M.Tech. / Premenstrual syndrome affects millions of premenopausal women and has been described as one of the most common disorders in women. Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is defined as the cyclic recurrence of symptoms such as anxiety, depression, food cravings, bloating, breast tenderness, and headaches during the luteal phase (from day fourteen to day one) of the menstrual cycle (Nel, 1995). PMS has been estimated to affect 75% of women of reproductive age, and there are no optimal conventional treatment options available (Steiner et al., 2006). Research has found an increased incidence of PMS in black women (Deuster et al., 1999). Due to the high number of women suffering from PMS and side-effects of conventional medicine, a safe alternative treatment for PMS is required. The homoeopathic similimum method involves prescribing one remedy at a time in optimal potency and repetition based on the totality of the individual patient’s mental, emotional and physical symptoms (Vithoulkas, 1985).

This research study investigates the lived experiences of eight Black women senior secondary school leaders (hereafter referred to as Black women senior leaders) so as to elucidate their understanding, perceptions and experiences of senior leadership. Educational reform has taken place in England during the Thatcher, Major, New Labour and Coalition governments, leading to significant changes in secondary schools in England. These changes have resulted in new leadership roles, challenges and high levels of accountability. Moreover, the role of headteachers and senior leaders have been widely researched and discussed (Brundrett, 1999; Bush et al. 2006; Lumby and English, 2009; Leithwood, 2009, 2012), yet the experiences of Black women senior leaders is absent from the literature, which has focused on the experiences of Black minority and ethnic teachers and leaders (Powney et al. 2003; Bush et al. 2006; Coleman and Campbell-Stephens, 2010; Johnson and Campbell-Stephens, 2014) A social constructionist, interpretivist paradigm was adopted for this thesis and, using an intersectionality lens, the complexities of Black women senior leaders’ multiple identities and experiences were explored. Sixteen transcripts were generated from two semistructured interviews with the participants and my own, to explore how their race; gender; and, social class intersect to shape their leadership perceptions, beliefs and behaviours. Moreover, this research study is interested in gaining a better understanding of how Black women senior leaders develop their personal and professional identities; the value they place on formal and informal leadership preparation, development and learning approaches; and, how they maintain professional relationships with colleagues. The key findings are presented under the three research questions where Black women senior leaders’ narratives elucidate the lessons they have learnt throughout their senior leadership journeys, which provide insights into their experiences, offering practical advice to help other Black women and colleagues considering senior leadership.

M.Tech. / Dysmenorrhoea is the most common of all gynaecological complaints, leading to absence from work or school and the inability to participate in sports or other activities (Edmundson et al, 2006). Headache, nausea, constipation or diarrhoea, and urinary frequency are common concomitant symptoms; vomiting occasionally occurs (Beers et al, 2006). In research by Klein and Litt, although black adolescents reported no increased incidence of dysmenorrhoea, they were absent from school more frequently than whites (Callis, 2006). Primary dysmenorrhoea is defined as severe or incapacitating uterine cramping during ovulatory menses, in the absence of demonstrable disorders of the pelvis (Carr and Bradshaw, 2005). Primary dysmenorrhoea is related to excessive production of prostaglandins which cause ischaemia in the myometrium of the uterus, with increased contraction and vasoconstriction (Callis, 2006). The aim of this study was to evaluate, using case studies, the effect of the homeopathic similimum in the treatment of the symptoms of primary dysmenorrhoea in black females. Evaluation was based on the evaluation of symptoms form (Appendix E), which rated the common symptoms namely lower abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, fatigue, irritability, mood swings, menstrual flow and breast tenderness, and on the history taken and follow up consultation, looking at overall symptom change of each participant. The research study used a convenience sample of ten black females, aged between eighteen and twenty-five, who had been suffering from primary dysmenorrhoea for the previous three or more months. The volunteers were recruited by advertising posters (Appendix A) on the University of Johannesburg campuses. They were given an information and consent form (Appendix B) to read, understand and complete if they agreed with the given information and explained procedures. They were then screened for suitability using a screening questionnaire (Appendix C). From this questionnaire ten suitable participants were selected. A full case history of each participant was taken and a full physical examination (Appendix F) was conducted on each of the ten suitable participants. The full case and physical examination findings were evaluated and a homeopathic similimum remedy was selected under supervision of the research supervisor.

