This thesis is a qualitative research project that takes as its starting point a knowledge gap found in the literature concerning the Green Line of the island of Cyprus. Although the aforementioned literature contextualizes the aftermath of the island’s division, the traumas and consequences of the division, as well as its effects on the construction of national and ethnic identities, it nevertheless leaves the materiality of bodies, which entangle with the Line unexamined. For this reason, the thesis aims to create a new way of thinking the entanglements between borders and bodies by suggesting a new theoretical framework that will take account of bodies when analyzing borders in general and the Green Line in particular. Drawing on theories of border feminism and new feminist materialism or corpomaterialist postconstructionism, I explore the entanglements between borders and bodies through the insights of eight semi-structured, in-depth interviews I conducted during March-April 2016. The thesis is informed by a feminist epistemology, which is deeply embodied and contextual, while it recognizes the partial perspective I, as a researcher, have towards my empirical material. For this reason, the determinative concepts that have assisted the development of this study are the following: accountability, situatedness, and self-reflexivity.

Syftet med uppsatsen är att undersöka hur nyanlända kvinnor – när de kommer till Sverige och specifikt i kontakt med Arbetsförmedlingen – kan påverkas av rasifiering, könskodning och könsgörande samt om, och i så fall hur, dessa processer kan samverka. Denna undersökning bygger på en intervjustudie med fem deltagare, där tre arbetar som handläggare på Arbetsförmedlingen och två arbetar som integrationssamordnare i tät kontakt med Arbetsförmedlingen. Resultaten visar att nyanlända kvinnor befinner sig i en komplex intersektion mellan kön, ras, klass, svenskhet och vithet med sammanvävda konsekvenser. Den svenska statens migrationspolitik, där ett ekonomisk rättfärdigande för mottagandet av nyanlända står i fokus, bidrar till att både legitimera och osynliggöra dessa konsekvenser. Dessa konsekvenser har visat sig vara kraftigare och mer accentuerade för kvinnor än för män. / igma femina

M.A. / This research study was undertaken from a social constructionist perspective. It aims to explore the impact of the emergence of female equality on the South African Male identity. Specifically the researcher tried to investigate how men from different racial and cultural groups cope with changes brought about by the new democracy and gender equality. The first part of the dissertation consists of a review of the literature on the shift from modernism to postmodernism. It includes postmodernist ideas on language, meaning, narrative and the social construction of gender as well as identity. The literature study further provides an overview of the different feminisms. Male identity is then reviewed highlighting the different factors that contribute to its formation, maintenance, as well as its expression in the South African context. In line with the researcher’s epistemology, the methodology was qualitative in nature and semi-structured interviews were used. The narratives of the participants were subjected to a thematic analysis. The significant themes that emerged from the analysis are presented in the results chapter. It is evident from the narratives of the research participants that some males are experiencing difficulty in trying to adapt to the emerging female conscience. It has also been noted that although men are now taking on a greater childcaring role and placing more emphasis on relationships such change seems to be occurring on a very small scale. The slow change in gender roles can be attributed to the normative structure of the patriarchal cultures in South Africa that make role change difficult. The results are thus discussed in light of the literature study as well as the South African context. Finally a conclusion is offered together with the reflections of the researcher and a discussion of the limitations of the study. Lastly recommendations are made in the hope that it would help psychologists, sociologists and lawmakers’ work towards a better understanding of men’s position in society and their fears. It is only through understanding both sides that one can facilitate better gender relationships. / Ms. Brenda Radebe

This research argues that the lack of African American women in science careers is the result of a nuanced and complicated process and can only be adequately addressed through consideration of multiple levels of discourse. Specifically, a better understanding of macro level discourses that are present in and circulated through schools and work to position African American girls in ways that are outside of science learning is necessary. This research used a critical ethnographic approach to explore the science experiences of African American middle school girls. Data were collected on the macro (school wide), meso (classroom and after school program), and micro (individual) level. Critical discourse analysis was used to explore what macro-level discourses were circulated at the school, how these discourses impacted the seventh grade science class and after school program, and how individual students negotiated these discourses. Results indicated that the privileged Discourses (identities) in the classroom actually worked to position students outside of science and that a focus on accountability, control, and order, with a lack of discourses of authentic engagement in science, led to students equating a science person with a good student.

<p> Denhof et al. (2014) defined corrections fatigue as &ldquo;a collection of negative an inter-related consequences upon the health and functioning of corrections professionals and the workplace culture as a whole due to exposure to traumatic, operational, and organizational stressors and their interacting consequences&rdquo; (p. 5) resulting in socially dysfunctional ideology and negative changes in personality, health and functioning, resulting in an average age of mortality established at 59 years (Brower, 2013a, 2013b; Cheek, 1984). Group differences were examined utilizing multivariate statistical tests with archival data. Findings indicate that variables within the correctional environment (age, tenure, gender of staff, security level of the institution and perceptions of assaults and safety) influence the experience of corrections fatigue symptoms. Counselor, administration, and staff implications are discussed. </p><p>

This study investigates differences in the performances of boys and girls in Technical Drawing in secondary schools in Gauteng and North-West provinces in South Africa. The matriculation results for Gauteng and North-West Province from 2000 to 2004 were collected, including those from 24 164 males and 3 650 females for Gauteng Province and 6 295 males and 959 females for North-West Province respectively. A significant gender difference was found in both provinces in both higher and standard grade scores. The results revealed that male learners achieved significantly higher scores within this five year period in this subject than female learners. / Dissertation (MEd (Leadership))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Education Management and Policy Studies / MEd / unrestricted

