help@bu.edu. Thank you. / 2031-01-02

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Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Current mainstream theories of intimacy were derived from studies with primarily White, middle class participants living in developed countries. However, as social contexts shape people’s definitions, meanings and behaviours, it cannot be assumed that mainstream intimacy conceptualisations would apply to other populations. Studies of intimacy should be located in its social and historical context. Previous South African studies of Black and Coloured couples mainly emphasised HIV/Aids, interpartner violence and gender inequality, and neglected to investigate positive aspects of intimate lives of poorer communities. A lack of such context-specific data on how South African men and women construct and experience intimate relationships hinders appropriate and effective interventions. This study addressed this research gap by exploring intimacy experiences of long-term heterosexual adult Coloured couples living in a low-income semi-rural community. The objective of this qualitative study was to gain an understanding of how the participant couples expressed and experienced intimacy. The participants were 15 couples (i.e. 30 participants), between the ages of 23 and 66 years, who had been married or living together for a minimum period of two years. Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted to explore: (i) how couples understand intimacy, and (ii) how intimacy is expressed and experienced in committed adult heterosexual relationships. Theoretically, this study was informed by social constructionism and interviews were analysed using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis method. The following themes were identified: (i) closeness means being together, (ii) sex and intimacy (iii) closeness in talking (iv) expressions and experiences of intimacy/closeness through acts of care, (v) alcohol disrupts closeness (vi) family of origin and the constructions of intimacy; and (vii) community constructions and norms. Although much of the international literature suggests that mutual self-disclosure is the foundation for intimacy, self-disclosure did not feature prominently in the narratives of this study’s narratives. Closeness was expressed through sharing in practical and tangible ways. Gender was pertinent to these couples’ experiences and gender roles were fundamental to their intimacy perceptions and behaviours. Despite some contestations of hegemonic masculinity and femininity constructions, most of the participants did not demonstrate an active awareness or resistance regarding learned gender roles. They did not seem to consider these gender roles as problematic, limited or limiting, nor did they indicate alternative gender ideas. This was attributed partly to poverty and low education levels, which constrain people’s access to alternative gender perspectives. Religion and community influences also play an important role in their understanding of their role as partner. Although Christianity endorses traditional gender ideas, the participants themselves felt that their religious beliefs and practices facilitated intimate experiences, and prevented alcohol abuse and domestic violence. In conclusion, implications for policy and practice in terms of gender inequality and alcohol abuse are discussed, as are the limitations of the study. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Huidige hoofstroom teorieë van intimiteit is afgelei van studies met hoofsaaklik Wit, middelklas-deelnemers. Aangesien sosiale konteks mense se definisies, betekenis en gedrag met betrekking tot intimiteit vorm, kan dit egter nie aanvaar word dat die hoofstroom konseptualisering van intimiteit ook van toepassing sal wees op ander bevolkingsgroepe nie. Studies van intimiteit moet geleë wees in die sosiale en historiese konteks. 'n Gebrek aan sodanige konteks-spesifieke data oor hoe verskillende groepe Suid-Afrikaanse mans en vroue intieme verhoudings verstaan en beleef, kan toepaslike en effektiewe verhouding ingrypings belemmer. Verder het vorige Suid Afrikaanse studies oor Swart en Kleurling paartjies hoofsaaklik gefokus op HIV/VIGS, paartjie geweld en geslags ongelykhede en het nagelaat om positiewe aspekte van die intieme lewe van paartjies in arm gemeenskappe te ondersoek. Hierdie studiehet hierdie navorsing leemte aangespreek deur te verken hoe hoe langtermyn, heteroseksuele, volwasse paartjies in 'n lae-inkomste semi-landelike gemeenskap intimiteit verstaan, beleef en uitdruk. Die deelnemers was 15 paartjies (d.w.s 30 deelnemers), tussen die ouderdomme van 23 en 66 jaar, wat getroud was of saamgewoon het vir 'n tydperk van ten minste twee jaar. Kwalitatiewe semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude is gevoer om die volgende te verken: (i) hoe paartjies intimiteit verstaan, en (ii) hoe intimiteit betoon en ervaar word in toegewyde volwasse heteroseksuele verhoudings. Die studie is teoreties geskoei op sosiale konstruktiwisme en onderhoude is ontleed met behulp Braun en Clarke se tematiese analise metode. Die volgende temas is geïdentifiseer uit die onderhoude: (i) nabyheid beteken om saam te wees, (ii) seks en intimiteit, (iii) nabyheid deur gesels (iv) uitdrukkings en ervarings van intimiteit deur dade van sorg, (v) alkohol ontwrig saamwees, (vi) die invloed van die familie van oorsprong op die konstruksie van intimiteit, (vii) gemeenskap konstruksies en norme. Alhoewel die internasionale literatuur aandui dat wedersydse selfonthulling die grondslag vir intimiteit vorm, het self-onthulling nie prominent in die deelnemers se vertellings voorgekom nie. Nabyheid is eerder beleef en betoon deur praktiese en tasbare dade en gebare. Geslagsrolle was fundamenteel in paartjies se belewing en uitvoering van intimiteit. Ten spyte daarvan dat sommige individuele deelnemers hegemoniese geslagsrolle bevraagteken het, het die meerderheid deelnemers nie ‘n aktiewe bewustheid of weerstand getoon rakende geleerde geslagsrolle nie. Hulle het skynbaar nie hierdie geslagsrolle as problematies, of beperkend gesien nie. Hulle het ook nie aangedui dat hulle alternatiewe geslagsrol idees het nie. Dit word gedeeltelik toegeskryf aan armoede en lae vlakke van onderrig wat mense se toegang tot alternatiewe geslagsrolle en perspektiewe beperk Godsdiens en gemeenskap invloede speel ook 'n belangrike rol in hul begrip van hul rol as lewensmaat. Alhoewel Christenskap tradisionele geslag idees onderskryf, het die deelnemers gevoel dat hulle godsdienstige oortuigings en praktyke intieme ervarings fasiliteer, asook die misbruik van alkohol en huishoudelike geweld verhoed. Dit impliseer dat godsdiens bydra by tot die skepping en instandhouding van manlikheid en vroulikheid idees in hierdie gemeenskap. Ten slotte, is implikasies vir beleid en praktyk in terme van geslagsongelykheid en alkoholmisbruik bespreek, asook die beperkinge van die studie.

