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From marriage comes virgin flesh : a comparison between classical male and Christian male perceptions of female sexuality with the advent of Christianity in the Roman Empire in the first four centuries AD.Haskins, Susan Louise. January 2002 (has links)
From the first to the fourth century AD, male perceptions of female sexuality
underwent a radical change with the advent of Christianity. This thesis is an
investigation into classical male and Christian male perceptions of female sexuality,
to determine the manner and extent to which this change in perceptions took place.
The investigation will be two-fold, studying both the laws that established these
perceptions, as well as representations of female sexuality within specific, subjective
male-authored texts. A study of the marriage legislation of Augustus and a male
writer of the early Empire, Apuleius, shows an underlying pattern of thought, or
paradigm, of female sexuality among classical males. Female sexuality was
perceived as existing for the sole purpose of procreation, and males in positions of
authority thought that it needed to be under male control in order to ensure
acceptable sexual behaviour. They believed this would be best achieved by situating
it under the authority of the family. With the advent of Christianity, however, a new
competing paradigm on female sexuality emerged, which challenged the perceptions
of men of the classical era. The church fathers spurned the classical view of female
sexuality by instead advocating lifelong celibacy. They too, believed female
sexuality had to be controlled, but they placed it under the authority of the church,
and outside the family. Since the basis of the classical and Christian patterns of
thought differed so markedly, especially when the Christian paradigm was first
being formulated in the second century, it was inevitable that they would come into
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conflict. Advocates of the classical paradigm tried to suppress Christianity by
persecuting its supporters. Some Christian women became victims of this conflict.
This thesis will also include an example of this conflict - the martyrdom of the
female Christian Perpetua, who left a record of her persecution in the form of a
diary. The conversion of the Emperor Constantine to Christianity in the fourth
century brought about the end of the conflict ana a victory for the Christian
paradigm. The church fathers suggest that the shift from classical to Christian was
total and complete. However, closer examination of Constantine's legislation and
the work of the influential church father Jerome shows that while this shift was
complete in theory, it did not extend very far into social and legal practice.
Although the Christian ideals of the church fathers were a major component of thenew paradigm, it also came to be composed of classical notions - now motivated by
Christian thought - that were held by Constantine and the upper classes. It was
these classical notions that shaped the social reality of life in the fourth century AD.
The nature and extent of the paradigm shift was therefore radical and far-reaching in
theory, but not in practice. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2002.
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A phenomenological inquiry into the lived experience of low sexual desire in women : implications for clinical practiceDürr, Elzabe 12 1900 (has links)
Thesis (DPhil (Social Work))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / It is a common phenomenon that women’s sexual desire diminishes in relationships, yet, to date,
limited research has been done locally on this topic. International studies indicate that low sexual
desire affects more than half of women, and that an even greater proportion of women indicate
that they have sexual intercourse with their husbands without they themselves having a desire to
do so. In spite of this, there is an expectation in society that couples should continue to have an
active sex life. Low sexual desire may lead to distress in the individual or discord in the couple,
and in this aspect the practitioner can render a service.
The aim of this study was to gain a better understanding of the life-world of women with low
sexual desire towards their life-partners, and the extent to which this causes her distress or
impedes on her relationship. The objectives of the study thus included providing an overview of
models of sexual response, an evaluation of the diagnostic criteria for sexual dysfunctions, and an
exploration of factors affecting the experience of sexual desire, including the role of social scripts
on sexual behaviour.
The context for the study is provided by a review of relevant literature, and a qualitative study
with a phenomenological interpretative approach was executed. Data gathering focused on a nonprobable
purposive sample of ten participants, and used an interview schedule with open-ended
questions.
Seven themes emerged from the analysis of the data, namely
(1) perceptions of sexual desire, (2) experience of sexual desire, (3) experience of sex life without
desire, (4) the perceived impact of low desire on the individual or the relationship, (5) personal
reasons for decline in desire, (6) relationship factors affecting sexual desire, and (7) the
experience of low desire in the socio-cultural context.