Master of Agribusiness / Department of Agricultural Economics / Vincent R. Amanor-Boadu / Zambia’s government and its development partners continue to be challenged with how to adequately address the seeming gender inequity in Zambia’s agricultural sector. Women in Zambia’s agricultural sector face challenges in accessing resources and opportunities that could enhance their welfare. In addition, cited inequitable distribution of power in decision-making have been assumed to hamper women’s ability to enhance their own economic wellbeing. Therefore, understanding the factors that influence women’s decision-making in agriculture and how these factors contribute to their wellbeing can provide insights into how to develop programs that help improve their economic wellbeing. This thesis assessed the decision-making and production activities by women in Zambia’s agriculture using the groundnuts subsector as a case study. It used data from the nationally representative Rural Agricultural Livelihood Survey 2015 (RALS15), drawing a sample of rural groundnut farmers and employed a statistical and econometric analysis to explore the relationships of specific factors on women in the groundnut subsector. The following are the key findings: i. Women make up 38% of the producers in Zambia’s groundnuts subsector but accounted for 49% of the total number of people controlling groundnut selling decisions. Women accounted for 48% of the total people controlling how income from groundnut sales are used. These distributions would challenge the prevailing perception that women have a decreasing control over decision-making as one moves from production to utilization of the income from production, at least in the case of the groundnut subsector in Zambia’s agricultural sector. ii. The factors influencing women’s control over production include the gender of the household head, region, affiliation to women’s groups, distance between the homestead and extension service access point, distance between the homestead and the field plot, the woman’s education and household’s production assets. For example, a percentage increase in the distance to field plot reduced the women’s control by one-seventh of a percent. Similarly, the more educated the woman is, the less their control over groundnut production is. iii. Furthermore, groundnut commercialization did not seem to influence female control over production. The foregoing challenges some of the conclusions from previous research regarding women’s control over production decisions. It is possible that the position of groundnuts in Zambian agriculture could be an explanatory factor the results. However, it was not tested. Therefore, it is suggested that future studies explore the relationship between the crop and the empowerment women experience from its production.

<p> This study uses life-history interviews with militarized men to describe a version of masculinity constructed in the local context of a non-profit motorcycle club. The study describes the details of one group&rsquo;s specific gender nature, the result of which expands and challenges our understanding of the masculinity master narrative. The findings establish that both hegemonic and nonhegemonic attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors co-exist in the local dominant masculine norm, thereby disrupting traditional distinctions of masculinity as being either hegemonic or nonhegemonic. Key future research implications support the study of context as essential to the study of gender construction, challenge descriptions of masculinity as being either hegemonic or nonhegemonic, and posit the relevance of veteran peer groups in supporting post-military resocialization.</p><p>

<p> Risky sexual behavior (RSB; i.e., behavior that increases the risk of contracting an STI and/or unplanned pregnancy) is common on college campuses and poses serious health risks to students. Yet, little research has examined the factors impacting students&rsquo; engagement in RSB. The current study examined the role of gender and social media in college students&rsquo; peer norms of and intentions to engage in RSB. An experimental design was used in which participants were exposed to one of four conditions (i.e., neutral or RSB content, within and without a social media platform) and then asked to report on peer norms of RSB and their own intentions to engage in RSB. Results demonstrated that, contrary to hypotheses, there was no significant interaction between experimental condition and gender in predicting descriptive norms of risky sexual behavior and intentions to engage in risky sexual behavior. Result did, however, demonstrate a main effect of gender for peer norms of RSB; female participants reported significantly higher peer norms of RSB than male participants. No other statistically significant main effects were found. </p><p> Results emphasize the ubiquity of RSB among college students and the large discrepancy between students&rsquo; peer norms of RSB and actual behavior. The significant difference between female and male students&rsquo; perceptions of peers&rsquo; engagement in RSB is an important finding in the context of inconsistent previous research on gender differences in peer norms of RSB. Possible explanations for the non-significant findings in the current study are discussed as well as implications for prevention and intervention efforts aimed at reducing college students&rsquo; engagement in RSB.</p><p>

<p> Mouth whistling is one of the oldest forms of commination known to humans. Though often overlooked and underappreciated, whistling has been a powerful, universal tactic of message sending for millennia. Research reveals historical contexts of whistling as an uncouth, unlucky and unladylike act reserved for the working class. This has resulted in the disparagement of all forms of whistling. Despite its status as a marginalized act, people around the world partake of whistling for many purposes, including music. Competitive whistling events which showcase virtuosic musical talent have existed for over forty years, yet the art form does not receive the respect other musical instruments have been awarded. This thesis explores the rhetorical influences that have consigned whistling to low-culture, muting its voice and restricting its existence as a legitimate musical art form. It examines how essentialist perspectives, empowered by hegemonic ideologies of gender and class, have constrained the potential of musical whistling to grow as a culturally credible musical contribution. Patriarchal hierarchies and gendered, linguistic cues promote subtle sexist practices which marginalize people and practices based on arbitrary cultural constructs. Historically, women have been expressly forbidden from whistling. Direct and subtle sexist messages, perpetuated through language and folklore have sustained the status quo across generations, silencing women&rsquo;s voices and whistles. Exposing unconscious acts which support and sustain the status quo reveal subtle, marginalizing forces which promulgate ideologies across generations. Nescience is investigated as a powerful element sustaining archaic ideological perspectives. Through autoethnography, the author, a world-champion whistler, describes strategic rhetorical processes employed with the intention of reframing and transforming musical whistling from noise to art.</p><p>