The recent increase in the number of black working women has meant that time has become an even more precious commodity in the majority of households with working women than before. Growth in women’s participation in the labour market has tended to stimulate the demand for time-saving goods and services, especially convenience foods to cope with time pressure in the preparation of meals. South African working women are moving towards the consumption of convenience foods as they become busier, managing both work and household chores, and also having more disposable income. This study aimed at gathering ideas and insight on the acceptability and use of convenience foods by black women employed by government in Mpumalanga. It investigated the consumption frequency of convenience foods in four categories, the contributing sensory attributes and the influence of resources, the socio-cultural environment and the occasion or situation on the acceptability and use of convenience foods. Food outlets used by black working women for the purchase of convenience foods were also identified. To elicit relevant information, a quantitative research design and survey techniques using structured questionnaires, with open and closed-ended questions were used to gather information. With the literature review and the objectives of the study in mind, 200 working women employed by government at the government Boulevard complex in Nelspruit formed the sample group. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences Version 9.0.1 (SPSS), a computer statistical data programme. Descriptive and inferential statistics facilitated data analysis. From the discussion and interpretation of the results of the sample survey it was clear that black working women tend to either use certain types of convenience foods in the four convenience food categories less frequent (not more than twice in a week) or to use certain types of convenience foods, frequently (3 -4 times in a week or 5 - 6 times and every day of the week). The results showed clearly that there were relatively high proportions of working women (more than 56, 5% of the respondents) who were low users of almost each type of the convenience foods in the four convenience food categories except for baked products, cereal dishes, fried/grilled/roasted meat, and fully prepared refrigerated salads in category A; meat stews and fully prepared vegetable dishes in category B; breakfast cereals, vegetable salad ingredients, instant soups and instant sauces in category C and cleaned/pealed ready to cook vegetable items, pre-cut frozen vegetables, crumbed frozen fish and crumbed frozen or refrigerated meat portions in category D. Moreover, the findings confirmed that the sensory attributes, appearance, texture, smell and taste and flavour were considered very important in the acceptability and use of convenience foods. Resources, the socio-cultural environment and occasion or situation were also seen to have had a positive influence on the acceptability and use of convenience foods by the black women employed by government in Mpumalanga who participated in the survey. The study has contributed to the limited literature on the use of convenience foods especially by black working women. Moreover, food product developers and retailers will gain insight into the provision of convenience foods relevant to the needs and desires of time pressed consumers. / Dissertation (MConsSci)--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Consumer Science / unrestricted

Thesis advisor: C. Shawn McGuffey / This study delved further into the stigmatizing perception of mental health within the black community by focusing on its understandings in the population of black women. Black women statistically are underrepresented and underutilizing the mental health industry, so this study unearthed reasons behind these numbers through empirical research. From interviews with eight women from three generational cohorts (young adults, professional adults, and older adults), I examined their perspectives on the topic of mental health and how that may have changed over the course of their lives to where they are today. Despite generational groupings, these findings can help researchers and practitioners better understand the reasons behind those statistics and help change the industry as a whole to include black women’s voices. / Thesis (BA) — Boston College, 2020. / Submitted to: Boston College. College of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Departmental Honors. / Discipline: Sociology.

Thesis advisor: Janet E. Helms / The present study explored the ways in which Black women college students support themselves emotionally in the face of racism and sexism at their predominantly White colleges and universities (PWIs). Intersectional theory (Crenshaw, 1991) and invisibility theory (Helms, 2017) were used to guide the study. Intersectional theory proposes that Black women college students at PWI colleges and universities experience intersectional racism-sexism in the form of hostile climate factors. Invisibility theory proposes that Black women college students may feel invisible because they experience racist-sexist, hostile climate factors and, as a result, may be at risk for developing mental health issues. Participants were eight Black women college students, ages 18 to 22 years, who identified with a range of sexual orientations, locations of origin, and academic interests, and were attending universities that varied in terms of prestige and cost. Narrative inquiry and analysis of interviews was used to allow Black women’s narratives to center their individual life experiences of coping with racism-sexism. Four research themes that guided the study were (a) the nature of Black women college students’ perceived racist-sexist hostile climate factors at their PWI colleges and universities, (b) the extent to which their experiences with racism-sexism influenced their emotional health, (c) what services or activities the women used to cope with emotional issues if they occurred, and (d) the extent to which shame and stigmatization influenced their use or nonuse of formal mental health treatment when experiencing emotional health problems. Results demonstrated that consistent with intersectional theory, participants experienced racist/sexist, hostile climate factors before and during college— primarily through academic microaggressions from teachers and college professors. Consistent with invisibility theory, many of the participants experienced emotional health problems that they linked to their experiences of racist/sexist, hostile climate factors. Implications include the need for further research on Black women college students’ experiences of racism/sexism and their subsequent mental health experiences and the need for clinicians to address Black women college students’ experiences of racism-sexism in treatment. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2020. / Submitted to: Boston College. Lynch School of Education. / Discipline: Counseling, Developmental and Educational Psychology.