It was found that ‘desire’ is difficult to conceptualise, that women put a higher premises on the
emotional component of desire, and that there is a difference between innate sexual desires and
desire that is evoked by stimuli. Reasons for low sexual desire include an array of personal
medial, psychological, and life context factors, and in many cases the lack of desire is specific to
the present life-partner. Women are especially sensitive to a wide variety of aspects in the
relationship and with regards to their partners, and it emerged that even in happy and intimate
relationships low sexual desire is experienced. Women experience a loss of emotional intimacy as a result of low sexual desire but do not
necessarily feel that their low desire is abnormal. The impact on the relationship is limited mostly
because women concede to sex for many reasons, including a need for emotional intimacy. Many
strategies, including faking orgasms, are implemented to cope with sexual relationships in the
absence of desire. It also appears that social scripts have a big influence on the inception of
negative perceptions on sexuality, and generate unreasonable and idealistic expectations of sexual
experiences in long-term relationships.
Several recommendations flowed from the findings and conclusions. The most important
recommendation is that professional people should gain a deeper understanding of the complexity
of the phenomenon of low desire in women, in order to render a more effective therapeutic
intervention.
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A qualitative understanding of the socio-cultural and situational context of substance abuse and sexual risk-taking behaviours in women.Phillip, Jessica Lyn. January 2008 (has links)
South Africa is one of the six southern African countries where the HIV levels for childbearing women are 20% or higher. In South Africa, like most countries, behaviours such as multiple sexual partners, unprotected sex and drug use expose individuals to the risk of HIV infection and drive the HIV epidemic. Thus, research on sexual risk behaviours associated with HIV/AIDS is vital in identifying target groups at risk for HIV. Previous research has shown a link between substance use and sexual risk behaviour however in South Africa research within this field is still evolving. Furthermore, research on substance abuse among women in South Africa is limited. In the light of increasing HIV infection in women and the possible influence substance use has on sexual risk behaviours including HIV, exploring the association between substance use and sexual risk behaviours among women would provide valuable information. Socio-cultural and situational factors are explored within substance use and sexual risk behaviours as women's lives occur with realm of individual, family and community. The sample was drawn from an Alcohol and Drug Rehabilitation Centre situated in the Durban area. Study participants included Black/African, White, Indian and Coloured women who were admitted to the treatment centre for alcohol abuse. One focus group discussion and six in-depth interviews were conducted with women to understand the socio-cultural and situational context of substance abuse and sexual risk-taking behaviours (including HIV/AIDS). Substance abuse emerged from women's lack of coping mechanisms to deal with poor relationships and lack of employment which led to financial dependence on their partners. Women reported that within their settings, alcohol can be related to sexual risk behaviours because alcohol tends to lead to unsafe sexual behaviours. Women reported that alcohol use facilitates intimacy and rapport between couples thus some women tended to consume alcohol. Women reported that knowledge of safe and unsafe sex is known however implementation is difficult because condom use requires her partner's co-operation. Women were financially and emotionally dependent on their partners, social norms which determine women's role in society and sexual relationships governed their behaviour. Partner violence was a common feature among women which impacted on women's ability to negotiate condom use. The paper discusses the intrapersonal, interpersonal and contextuall situational factors that influence substance use and sexual risk behaviours in these women's lives. / Thesis (M.Med.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2008.
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Attitudes of older persons, and their care-givers, towards human sexuality.Stark, Marlies. January 1992 (has links)
The literature reviewed reveals changing attitudes towards
sexuality generally and towards sexuality and the elderly in
particular. These changes are ' .... represented by a shift
from religious organization of moral life to increasingly
secular regulation embodied in the emergence of new medical,
psychological and educational norms' (Weeks 1986,p.33).
However, it seems that these changes have not necessarily
affected provision of care for older persons in a positive
way.
This study focusses on attitudes of older women, housed in
traditional large residential units, and attitudes of
caregivers of the residents in such units, towards human
sexuality. Data was obtained by means of the administration
of the Sexual Attitude Scale (Hudson and Murphy, 1976) which
is a summated rating scale. The attitudes of subjects
toward self-determination in human sexuality in the context
of the aging person's life are specifically considered.
The major findings of the study were that residents
attitudes towards human sexuality were generally extremely
conservative. However, this clearly did not extend to a
belief that sex was only for the young.
Attitudes expressed by staff towards human sexuality were on
the whole liberal and they agreed that sex was not only for
the young. However, although caregivers support the idea
that sexuality in the later years is important in theory,
their actions do not bear this out.
The findings have implications for the prevailing
arrangements for caring in traditional large residential
care units with respect to house rules, and education in
human sexuality for residents, staff and relatives of the
elderly. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of Natal, Durban, 1992.
