To date, the knowledge available about cisgender-trans* couples and their experiences is located in the global North. Research situated in the interest of trans*, transgender and transsexual people's lives most often furthers scholars' understanding of gender. In my research, I employed strategies to look at the experiences of the cisgender partners of masculine identifying trans* persons, in order to learn more about gender Post-apartheid South Africa is a country that is vibrant with discussions in mainstream platforms about contemporary political and socio-economic matters, regularly framed in sexist approaches with clear patriarchal messages. How and where does the trans* masculine person find role models and what is that impact on the cisgender-trans* relationship? Bringing together literature from the global North and South Africa, I formed a theoretical framework that served as the context to support my research. As a feminist, I employ both feminist theory and transgender theory in my qualitative study. I interviewed fourteen cisgender partners of masculine identifying trans* persons. From the rich data, five themes emerged and were analysed through a content analysis approach.

Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references.

Bibliography: leaves 125-128.

Includes bibliographical references. / In context of increasing global migration and its correlation to heightened tensions around the meaning of a "foreign" body, this research questions the experiences of bodies crossing borders into the social and historical space of Cape Town, South Africa. Grounded in theories of surveillance, embodiment, and feminist geography of fear of crime, the study employed a feminist methodology using qualitative group interviews with international students from the Southern African Development Community at the University of Cape Town. The transcribed data was analysed through the participants' use of discourses and their descriptions of experiences. Questions arose around the meaning of surveillance and notions of respectability in transition. Furthermore, participants navigate amid new spaces of fear and insecurity in relation to their subjectivities, particularly as "foreigners". The research suggests that fear becomes a fundamental attribute of bodies in migration through which individuals mitigate through "passing" subverting expressions of embodied nationalities, knowledge gathering of the local terrain, among others. The challenges and techniques to overcome these fears become part of a process to re-establish the "self" in a foreign context.

A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Social Work in the Department of Social Work at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2012. / The study aimed at critically examining the causes of gender-based violence in Kwa- Nongoma. This study defines gender-based violence (GBV) as violence that is directed to a person on the basis of gender or sex. It includes acts that inflict physically, mentally, sexual harm or suffering; threats such as cohesion; and other deprivation of liberty. It also includes sexual violence, sex trafficking, forced prostitution, spousal abuse, emotional and psychological abuse, female genital mutilation, forced marriage, infanticide of female children, and discriminatory practice based on gender. For data collection purposes, the study used qualitative research method which allows researcher to interview targeted respondents. The targeted population were all people from the age of fifteen (15) to one hundred years (100). Among other things, the study revealed that the majority of respondents are aware of gender-based violence in the community. This violence includes a wide range of violations of women’s human rights, including trafficking in women and girls, rape, wife abuse, sexual abuse of children, and harmful cultural practices and traditions that irreparably damage girls and women’s reproductive and sexual health. Additionally, the results proved that the majority of GBVcase are directed towards women and girls but a few boys and men are also victims. Among other things highlighted, the respondents indicated that GBV encompasses the following forms of GBV:  Physical, sexual, and psychological violence occurring in the family, including battering, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse of children in the household, dowryrelated violence, marital rape, female genital mutilation and other traditional practices harmful to women, non-spousal violence, and violence related to exploitation;  Physical, sexual, and psychological violence occurring within general community, including rape; sexual abuse; sexual harassment and robbery. In order to eradicate gender-based violence, respondents revealed that there is an urgent need for government to create job opportunities in the area. For instance the respondents suggested that there is a need for a garden projects which would help minimise poverty in the area. The respondents also revealed that through the garden project, they would be in a position to grow vegetables, maize, spinach, carrots etc. which they would sell to the tourists and other people. Additionally, the respondents indicated that shortage of job opportunities in the area is seen as a threat that perpetrates gender violence in the area. The respondents suggested that there is a need for a poultry project which would help eradicate poverty in the area. The respondents also revealed in the aforementioned study, they would be in the position to rear chickens both broilers and layers. They also indicated that the poultry project would be used as a place where white meat is produced for the community as a whole.

Dissertation presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts (Clinical Psychology) at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2012. / Previous research has shown that in the past males generally had negative attitudes and opinions about gender equity and the development of female autonomy and emancipation. The present study aimed to explore the perceptions of male university students in KwaZulu-Natal about independent women. More specifically the researcher tried to investigate whether “new generation” South African males are more accepting of gender equity and the independence and emancipation of South African females. An interpretive perspective was employed. A total of 6 assenting male university students, 3 from the University of KwaZulu-Natal and 3 from the University of Zululand situated in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, participated in the present study. In line with the researcher’s epistemology, the methodology was qualitative in nature and semi-structured interviews were used. All the participants were given a short biographical questionnaire and a one-on-one semi-structured interview was conducted thereafter. The research data was subjected to thematic analysis. The significant themes that emerged from the analysis are presented in the results chapter. The present study’s overall findings suggested that the “new” male generation of KwaZulu-Natal still generally hold negative attitudes and perceptions about gender equity and South African independent females. However, it was also found that the “new” South African male generation of the University of KwaZulu-Natal and University of Zululand is more receptive to the independence of South African females than the “older” South African male generation. In conclusion the present study’s contributions as well as shortcomings are discussed, along with recommendations for future research.

