This study explored Black women’s perceptions of the impact of women’s changing socio-economic status on their intimate relationships. The study used the theoretical resources of social constructionism and feminism. Seven Black women (African, ‘Coloured’, and Indian) were recruited from a banking and an academic institution using convenience non-probability sampling technique. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect the data which was analysed using thematic analysis. The study found that participants viewed the change in women’s socio-economic status and roles as rendering some women more vulnerable to abuse. The participants reported that women’s shift in socio-economic status imposes a threat to masculinity leaving some men feeling intimidated, insecure, and emasculated. Most men were seen as responding to their feelings of intimidation by leaving their partners for a less financially independent woman, or by abusing their current partners. Some men were considered to use domestic violence to exert their power and control over women, express their authority, as well as police and maintain the boundaries of femininity and masculinity. Analysis indicated that for a number of reasons women continue to remain vulnerable to experiencing domestic violence irrespective of their socio-economic status. It was also evident in the study that some working women find themselves in a dilemma of choosing between their careers and family. Some self-reliant wives were seen as having to forfeit senior occupational ranks due to the expectation that their husbands would be disapproving and unsupportive. The respondents stated that other financially stable women are reluctant to marry because they fear being controlled, losing their sense of autonomy, and the ability to make their own decisions without seeking their husbands’ approval. However, it also revealed in this study that women’s changing financial status was seen as entitling them with power and control of their sexuality. As the result, women seem to perceive men as being under pressure to be romantic and satisfy their partners’ sexual needs so as to maintain the relationship. This study highlights an important area for further research as it is likely that the shift in Black women’s socioeconomic status will continue to impact and shape heterosexual relationships in particular ways. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2009.

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Humanities, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Community-Based Counselling Psychology, June 2017 / The purpose of the study was to speak to the dynamics involved in the construction of extramarital affairs in South African news media. At the core of the study was the need to understand and deconstruct the discourses that trail behind the emergence and chaos that follows a publicised marital affair. In this process, the investigation was based on the critical analysis of newspaper articles and their portrayal of the man, the wife and the mistress in light of an extra-marital affair. The design of the study was qualitative and used thematic discourse analysis to comb through the narratives and the style of reporting so as to draw out what was both said and left unsaid concerning the marital affair. Major findings in this study showed an unchanged perception of the mistress and the wife as history carries the mistress as an object for the pleasure of the man, whilst the wife is to ensure that the dignity and purity of her marriage remains untainted. Additionally, the study also showed the pardon of men and the rendering of their masculinity as fragile. The affair is seemingly a result of a seductress who uses her sexual prowess to lure a sexually vulnerable man. From this, it can be concluded that men hold sexual privilege over women and indeed in the reporting of the affair, it takes a gendered tone in favour of the man- normalising their response and reactions, whilst crucifying the mistress for contributing to the disintegration of the marriage. The wife gains sympathy from the social audience which gives her a renewed strength to fight for her marriage. / XL2018

M.A. (Clinical Psychology) / Disappointments in romantic relationships can have distressing and prolonged cognitive, emotional and behavioural effects. This study explored such disappointments in the form of betrayal, rejection and the accompanying beliefs, emotions and behaviours using the Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy theoretical framework. A theory-building positivistic case study design was implemented. Five participants completed a quantitative measure of REBT beliefs, the Shortened General Attitudes and Beliefs Scale, and participated in a semistructured interview. The experience of a romantic betrayal or rejection elicited greater irrational than rational beliefs, and more dysfunctional than functional outcomes (emotions and behaviours) for each participant. The implications for clinical practice are discussed using the REBT theoretical framework.