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Sexual practices of married women in rural KwaZulu-Natal : implications for the women's vulnerability to HIV/AIDS epidemic.Mngomezulu, Thembeka Mary-Pia. January 2009 (has links)
Purpose: To explore sexual practices of married women, which make them vulnerable to HIV infection in a rural setting, and the implications such practices have for the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Methodology: An ethnographic approach was used to explore the phenomenon of, which was sexual practices of married women, both ancient and contemporary. Unstructured interviews and focus group discussions were undertaken. The researcher applied the principle of theoretical saturation and a total of fifty participants were included in the study. All the interviews were taped and transcribed. Data analysis was done manually by the researcher, using themes and sub-themes. Findings: Married women engage in short term sexual relationships with secret lovers which are either concurrent or frequent while their husbands are away on migrant labour. A number of factors that cause women to engage in such risky sexual practices were identified. Some of these factors included scarcity of men due to migration and economical resources, the fact that women cannot negotiate safe sex due to gender and cultural factors; limited knowledge of infections particularly HIV/AIDS, life skills including their sexual rights and how to exercises these rights, and economic skills. Recommendations included the designing of an intervention program to sensitise and empower women on factors that make them vulnerable to HIV infection. Conclusions: Married women in the rural KwaZulu-Natal indulge in multiple concurrent or successive extramarital partnerships in the absence of their migrant men. These sexual practices place them in a vulnerable position to get HIV infection as they engage in risky sexual behavior without condom use. They also have fear of being rejected by their secret lovers and their own husbands because of women's economic dependency on men. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2009.
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Understanding transactional sex among young women in South Africa : a study based in KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga provincesMbeve, Oncemore January 2017 (has links)
Thesis submitted to:
The Department of Psychology
School of Human and Community Development
, Faculty of Humanities
, University of the Witwatersrand
In partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters in Psychology, Research and Coursework
, January 2017 / Background: There is wealth of research that suggests that young heterosexual women are at an increased vulnerability for HIV through engagement in transactional sex. Transactional sex in young women in Sub-Saharan Africa, including South Africa, is rife and financial constraints are a major driver. Quantitative studies conducted in Sub-Saharan Africa suggest that young women that are involved in transactional sex are nearly two or more than three times vulnerable to HIV. The young women are involved in transactional sex with older men in order to access financial needs for survival as well as for purposes of consumerism. Transactional sex is not often understood, and at times it is conflated with sex work. This thesis seeks to add to scientific understanding of transactional sex in the field of health. The goals of this thesis are to explore the participants’ understanding of transactional sex. The thesis also seeks to explore a link between transactional sex and father absence for young women. This thesis fills the gaps identified in the studies of transactional sex. Wherein, there is very little research that has investigated the discourses that shape the practice of transactional sex.
The study aim was to deepen scientific understanding of transactional sex in South Africa through examination of the discourses and structural financial constraints that influence transactional sex among young women. The specific objectives of this study were:
i. To explore the discourses that shapes the participants’ understanding and their involvement in transactional sex.
ii. To analyse the participants’ understanding of transactional sex in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), Mpumalanga (MP) and the Eastern Cape (EC) provinces.
iii. To demonstrate the likely link between transactional sex and income poverty related to father absence.
iv. To describe a probable link between transactional sex and vulnerability to HIV infection.
Research methods: To meet objective (i) qualitative interview data were collected in three South African provinces which are KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga using focus group discussions (FGDs) and key informant interviews (KIIs). Invitation for participation by key informants (KIs) was sent to older men and women who are stakeholders of the communities studied. The KIs were invited from the social services sector such as the Police, Social Development, Health, Justice and Community-based leaders of faith, healers and youth leaders. For FGDs, participants were invited through meetings that are conducted in the
communities and also through the distribution of fliers using facilitators in the communities that were selected as study sites. All participants for this study comprised both females and males above the age of 18 years. Trained field officers conducted FGDs which were gender-matched as well as KIIs. The FGDs varied in length with an average of above one hour each. KIIs were an average of 45 minutes long each. For all the interviews, isiZulu, siSwati and Xhosa were used, accordingly, to suit the participants’ local languages. All interviews were recorded using a digital recorder. After the interviews, the audio records were transcribed and saved in Microsoft word documents which were kept in password protected folders. I later read and coded the data then analysed it using thematic analysis for organising the codes in respective themes. I then used critical discourse analysis for an in-depth analysis of the themes. To meet objective number (ii) and (iii), in addition to text data, I conducted a comprehensive literature review. I present the literature review in Chapter 2 of this thesis. I also used the literature review to interpret the findings of the empirical study in Chapter 4.
