Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a major social and public health issue in the United States, particularly in rural locations. However, little is known about the context in which IPV occurs in rural areas. The goal of this dissertation was to examine the ways in which rural communities consider gender norms and the implications that might have for coverage and discussions of IPV. Since rural community newspapers have a uniquely important point of access by reporting on local news in a way that is not done by any other media source, newspaper content was analyzed. A content analysis was conducted of ten weekly, rural community newspapers in Iowa over one year, and comparisons were made with the state's largest paper, the Des Moines Register. The content analysis examined gender roles in articles, photographs and photograph captions. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with editors of most of the same rural community newspapers. Editors were asked about their community culture, gender roles within the community, and their awareness and knowledge of IPV. The dissertation was conducted through the framework of feminist positions on gender and violence, and also examined the nature of discussions surrounding gender roles and IPV in rural community newspapers photographs, through the concept of gender display, which considers how gender, power and subordination are reflected through mediated images. Additionally, news gatekeeping theory, which examines the way that newspapers operate within their communities and make day-to-day decisions about how to cover certain topics was used as a framework to guide the semi-structured interviews with editors. Results of the content analysis revealed that while IPV was rarely discussed, gendered coverage reflected traditional ideals of femininity and masculinity, although not to the extent expected. The content analysis analyzed various forms of gender display in photographs of men and women in their occupations, community and social roles. Overall, rural communities experience gender disparities, but this was in subtle representations of power differences in newspaper photographs. Results of the interviews indicated that rural community editors rarely think of gender roles within their community. When editors did talk about gender roles, the word "traditional" was frequently used, and most editors felt that men still held the majority of prominent positions within the community, while women also worked outside of the home, usually in less powerful jobs. Interviews indicated that rural community members have a very active role in the gatekeeping process.

The pace of urbanisation in less developed regions creates consequences which cause problems such as housing, overcrowding and lack of living standards in the urban areas. A problem connected more to developing countries than developed countries that earlier went through the same process. One of the reasons why urbanisation occurs is because of rural-urban migration. This study focuses on why men and women migrate and use migration as a tool to obtain personal development. The methodological framework used is qualitative with abductive reasoning, and the research design is a case study. The case study selected is Zambia, specifically the slum area Misisi in Lusaka. Ten semi-structured interviews are conducted to gather empirical data. A selection needs to be made to do the interviews, which is contrived on the snowball sampling method and delimitations. The empirical data is coded through thematic analysis, and three themes are found and described in the findings, personal economic and educational development, network and gender differences. These themes are analysed through the chosen sociological analytical framework; Bourdieu's class theory and West and Zimmerman's theory doing gender. The findings show that individuals use migration as a tool to climb in societal class and obtain personal development in different capitals. Furthermore, the differences between men and women are not as vast anymore, women have started to focus more on themselves than on the family. This research follows the lines of Agenda 2030, specifically number 11, and can inspire a more profound interest in the subject of sustainable cities and communities with the findings. Continuing research can increase the understanding of how personal development affects the fast-growing urbanisation in developing countries with rural-urban migration.

The pace of urbanisation in less developed regions creates consequenceswhich cause problems such as housing, overcrowding and lack of livingstandards in the urban areas. A problem connected more to developingcountries than developed countries that earlier went through the same process.One of the reasons why urbanisation occurs is because of rural-urbanmigration. This study focuses on why men and women migrate and usemigration as a tool to obtain personal development. The methodologicalframework used is qualitative with abductive reasoning, and the researchdesign is a case study. The case study selected is Zambia, specifically the slumarea Misisi in Lusaka. Ten semi-structured interviews are conducted to gatherempirical data. A selection needs to be made to do the interviews, which iscontrived on the snowball sampling method and delimitations. The empiricaldata is coded through thematic analysis, and three themes are found anddescribed in the findings, personal economic and educational development,network and gender differences. These themes are analysed through the chosensociological analytical framework; Bourdieu's class theory and West andZimmerman's theory doing gender. The findings show that individuals usemigration as a tool to climb in societal class and obtain personal developmentin different capitals. Furthermore, the differences between men and womenare not as vast anymore, women have started to focus more on themselves thanon the family. This research follows the lines of Agenda 2030, specificallynumber 11, and can inspire a more profound interest in the subject ofsustainable cities and communities with the findings. Continuing research canincrease the understanding of how personal development affects the fastgrowing urbanisation in developing countries with rural-urban migration.