The aim of the study was to determine the characteristics of gender differences in the anticipated and received social support in long-term heterosexual relationships. The author first created the theoretical basis for the issue of social support for subsequent empirical part. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with twelve adult respondents and on their basis was performed a qualitative analysis of the data. Interpretation of the data suggests that women and men were very similar in anticipated and received social support. The results were discussed in the light of studies on social support in relationships and gender differences. Keywords: Gender, gender differences, health psychology, heterosexual relationships, qualitative research, romantic relationships, social support.

Syftet med den föreliggande studien var att undersöka könsskillnader i motiv och tillvägagångssätt hos förövare av dödligt partnervåld i heterosexuella parrelationer. En kvantitativ forskningsmetod användes i denna icke-experimentella tvärsnittsstudie, där data samlades in från ett urval av svenska domstolars domar, det vill säga tingsrätter, hovrätter och Högsta domstolens domar publicerade i en juridisk databas. Ett urval av N = 49 domar granskades med hjälp av ett kodschema, varav n = 30 domar hade en manlig förövare och n = 19 domar en kvinnlig förövare. De erhållna datan analyserades genom ett chi2-test for independence. Resultaten indikerar att kön hos förövare av dödligt partnervåld var signifikant relaterat till motiv till det dödliga våldet där tidigare utsatthet för partnervåld skiljde sig åt signifikant mellan män och kvinnor, men inte till tillvägagångssätt i det dödliga våldet. Slutsatser som drogs av denna studie var att motiv till dödligt partnervåld skiljer sig åt med anledning av förövarens könstillhörighet, medan tillvägagångssätt i dödligt partnervåld var samma oavsett könstillhörighet. / The purpose of the present study was to examine gender differences in motives and methods among perpetrators of lethal partner violence in heterosexual relationships. A quantitative design was used in this non-experimental cross-sectional study, in which data were collected from a sample of the legal cases of Swedish courts, also the legal cases of district courts, courts of appeal and the Supreme Court published in a judicial database. A sample of N = 49 legal cases were examined by means of a coding scheme, including n = 30 legal cases consisting of male perpetrators and n = 19 legal cases of female perpetrators. The obtained data were analyzed by using a chi-square test for independence. The results indicate that the gender of perpetrators in lethal partner violence was significantly related to motives for the lethal violence, in which prior exposure to intimate partner violence differed significantly between men and women, but not to methods of the lethal violence. Conclusions drawn from this study were that the motives for lethal partner violence differed because of the perpetrator's gender, while the methods of lethal partner violence were the same regardless of gender.