This study is a cultural investigation into rape, with specific focus on the role of African men. With more than 70 000 cases of rape and sexual violence reported in a year in South Africa, and estimations that this may reflect one ninth of the actual number only, South Africa has been labelled the “rape capital” of the world. The study seeks to explain the root causes of rape, its ontological make-up and possibilities for resolving the issue by identifying cultural aspects, factors and manifestations that either justify or sanction rape. Four concepts, namely, rape, masculinity, culture and rage, serve as the thematic lens for identifying and interrogating cultural conditions through multidisciplinary and Africancentred perspectives. The analyses contained in the study are based on a mapping process involving comparing the data from a wide range of literature and also focus group interviews. Highlighting the multi-layered complexities of rape as phenomena, the study then outlines recommendations for transformative work in research, cultural institutions, communities, families and men / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Philosophy of Education)

This study is a cultural investigation into rape, with specific focus on the role of African men. With more than 70 000 cases of rape and sexual violence reported in a year in South Africa, and estimations that this may reflect one ninth of the actual number only, South Africa has been labelled the “rape capital” of the world. The study seeks to explain the root causes of rape, its ontological make-up and possibilities for resolving the issue by identifying cultural aspects, factors and manifestations that either justify or sanction rape. Four concepts, namely, rape, masculinity, culture and rage, serve as the thematic lens for identifying and interrogating cultural conditions through multidisciplinary and Africancentred perspectives. The analyses contained in the study are based on a mapping process involving comparing the data from a wide range of literature and also focus group interviews. Highlighting the multi-layered complexities of rape as phenomena, the study then outlines recommendations for transformative work in research, cultural institutions, communities, families and men / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Philosophy of Education)

This study examines the experiences of young adult women raised in non-resident father households in Tlokwe Local Municipality, North West. Focus groups and face-to-face interviews were conducted with 34 young women between the ages 18-25. Five important, nuanced themes emerged, these are: a) fathers who are physically present but emotionally absent, b) fathers who are physically present but uninvolved, c) fathers who are physically absent but involved, d) fathers who are physically present and involved and e) fathers who are absent and uninvolved. Non-resident fatherhood remains a challenge in the Tlokwe Municipality, most of the participants had never met their biological fathers. The study revealed the frustration young women feel towards their mothers and maternal grandparents for caring more about maintenance than they do about a healthy father-daughter relationship. The study further revealed a deep-seated need for close proximity and an involved type of fathering among the young women. / Sociology / M.A. (Sociology)

Thesis in Afrikaans with summaries in Afrikaans and English. / Sosiale diskoerse kan moontlik 'n bepalende invloed op 'n individu se manier van lewe he. Hierdie studie bring enersyds, deur van die narratiewe gespreksbenadering gebruik te maak, 'n aantal diskoerse na vore wat op vyf wit Afrikaanssprekende mans in die Ned Geref Gemeente Vereeniging-Oos se manier van lewe 'n invloed gehad het of nog het. Die diskoerse wat deur die studie navore gebring word is: (a) 'n man is as broodwinner die primere versorger in die gesin; (b) 'n man is doelgerig en op sukses gefokus; (c) 'n man is dominant en aggressief; (d) 'n man fokus nie op emosies en verhoudings nie en (e) 'n man verander nie maklik nie. Andersyds toon die studie ook dat mans ten spyte van die sosiale diskoerse wat moontlik 'n invloed op hul lewens kon he, self alternatiewe wyses van manwees kon ontwikkel en dus nie noodwendig dlenooreenkomstig die sosiale diskoerse hoef te leef nie. / Social discourses may have a decisive influence on an individual's way of life. By means of a narrative conversational approach, this study introduces a number of discourses that had or still have an influence on five white Afrikaans-speaking men in the Dutch Reformed Congregation Vereeniging-East. The discourses are: (a) a man is as breadwinner the primary provider for the family; (b) a man is goal~oriented and focused on success; (c) a man is dominant and aggressive; (d) a man does not value emotions and relationships and (e) a man does not change easily. On the other hand the study indicates that men are able to develop alternative ways of being men in spite of social discourses influencing them. / Practical Theology / M.Th. (Pastoral Therapy)