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF EDUCATION in the Department of Educational Planning and Administration at The University of Zululand, 2009. / The study aims at investigating secondary school principalship with regard to gender. The focal point was to assess the effectiveness of female principals compared with male principals. The following aims were therefore formulated: o to determine whether women principals in secondary schools are perceived by educators, school governing bodies and learners to be effective as leaders, o to establish if women are perceived by educators, school governing bodies and learners to be more or less effective than men, o to assess the educational environment in regard to the movement towards a culture in which female principals are treated equally to male principals in schools, o to determine, through literature review, what constitutes effective leadership, o to determine whether there are specific leadership styles associated with male or female principals, o to identify barriers experienced by women who aspire to leadership positions and o to determine if the status of being a female or male influences perceptions of female principals. The study was based on some leadership theories such as trait, behavioural, contingency, transactional and the transformational theories. These theories served as the criteria for evaluating female school principalship versus male school principalship. The study revealed that these theories do apply to schools, that is, they really are relevant to the schools, regardless of gender. In order to address adequately the problems being investigated, the investigation was undertaken of the perceptions of educators, school governing bodies’ chairpersons, learners’ presidents and female principals regarding school principalship and gender. The sample therefore consisted of the four above-mentioned categories. Two instruments were used for data collection: questionnaires were for the first three groups and interviews for the female principals. The study established the following problem areas: lack of school vision, interpersonal skills, conflict management skills, transformational skills and communication skills on the part of some school principals; problems experienced by female school principals which were caused mostly by male school stakeholders; and the inability on the part of female principals to impose discipline. The data was analysed both quantitatively and qualitatively. In view of the findings of the study, the researcher proffered several recommendations.

The present study examined men and women veterans diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorder (SUD). Women in the general public have been found to be at greater risk for a diagnosis of PTSD with life-long symptoms. Current literature involving military men and women veterans is at odds over which gender is more likely to have both PTSD and SUD. This study assessed the variables of gender and diagnosis. It also studied whether the age of female veterans affects their likelihood of having both PTSD and SUD. Archival data were gathered from the Veterans Administration (VA) for veterans seeking care at the VA during Fiscal Years 2011 and 2012. These data were stored on the VA Information Resource Center database; data came from VA medical diagnoses using the International Classifications of Diseases -9 (ICD-9). Participants were 38,656 women veterans and 785,052 male veterans. A chi-square test for goodness of fit revealed that male veterans were more likely than were female veterans to have the comorbid diagnosis of PTSD and SUD. This analysis revealed that women veterans in the 45 - 54 age groups were at greatest risk for the comorbid diagnosis. Women may not seek treatment at the VA because they lack childcare, it is dominated by mainly male veterans, and/or they may have a misconception of services for women. Part of social justice is including women veterans because they have historically been underserved by mental health and research. This study highlights the need for more research into improving health and mental healthcare for women at VA facilities.

This study examined the participants' level of jealousy towards their significant other and how it affects the longevity and commitment of their respective relationships. Based on a review of the literature, the research filled the gap of explaining the factor that affects the level of jealousy in monogamous relationships, particularly gender, and sexual orientation. Attachment theory was the theoretical construct that informed the research that addressed the gap in the literature. The research employed a quantitative method that used Rubin's Love Scale, Hendrick's Relationship Assessment Scale and Pfeiffer and Wong's Multidimensional Jealousy Scale. Self-reporting questionnaires and surveys were used to measure the attachment process of all participants who are involved in a romantic, close relationship. Participants were assessed using 2 different methods to determine their level of relationship satisfaction and perceived jealousy they exhibit. The dependent variables were the level of relationship satisfaction and jealousy while the independent variables were gender and sexual orientation. It was hypothesized that gender and sexual orientation can be main determinants to understand the dynamics of jealousy and relationship satisfaction in monogamous relationships. The sample of the study was 132 individuals who were currently involved in a romantic, close monogamous and committed relationship in Colorado. The data from this study were analyzed using MANOVA, correlation analysis, and central tendencies. The results indicated that heterosexual samples had the highest level of relationship satisfaction, and the lowest levels of jealousy. In contrast, the bisexual samples had the highest level of jealousy. Homosexual samples had the lowest level of jealousy and had significantly greater levels of relationship satisfaction. These results and the limitations of the study are discussed.

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