Thesis (M.A.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2007. / The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Title from title screen of research.pdf file (viewed on October 25, 2007) Includes bibliographical references.

Quand on parle des droits des femmes, on présuppose que les hommes et les femmes sont rigoureusement identiques en s’interdisant qu’il existe des droits spécifiques aux femmes. Le concept de droits de l’Homme est très ambigu, mais il est remarquable sur le plan historique et culturel. En parlant des droits spécifiques des femmes, on introduit des différences naturelles à l’intérieur du genre humain. L’objet de la thèse est de dire pourquoi la spécificité de la femme peut exister et en quoi cette spécificité est fondatrice de droits. La spécificité de la femme peut-elle conférer des droits ? Au-delà de la spécificité biologique, existe-t-il d’autres critères pouvant justifier des droits spécifiques aux femmes ? La démonstration porte sur trois catégories de droits. Il s’agit d’abord des droits de nature spécifiques. Ensuite les droits différenciés par degré ou d’expression spécifique. Dans cette deuxième catégorie, on n’a pas un droit spécifique, mais on a une manière spécifique de poser le droit. Enfin, la troisième classification est fondée sur des revendications spécifiques. Ces dernières se présentent comme des droits des femmes. Depuis janvier 2007, il existe une synthèse d’actualité concernant les droits des femmes. Si les droits des femmes sont des droits de l’Homme appliqués à la femme, la question est de savoir s’ils protègent les femmes de manière spécifique. Oui dans les textes, mais non en pratique. La perception du rôle de l’être humain selon le sexe apparaît dans plusieurs domaines comme une construction sociale, véhiculée par de nombreux stéréotypes de genre. Ainsi, les droits spécifiques doivent s’analyser en tant qu’un construit, dé-biologiser le sexe et ré -biologiser le genre, afin de déconstruire la vision d’hier des droits spécifiques relevant des aspects biologiques, morphologiques et physiques. Si la maternité n’était en liaison qu’avec l’attention, la volonté, la sensation envers l’enfant et la sécurité, l’homme pourrait vivre la sensibilité, d’être mère et la fonction de la maternité ne concernerait pas spécifiquement la femme. Actuellement, avec les évolutions sociétales, notamment l’acceptation d’une homosexualité ou d’une transsexualité, se traduisant par le mariage pour tous conjugué aux problèmes des mères porteuses, une analyse des droits spécifiques aux femmes sur l’angle d’une construction socio-économique et culturelle devient une nécessité. Pour la démonstration de tous ces aspects évoqués ici, il est important de voir en détail, l’existence de droits spécifiques en raison d’une spécificité biologique, sa relativisation en l’absence de critères biologiques et la consécration des droits des femmes par les textes. /. / When one speaks about the women's rights, one presupposes that the men and the women are rigorously identical while prohibiting themselves that there exist rights specific to the women. The concept of human rights is very ambiguous, but it is remarkable on the historical and cultural level. While speaking about the specific rights of the women, one introduces natural differences inside mankind. The object of the thesis is to say why the specificity of the woman can exist and in what this specificity is founder of rights. Can the specificity of the woman confer rights? Beyond does biological specificity, exist other criteria being able to justify rights specific to the women? The demonstration relates to three categories of rights. They is initially the specific rights of nature. Then rights differentiated per degree or from specific expression. In this second category, there is not a specific right, but there is a specific manner to pose the right. Lastly, the third classification is founded on specific claims. These last are presented in the form of women's rights. Since January 2007, there exists a synthesis of news concerning the women's rights. If the women's rights are human rights to the woman, the question is to know if they protect the women in a specific way. Yes in the texts, but not in practice. The role of human beings as perceived by their gender appears in several areas as a social construct, as conveyed by many gender stereotypes. Thus, specific rights should be analyzed as constructs. With nonbiological sex and biological gender, the old vision of specific rights under biological, morphological and physical differences can be deconstructed. If motherhood was related to the attention, will, and feelings towards the child and his safety, man would be free to live the sensitivity of being a mother, and the function of motherhood would no longer be specific to women only. Nowadays, societal changes including the acceptance of homosexuality or transsexuality, result in marriage for all, combined with the problems of surrogate mothers. An analysis of the rights specific to women on the angle of socio-economic and cultural construction becomes a need. To demonstrate all these aspects mentioned here, it would be important to see in detail the existence of specific rights because of a biological specificity, its relativization in the absence of biological criteria and the dedication of the women's rights by the texts. /.

Honors Project--Smith College, Northampton, Mass., 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 79-87).

This thesis explores the constitutionality of compulsory electoral quotas for women imposed by law. The central question this thesis attempts to answer is what makes these quotas constitutional or unconstitutional in a given jurisdiction. A double methodology was employed to answer this question: theoretical and comparative. From a theoretical perspective, it is proposed that the constitutionality of electoral quotas for women depends on the approach that domestic legal orders adopt to four issues: political representation, equality, affirmative action and political rights. An additional crosscutting factor that influences the constitutionality of these quotas is gender, mainly through its effects on the understanding of political representation and equality. From the comparative law perspective, three jurisdictions were analysed: France, Spain and Mexico. After exploring these systems' approaches to political representation, equality, affirmative action and political rights, the process of adoption of electoral quotas for women is discussed, particularly the constitutional litigation about quota laws. Finally, the relationship between the theory and the practice of assessing the constitutionality of electoral quotas for women is analysed, concluding that although courts use a theoretical framework formed by political representation, equality, affirmative action and political rights, they adopt a somewhat simplistic approach to these issues, using only one of these theoretical factors as the primary determinant, often side-stepping the most controversial issues connected with these factors, and almost completly ignoring the particularities of the target group (women). Additionally, in each jurisdiction the decisions of the courts are also influenced by domestic political and legal factors.

Thesis (M.A. History)--University of Waikato, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 127-141). Also available via the World Wide Web.

United Nation's (UN) millennium development goal number three is aimed at eliminating gender inequality and empowering women. Gender-based violence is recognised as a global public health and human rights problem that leads to high rates of morbidity and mortality, including sexually transmitted infections, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance dependence and suicide. In responding to this international public health and human rights concern, the South African government has adopted numerous public health communication strategies to highlight the plight of women and children. One of the campaigns that are conducted in South Africa is the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children (16 Days of Activism Campaign). This campaign was introduced in 1999 but the literature review reveals that to date, no studies have focused on its evaluation. As such, the purpose of this study is to evaluate the 16 Days of Activism Campaign with special reference to the Soshanguve community in Gauteng province. This study builds on two theories, namely the excellence theory and the diffusion of innovation theory. Mixed research methods (also called triangulation) was used whereby in-depth interviews were conducted with representatives from the Government Communication and Information System and the Department of Women, Children and People with Disability to establish the promotion strategies used in the campaign and the methods used to assess the effectiveness of the campaign. Furthermore, a self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted within the Soshanguve community to evaluate the promotion strategies and assess the impact of the campaign.This study revealed a high level of reliance on the television, radio and newspapers in the communication strategies. Both government departments acknowledged that they do not have a tool to evaluate the effectiveness of the campaign from the receivers‟ perspective. The Soshanguve community felt that in essence the campaign is relevant but not on time. The residents viewed the study as an important part of creating awareness about the campaign and they believed the campaign helped them to know what to do when faced with gender-based violence so that they can assist those who are affected by it.