Submitted in partial fulfilment of the academic requirements for the degree of Masters in Development Theory and Policy Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management School of Economic and Business Sciences University of the Witwatersrand Johannesburg, South Africa February 2016 / In this report, the individual and household circumstances which influence the probability of a person having a certain labour market outcome, and how these outcomes differ by gender, will be investigated. While a number of similar studies have been conducted, this report contributes to the South African literature by investigating, using more recent data from the National Income Dynamics Study, what the determining factors are that drive women and men to the labour market, and determine employment outcomes. Furthermore, the investigation is extended by exploring whether these factors differ for men and women by age cohort. The main hypothesis of the study is that the determinants, which impact labour market outcomes and a successful transition from being not economically active or unemployed in a given period, to becoming employed in another period, differ for males and females; with factors such as education, labour market experience, and other household factors like marital status and children in the home being more important for women than for men. The results of the econometric analysis suggest that education is important for both sexes, but is of particular importance in determining the labour force participation and employment probabilities of women and the youth cohort. Furthermore, the location in which an individual resides is an important determinant of the labour market outcomes of women, with women in urban areas having the most favourable labour market outcomes. Having pensioners in the home has an adverse effect on the employment probabilities of men, while it is positively related to the employment probabilities of young women. Children in the home reduce the labour force participation of both men and women, but have a negative effect on the employment probabilities of women. / MT2017

Thesis (MOccTher)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Heideveld, a suburb that forms part of the “Cape Flats”, is plagued by high levels of crime, gangsterism, unemployment and relative poverty. I became specifically interested in the occupations of the young men in Heideveld, as I often observed them loitering in the streets, at an age when they should have been in school, studying or starting a career. This led me to wonder about the repertoire of occupations that they had performed over the course of their lives, i.e. their occupational-life-trajectories. I became interested in the influence that the environment and their personal attributes had on the occupations that they performed over time. Guided by the Person-Environment-Occupation model as a conceptual tool I decided to explore the occupational-life-trajectories of men between the ages of 20 and 25 throughout the course of their life, up to their current age. At the organisation where I volunteered during my time in Heideveld, there was a weekly programme for the children and young women (aged 12 to 22), but nothing for young men, which prompted my interest in doing research about this age group. My initial thinking was to form the theoretical basis from which an occupation-based intervention group could be developed. I intended to explore what had motivated occupational participation throughout their lives, how certain occupations developed over time and the influence of the environment on their occupations. Snowball sampling was applied to gain access to the participants. Using a qualitative approach I combined a method called PhotoVoice with individual, narrative interviews, in order to collect data on the occupational-life-trajectories of five young men from Heideveld. PhotoVoice is a participant-based method that allowed the interviewees to take photos of occupations that they have performed throughout their lives. The photographs were used to facilitate the interview process along with two or three guiding questions. Within-case and cross-case analysis were used to find themes that pertained to the aims of the study. I uncovered five themes in my analysis: “Ons gee nie krag weg nie/We don’t give away power”, “Ons het saam geloop/We ‘hang out’ together”, “Ek het baie probleme by die huis gehet/I had many problems at home”, “Die lewe is swaar hier buite/Life is hard out here” and “Ek wil net uit hierdie plek kom/I just want to get away from this place”. I found that the environment played a large role in the occupational-life-trajectories of the participants. I also found that the participants’ sense of masculinity, gender and identity affected their occupational choices and participation. I explain the peer nature and motivational factors influencing gangsterism and drug use as they manifested in the young men’s lives. I concluded that an occupation-based intervention programme might address certain aspects such as occupational choice and exposure, but that wider, more long-lasting intervention was necessary to truly make a difference in the occupational-life-trajectories of young men in Heideveld. After taking the support structures in the physical environment into consideration, recommendations were made in terms of the family unit, the peer group, education, skills training and community empowerment. Furthermore, as the organisation already serves boys between 10 and 14 years and a greater impact may be possible at this life stage, more detailed recommendations were developed regarding a possible occupational therapy intervention programme. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Heideveld, ‘n voorstad wat deel vorm van die Kaapse Vlaktes, gaan gebuk onder hoë vlakke van misdaad, bende bedrywighede, werkloosheid en relatiewe armoede. Ek het ‘n spesifieke belangstelling ontwikkel in die “occupations”¹ van die jong mans in Heideveld, omdat ek dikwels waargeneem het dat hulle in the strate drentel, op’n ouderdom wat hulle op skool moes gewees het, besig om te studeer, of om ‘n loopbaan to begin. Dit het my laat wonder oor die verskillende “occupations” waaraan hulle deelneem gedurende hulle lewens, m.a.w. hulle “occupational-life-trajectories²”. Ek was geïnteresseerd oor die invloed wat die omgewing en hulle persoonlike eienskappe gehad het op die “occupations” waarin hulle oor ‘n tydperk deelgeneem het. Gelei deur die “Person-Environment-Occupation” model as ‘n konseptuele instrument, het ek besluit om die “occupational-life-trajectories” van mans tussen die ouderdomme van 20 en 25, gedurende die tydperk van hulle lewens tot en met hul huidige ouderdomme, te bestudeer. By die organisasie waar ek ‘n vrywilliger was gedurende my tyd in Heideveld, was daar ‘n weeklikse program vir kinders en jonger vrouens (vanaf ouderdom 12 tot 22), maar niks vir jong mans nie. Dit het gelei tot my belangstelling om navorsing omtrent hierdie ouderdomsgroep te doen. My aanvanklike gedagtes was om ‘n teoretiese basis te vorm waarvandaan ‘n “occupation”-gebaseerde intervensie-program ontwikkel kon word. Ek wou die motivering agter die jong mans se “occupational”-deelname, hoe sekere “occupations” oor tyd ontiwkkel en die invloed van die omgewing op hul “occupations” verken. Sneeubalsteekproeftrekking is gebruik om toegang tot die deelnemers te kry. Deur ‘n kwalitatiewe benadering te gebruik, het ek ‘n metode genaamd “PhotoVoice” met individuele, narratiewe onderhoude gekombineer, om data te versamel omtrent die “occupational-life-trajectories” van vyf jong mans in Heideveld. “PhotoVoice” is ‘n deelnemer-gebaseerde metode wat die deelnemer toegelaat het om foto’s van die “occupations” waaraan hulle gedurende hulle lewens deelgeneem het, af te neem. Die foto’s is gebruik om die onderhoude te fasiliteer tesame met twee of drie gerigte vrae. Tussen-geval en kruis-geval analise is gebruik om temas te vind wat die doelwitte van die studie aanspreek. Ek het vyf temas ge-identifiseer gedurende my analise: “Ons gee nie krag weg nie/We don’t give away power”, “Ons het saam geloop/We ‘hang out’ together”, “Ek het baie probleme by die huis gehet/I had many problems at home”, “Die lewe is swaar hier buite/Life is hard out here” en “Ek wil net uit hierdie plek kom/I just want to get away from this place”. Ek het gevind dat die omgewing ‘n groot rol speel in die deelnemers se “occupational-life-trajectories”. Ek het ook gevind dat die deelnemers se sin van manlikheid, geslag en identiteit hul “occupational” keuses en deelname geaffekteer het. Ek verduidelik ook die portuur natuur en motiverende faktore wat lei tot bende-aktiwiteite en dwelm gebruik, soos dit in die jong mans se lewens gemanifesteer het. Ek het afgelei dat ‘n “occupation” gebaseerde intervensie program moontlik sekere aspekte soos “occupational” keuses en -blootstelling kan affekteer, maar ‘n breër, langduriger intervensie is nodig om werklik ‘n verskil te maak in die “occupational-life-trajectories” van jong mans in Heideveld. Nadat ek die ondersteunende strukture in die fisiese omgewing inaggeneem het, het ek voorstelle gemaak in terme van die familie-eenheid, die portuur groep, onderrig, vaardigheidsopleiding en bemagtiging van die gemeenskap. Aangesien die organisasie reeds toegang het tot seuns tussen 10 en 14 jaar oud, en ‘n groter impak in hierdie lewenstydperk gemaak kan word, maak ek verdere, meer gedetailleerde voorstelle rondom ‘n arbeidsterapie program vir hierdie ouderdomsgroep.