Findings and discussion: Heteronormative perceptions, Christian religion and African traditional culture as well as safe sex public health interventions are major discourses that appeared to influence the way in which transactional sex was perceived. The gender discourse owed to the consensual perception that transactional sex only happened between young women and older men. This was clear in the research findings. The main findings were; (i) participants’ understanding of transactional sex, (ii) the link between transactional sex and vulnerability to HIV, and (iii) probable relationship between transactional sex and father absence. The participants understood transactional sex as a source of income driven especially by perceived high rates of unemployment and poverty in the study sites. Young women were viewed as receivers of financial and material benefits yet givers of sex to men. The flip side of the same coin was that, men were viewed as the givers of material and financial benefits, and receivers of sex.
The discourses found also demonstrated that transactional sex was fuelled by young women and their families’ financial needs. The financial constraints that young women and their families face could be influenced by the absence of the father who is supposedly a provider. Consumerist society that promotes extensive consumption of goods and services also appeared to be influential in the practice of transactional sex particularly for the young women.
Conclusion: Transactional sex is not a new phenomenon in the study sites. It has been practiced in a several ways, were the community elders were in control of the transactions that were involved in different sexual intercourses that happened historically. The community elders facilitated financial transactions for sex in the forms of punishment when a man had sex with a young woman outside marriage. This punishment was identified as a payment for damage that the man would have caused. The man could also pay lobola as a form of compensation for the woman that he would have married. Overtime, the practice of these transactions has changed. The young women now consciously get involved in transactional sex so that they can directly receive money and gifts from the men that they give sex to. The change in the practice of transactions and sex reflects the change in the socio-economic conditions where there is a high need for consumerism which is constructed within the context of modernity. Consumerism emerges together with capitalism, which is a relatively new economic model in South Africa. Capitalism requires one to be employed so that they can have access to economic benefits. However, the rate of unemployment challenges the young women and deprives them of accessing the modern materials for consumerism. This influences the young women to consciously adopt the practice of transactional sex.
It is this move by young women to decide adopting transactional sex that raises various panics among the elders of the community and the perpetuation of the discourses that transactional sex is an immoral and unacceptable practice. The panic has also become evident in the safe sex public health interventions where transactional sex is perceived as a dangerous practice among young women ad it should not be accepted. The interjection of the discourses of morality in transactional sex obstructs studies to clearly understand the discourses that influence its practice. These obstructions also limit knowledge that could be discovered by research and hence reduces the possibilities for interventions.
Recommendations: Based on the findings from this study, it is recommended that research should increase focus on the effects of father absence to the practice of transactional sex. The studies in transactional sex also need to include samples of the at risk groups such as the LGBTI community. Transactional sex needs to be studied among young men as receivers of the financial and material benefits, as suggested in this study.
Transactional sex is happening in the communities studied. It is therefore, recommended that public health interventions should encourage the practice of safe sex to prevent the spread of HIV. The long term interventions should address the structural factors which are; assisting young women to attain education which will make them employable so that they will be able to get sustainable incomes.
The practice of transactional sex in KZN, MP and EC are tangled and shaped by the communities’ overarching discourses concerning sex and transactions. The overarching discourses make the practice of transactional sex to happen in a secretive manner particularly among young women. It is recommended that more studies need to be done among the overarching discourses of sex and transactions in these communities. It is important to extensively understand the overarching discourses and their effects through research because this will further unearth the hidden risks that come with the secretive practices of transactional sex. / MT2018
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The contribution of Catholic Church theologies on 'Imago Dei' to the vulnerability of Catholic single women to HIV.Billy, Bangirana Albert. January 2011 (has links)
This is an exploratory study that seeks to establish the extent to which traditional theologies on 'imago Dei' may contribute to the vulnerability of Catholic single women to HIV and AIDS. It employs a feminist framework of study
to critically analyse how androcentric theologies on imago Dei informed by the Greek philosophies of Plato and Aristotle and advanced by the Church fathers do contribute to the dehumanisation of women. Argued in this study, is that these teachings could be responsible for single women‟s vulnerability in the context of HIV and AIDS. Following extensive research done on women, HIV and AIDS, this
study also presents cultural, social, economic and religious factors as players in women‟s susceptibility to HIV and AIDS. However, in a unique and particular way, this study seeks and presents a possible connection between the Catholic Church‟s teachings on imago Dei and the vulnerability of Catholic single women to HIV and AIDS. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2011.
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