Old women face a unique set of obstacles in their quest for empowerment. In this study the concept of empowerment is explored by politicizing issues of personal safety. The most significant factors that impede an old woman's sense of safety and control include oppression, primarily ageism and sexism, along with violence and fear. For this study, thirty-nine women over sixty were self-selected for semi-structured interviews as a result of their participation in a personal safety workshop. Interviewees ranged in age from sixty to eight-three, were of diverse cultural backgrounds, and most resided in a metropolitan area. An emancipatory methodology was used as a means to empower participants throughout the research process. The study is both exploratory and interpretive, with the subjective voice of the researcher present throughout the project. Acts of resistance and survival were reflected in the daily lived experiences of the interviewees, validating the premise that old women face obstacles in their quest for empowerment. / Graduation date: 1997

published_or_final_version / English Studies / Master / Master of Arts

This thesis explores the changing attitudes toward the role of the woman as depicted by women playwrights. A brief history of English and American female dramatists from the last three centuries is given. Their views of women in the context of the popular social views are discussed.The second chapter discusses the development of the script for the production "From Madonna to Militant," which entailed a series of play scenes reflecting the changing trends. The production was presented in Ball State University's Studio Theatre on February 5-8, 1975.The third chapter presents the procedures that were involved in mounting the production and the director's personal evaluation of its outcome.The appendices contain the production book and all the necessary designs to produce "From Madonna to Militant." Publicity and photographs of the production are also included.

published_or_final_version / Literary and Cultural Studies / Master / Master of Arts

Not available / text

Gender inequality and women empowerment constitute one of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) agreed to, by United Nations in 2000. The South African 2010 country report on MDGs shows an increase in the share that women have in wage employment in the non-agricultural sector. It further states that in the Eastern Cape Province, women accounted for more than half of employees in the non-agricultural sector. This study conducted evaluated gender differences in terms of wage employment in a semi-urban village in the Eastern Cape. Findings show that gender differences in wage employment still exist, in favour of males.

Friends benefit both our psychological and our emotional well-being by increasing overall happiness, life satisfaction, and a positive sense of self among women. Often, however, friendships decrease in the later years. The purpose of this study is to learn more about divorced or widowed, retired women and their friendships, specifically, whether friendships changed from work to retirement. Friendships have been clearly identified by women as a significant component of retirement life. The importance of friendship increases with age, and friends have been found to buffer single women in particular from becoming isolated in retirement. The sample recruited for this study consisted of 20 single, career women who had been retired between five and ten years and who were not coresiding with another person. This study utilized in-depth, qualitative interviewing to enable participants to define themselves and their experiences. Overall, it appeared as though these women were very satisfied with retirement and considered it to be a positive experience. Even though workplace friendships had gradually been lost since retirement, this loss was considered normal and former coworkers were considered to be on different paths from the retirees. Workplace friends were often not whom the women felt closest to or socialized with preretirement; consequently this gradual drifting and loss of workplace friendships was not considered problematic. The women overall were making new friends. Various types of discord among friends were also reported. Discord had negative affects but did not necessarily cause dissolution of the friendship. Betrayal was often an incentive to immediately end a friendship; however, betrayal was uncommon. Friends played a major role in these women's lives. The emotional aspects of the women's friendships were reported to be most important. Friends helped these women feel valued and provided a substantial amount of support to one another. The findings of this study should assure those divorced or widowed women who may be nearing retirement that the adjustment to retirement need not be difficult, especially if one has supportive friends. / Graduation date: 2003

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1986 S78 / Master of Science / Psychological Sciences

by Siu Sun Yuk-Bui Yvonne. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1980. / Bibliography: leaves 140-145.

Thesis. 1977. M.C.P.--Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ROTCH. / Bibliography : leaves 120-123. / M.C.P.