In contemporary society, work and home represent the two most significant domains in the life of working individuals. South Africa’s socioeconomic, political, and societal circumstances will influence employees’ experiences of work-life balance differently, compared to that of employees in other countries, suggesting that the construction of work-life balance amongst different race and cultural groups may differ. The present study used in-depth qualitative interviews with ten black women and men employed in a customer care environment, to explore their construction of work-life balance. A grounded theory approach was used to analyse the data and identify themes. This study suggests that work-life balance is a unique experience for individuals, which varies over time and in different situations. The study confirmed that attaining work-life balance is a process of balancing ever-changing experiences over time, and in different life stages. The results of this study are also discussed in relation to the relevant literature. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M. Com. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

In contemporary society, work and home represent the two most significant domains in the life of working individuals. South Africa’s socioeconomic, political, and societal circumstances will influence employees’ experiences of work-life balance differently, compared to that of employees in other countries, suggesting that the construction of work-life balance amongst different race and cultural groups may differ. The present study used in-depth qualitative interviews with ten black women and men employed in a customer care environment, to explore their construction of work-life balance. A grounded theory approach was used to analyse the data and identify themes. This study suggests that work-life balance is a unique experience for individuals, which varies over time and in different situations. The study confirmed that attaining work-life balance is a process of balancing ever-changing experiences over time, and in different life stages. The results of this study are also discussed in relation to the relevant literature. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M. Com. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

The migrant labour practice in South Africa played an important role in the country's development and economy. Although it has benefited many native migrant workers by creating job opportunities, it has had adverse effects on the families of migrant workers. The focus of this study is the phenomenon of migrant labouring and its effects on the family. A literature study has shown that migrant labourers, living in overcrowded city hostels, were subjected to exploitation, malnutrition and crime. The empirical study brought to light the many problems experienced by the families back home: Wives were overburdened by dual roles and responsibilities, lack of support and money, children's development was impeded and academic motivations and performance were low. The ultimate aim of this study was to design practical guidelines to help families cope with the effects of an absent father due to the migrant labour practice. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed.(Guidance and Counselling)

The migrant labour practice in South Africa played an important role in the country's development and economy. Although it has benefited many native migrant workers by creating job opportunities, it has had adverse effects on the families of migrant workers. The focus of this study is the phenomenon of migrant labouring and its effects on the family. A literature study has shown that migrant labourers, living in overcrowded city hostels, were subjected to exploitation, malnutrition and crime. The empirical study brought to light the many problems experienced by the families back home: Wives were overburdened by dual roles and responsibilities, lack of support and money, children's development was impeded and academic motivations and performance were low. The ultimate aim of this study was to design practical guidelines to help families cope with the effects of an absent father due to the migrant labour practice. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed.(Guidance and Counselling)