The purpose of this study was to examine pornography consumption among men and women from different generations. By investigating this topic, the aim was to enhance the understanding of the potential negative effects of pornography on individuals and society as a whole, as well as from a postcolonial perspective. The aspect of how norms of heterosexuality influence pornography consumption and attitudes towards violence against women in heterosexual relationships was examined as well. To examine these areas a survey was administered. The target population for the survey was individuals aged 18 and above residing in Sweden. The data used in this study consists of the survey responses from a total of 22 participants. The five theories relevant to the analysis and conclusion of this study included: Judith Butler's theory of gender and sexuality, theories on femininity and masculinity within heteronormative heterosexual relationships, Karl Mannheim's concept of generations, postcolonial theory and the definition of Swedishness. By employing these theories, aspects of power and its impact on gender roles and different ethnicities were explored. The theories were also used to analyze stereotypical norms of masculinity and femininity in heteronormative relationships. Additionally, the material was connected to generational issues to analyze differences across generations. The results showed the complexand multifaceted nature of pornography consumption and its relationship with generations, gender, and postcolonialism. The results provide insights not only into individual consumption patterns but also highlight the broader societal context in which pornography both influences and is influenced by social norms and cultural values. It objectifies women, normalizes violence and power dynamics, and reinforces gender roles and sexual norms. The female participants expressed a critical view of pornography and highlighted the need for change in its portrayal and influence. Pornography doesn't only sexualize women, but it also involves sexualizing various ethnic groups. In terms of changes in pornographic habits across generations, the younger generation, growing up in the digital age, has a different perspective on sex and pornography compared to older generations.

During the late 1970s and 1980s, feminist critics like Janice Radway began to reconsider so-called women’s genres, like romance novels and soap operas and melodramas, in order to address the forms of subversion and expressions of agency they provided female audiences. However, in spite of greater willingness to consider the progressive potential in romance narratives, there has been little such consideration given to stories of romance for the fighting female character—defined as a protagonist who uses violence, via her body or weapons, to save herself and others. The fighting female has received a good deal of attention from critics like Yvonne Tasker, Sherrie Inness, Rikke Schubart, and Phillipa Gates because she enacts transgressive forms of femininity. However, the typical response has been to ignore the intimate or romantic relationships she has with men or to critique them based on the assumption that such hetero-relationships automatically limit her agency and attenuate her representation as a feminist-friendly heroine. This view presumes that female empowerment opposes or can only be imagined outside the dominant cultural narratives that generally organize women’s lives around their hetero-relationships—whether sexual or platonic, familial or vocational. As I argue, some fighting female relationship narratives merit our attention because they reveal a new cache of plausible empowered female identities that women negotiate through their intimacies and romances with men. These negotiations, in turn, enable innovative representations of male-female relationships that challenge long-standing cultural scripts about the nature of dominance and subordination in such relationships. Combining cultural analysis with close readings of key popular American film and television texts since the 1980s, my dissertation argues that certain fighting female relationship themes question regressive conventions in male-female intimacies and reveal potentially progressive ideologies regarding female agency in mass culture. In essence, certain fighting female relationship narratives project feminist-friendly love fantasies that reassure audiences of the desirability of empowered women while also imagining egalitarian intimacies that further empower women.

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