Adolescent sexual health has been identified as a significant health and development problem facing South Africa. Limited amounts of research on sexual interactions have been undertaken, with information on adolescents’ romantic relationships being particularly scarce. Qualitative research needs to foster an understanding of the dynamics of sexual interactions in specific settings, and with emphasis in the past on cognitive health psychology models, very little is thus known about how adolescents negotiate and make sense of their sexual experiences. This highlights the need to investigate the complexities of human sexuality in a contextual manner. In response, this study explores the lived experiences of four young black women as they negotiate their agency and sexuality in a local context. By way of in-depth qualitative interviews, which were analysed for recurrent themes using interpretative phenomenological analysis, this project examines the participants’ experiences regarding sex, relationships, communication, sexual health care, as well as HIV and pregnancy prevention. The results reveal that communication about sexuality in the participants’ homes was limited if not absent altogether. When seeking sexual health care, they found clinic nurses to be judgemental and rude. Regarding sexuality and HIV education, the participants stressed the need for outside educators to teach in more practical ways to increase efficacy. In their dating relationships, most participants revealed their boyfriends had a great deal of influence over their sexual initiation. Unwanted pregnancy surfaced as a greater fear than HIV in their accounts due to pressure to finish their education and attain well-paying jobs in the future. The participants felt unable to stop their boyfriends’ infidelity and had limited agency when facing sexual demands. Their accounts revealed that they negotiate their agency in an atmosphere of coercion and the threat of rape. However, areas of agency included their consistent condom use even when facing pressure to have unprotected sex, and their active accessing of sexual health services for hormonal contraception. These insights serve to better inform sexual and reproductive health education and intervention programmes for young women. Moreover, educators, researchers and programme developers alike may gain useful insights from the personalised accounts derived from this study.

Thesis in Afrikaans with summaries in Afrikaans and English. / Sosiale diskoerse kan moontlik 'n bepalende invloed op 'n individu se manier van lewe he. Hierdie studie bring enersyds, deur van die narratiewe gespreksbenadering gebruik te maak, 'n aantal diskoerse na vore wat op vyf wit Afrikaanssprekende mans in die Ned Geref Gemeente Vereeniging-Oos se manier van lewe 'n invloed gehad het of nog het. Die diskoerse wat deur die studie navore gebring word is: (a) 'n man is as broodwinner die primere versorger in die gesin; (b) 'n man is doelgerig en op sukses gefokus; (c) 'n man is dominant en aggressief; (d) 'n man fokus nie op emosies en verhoudings nie en (e) 'n man verander nie maklik nie. Andersyds toon die studie ook dat mans ten spyte van die sosiale diskoerse wat moontlik 'n invloed op hul lewens kon he, self alternatiewe wyses van manwees kon ontwikkel en dus nie noodwendig dlenooreenkomstig die sosiale diskoerse hoef te leef nie. / Social discourses may have a decisive influence on an individual's way of life. By means of a narrative conversational approach, this study introduces a number of discourses that had or still have an influence on five white Afrikaans-speaking men in the Dutch Reformed Congregation Vereeniging-East. The discourses are: (a) a man is as breadwinner the primary provider for the family; (b) a man is goal~oriented and focused on success; (c) a man is dominant and aggressive; (d) a man does not value emotions and relationships and (e) a man does not change easily. On the other hand the study indicates that men are able to develop alternative ways of being men in spite of social discourses influencing them. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M.Th. (Pastoral Therapy)

This study investigated coercive and high risk sexual practices in South African adolescent dating relationships. Quantitative and qualitative information was collected from secondary school learners in a community near Johannesburg. Of 928 learners surveyed, 23.5% of females and 53.7% of males ever had sex. Of these, 57.8% of females and 44.2% of males reported sexual victimisation, and 46.8% of females and 50% of males reported perpetrating sexual coercion in a relationship. Significantly more males engaged in risky sex than females. Among females, sexual coercion was significantly linked to risky sexual behaviour. Among males, alcohol and perpetration of sexual coercion were significantly associated with risky sexual behaviour. Focus group data reveal how dominant constructions of gender normalise male coercion and contribute to risky sexual practices. Recommendations for sexual health initiatives include introducing alternative discourses of female sexual desire and male sexual responsibility as a means for building healthier adolescent dating relationships. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)