Using the life stories of Black women employed by the Department of Employment and Labour, the study explores leadership identity and role congruity through the lenses of intersectionality and post-colonial feminism. Demographically, Black women constitute the majority of women within the senior management service and as such may have the biggest influence on a gendered leadership identity for the Public Service. However, the study investigates how women’s life stories influence the meaning they attach to their gender, race and ethnicity as contributing to their leadership identity and role congruity. Despite the steady progress made in terms of equity representation there is no understanding of how and if Black women in the Department have adapted their leadership identity, what challenges they have experienced and how these challenges could lead to a more gendered leadership understanding. There is a need to explore how the experiences of pre-1994, patriarchy and the triple intersectionality of gender, race and ethnicity affected Black women in senior positions in becoming the leaders that they are, and how those experiences manifest in their leadership interactions. Coupled with understanding the Department’s leadership culture and the expectation placed on women leaders, is the necessity to determine whether it is congruent with the leadership identity of Black women. The tightrope between agency and communion in the workplace is analysed in light of the notion that when women behave outside the gender roles, they are perceived in a negative manner and can suffer prejudice. Thus, the study aims to explore the influence of these variables on the leadership identity of Black women in a comprehensive manner. / Thesis (DAdmin)--University of Pretoria, 2020. / School of Public Management and Administration (SPMA) / DAdmin (Public Administration) / Unrestricted

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This thesis examines the lived experiences of Black women academics in South African universities, focusing on a case study from the University of Cape Town (UCT). Since the end of apartheid, scholars have questioned the disconnect between the goals and objectives of transformation strategies and the continued experiences of marginalization and oppression that Black women face. This study adds to this critical analysis by seeking to understand the main challenges that Black women experience in their careers and to assess how they view the transformation agenda, more commonly known outside of South Africa as equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) initiatives. This thesis adopts an intersectional lens to study the experience of Black women, drawing on critical race theory and Black feminist thought. The analysis is based on semi-structured interviews with 10 Black women academics. Using the method of discourse analysis, I identify six common themes: experiences as a student, the strengths and limits of UCT’s transformation agenda, stories of everyday racism experienced as a faculty member, identity as resilience, building communities of mutual support, and the effects of other forms of discrimination (e.g. age, citizenship and sexuality). This thesis argues that while there is evidence that the transformation agenda has been somewhat successful with respect to equity and diversity, efforts remain inadequate to reorder the deeply rooted structures of oppression and the diverse challenges faced by Black women. In particular, the third element of EDI initiatives— ‘inclusion’—remains a work-in-progress. Black women academics perceive that dominant institutional culture and norms prevent them from participating fully in spaces of higher education.

The increased use of online dating sites has further encouraged corporations’ attempts to capitalize on these mate-seeking trends. Match.com, eHarmony, and OkCupid are primary competitors in a growing market of individuals seeking out potential romantic partners. They offer several mainstream dating options as well as niche-dating sites. Similar to society at large where dating still occurs offline, scholars have revealed that racial hierarchies exist within various online platforms. As such, the roles of gender and ethnicity in online dating environments merit study. Specifically, the experiences of Black women who use Internet dating sites, a virtually unexplored demographic, form the basis of this dissertation. This study consisted of 16 interviews and a demographic survey, which were used to examine Black women’s online dating experiences from their perspectives to determine whether or not online dating sites are productive, love-seeking spaces. Data analysis was conducted utilizing a Google Form survey to collect demographic data and NVivo 11 qualitative software to help generate themes that guided analysis. Themes that emerged included: negative and positive perceptions from men; physical and non-physical attributes participants possessed that men found attractive; whether or not men’s perceptions impacted interview participants’ success or failure in online dating, and whether or not participants viewed their online dating experiences to be in line with those of other Black women. Participants discussed how perceptions from men online influenced their racially-gendered online dating experience.