This thesis is a qualitative empirical study aimed at understanding the legal consciousness of women in a poor urban community. Through the narratives of women who were interviewed for this study, articles in the media, social media, and film, it explores the predominant problems experienced by women, and their experiences of engaging systems ‘in and around the law'. I argue that localities like Lavender Hill cannot be seen as homogenous and one cannot assume that all people approach problem solving from a similar perspective. Using a feminist lens, with literature on legal consciousness, legal cynicism, and legal pluralism as a backdrop, I describe the legal consciousness of poor urban women; what Ewick and Silbey refer to as ‘tracing the law in everyday life'. I interviewed 52 women, of which eight are women who live and work with other women in the community. Using an open ended questionnaire, I captured these narratives and analysed them, describing the themes and trends which surfaced. Poor urban women in this context not only navigate the daily threat of gang violence. They live in a place that is neglected, and seek positive solutions, despite high levels of patriarchy and systems that are inaccessible and unfair in response to their problems and disputes. A key finding of relevance to legal consciousness theory is the existence of different typologies of women − despite the relatively small geographic locality − with diverse norms and values. Of value is the description of varied attitudes towards systems ‘in and around the law', and different problem solving approaches. This makes a significant contribution to legal consciousness scholarship, in that it brings into view the seminal role of norms and values in social control, and how this shapes women's expectations of the law, as well as their approaches to the law, and other systems that assist with problem solving. This finding has value for practitioners and policy makers seeking to make a contribution to social justice and improve the lives of women in poor urban neighbourhoods like Lavender Hill.

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A research report submitted to the Faculty of Humanities, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts. March 2016. / Energy poverty is one of the developmental challenges facing the world today. Even though energy poverty affects both men and women, its impacts on the two are different. This is due to diverse gender roles which result in different energy needs. The burden of energy poverty lies mainly on women. Growing evidence indicates synergies between energy use and intra-household relations. An understanding of intra-household relations which culminate in inequalities in energy access is therefore essential in ensuring universal access to energy. This study aimed at exploring the relationship between renewable energy and gender relations at household level. Using the Gender Relations theoretical framework, the study explored the relationship between intra-household gender relations and adoption of RETs. It sought to assess the extent to which RETs affect the division of labour, who makes decisions to adopt RETs and who benefits from them. The study was conducted in Malawi using a qualitative research design. Participant observation and narrative in-depth interviews were used to explore the intra-household decision making processes which influence adoption of RETs. Findings indicated that men and women in Malawi have distinct gender roles which influence their bargaining power. Both social and economic resources were found to have a significant influence on women’s decision making power. The findings further indicated that men dominated decisions on adoption and utilisation of RETs. Women’s lack of economic resources and technical knowledge were found to be barriers in their access of RETs. Findings demonstrated that RETs greatly benefited both men and women, however, men sometimes controlled how the RETs were used which lessened the benefits to women. Though not conclusive, findings indicated that RETs may increase women’s burdens / GR2017

This research attempted to gain insight into the perspectives of Orthodox, Jewish women regarding the abuse of women in heterosexual relationships, in their community. Feminist theory and social constructionism were utilised in order to facilitate in greater insight into the roles of women in Judaism and the manner in which Jewish doctrine and ideology influences women who are abused by their husbands. The research focused on specific principles that are intrinsic to Jewish faith and identity. It also explored Jewish persecution and its influence on the formation and perpetuation of many of the Jewish customs and traditions as a means of preserving or upholding Jewish faith. The sample comprised of nine women who fell within an age range of 25-35 years. Jewish women from Orthodox backgrounds were utilised. A qualitative paradigm was applied in order to gain access to information thereby ensuring that the content obtained was of a more personal nature involving the private perceptions of this study’s participants. The following themes were identified from the data and formed the basis upon which the analysis and discussion took place. The themes include: Jewish men treat women according to what men are taught, marriage precipitates acknowledgement of women and the Jewish community is not immune to social ills. The results of the research support the argument that Jewish religious and cultural values appear to influence women’s choices in abusive relationships. Furthermore, the roles that women typically assume in Jewish society seemingly perpetuate existing gender stereotypes in relation to women.

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This thesis aims to investigate the patriarchal values and feminist ideas in the novel Emma in Jane Austen. The focus of this thesis is on how patriarchy and feminism is portrayed in the novel Emma. In this thesis, I will primarily use close reading by applying Mary Wollstonecraft's theory of marriage as friendship in her tract A Vindication Of The Rights of Woman. The study concludes that there are concepts of both feminism theory and patriarchy depicted through the situations that the character faces in terms of marriage, social class, and relationships. The result of this paper and my argument is that there is a new emerging society portrayed through the protagonist Emma Woodhouse, in terms of her personal growth, the patriarchal relationship, and independence that stems from her education.

In this essay I expend upon the theoretical background of my project on female rage. Through my work I examine how the anger of women is currently viewed and translated in a patriarchal society. I look at different example as a way to contextualize my work, starting from Artemisia Gentileschi’s Judith Slaying Holofernes. I reflect on representations of anger closely through different time periods, mediums and in collaboration with other women. I analyse the process of creating my final visual work RAGE – Glossary to a Woman’s Anger.

We live in a normality that benefits a culture of patriarchy and despite resistance it's still over powering and oppressing others by placing concerns of men first in aspects of all important fields of life like social, economic, cultural, academic and medical. The norms of a patriarchal society tend to have specific expectations towards gender, and people who do not follow them are prone to feel invalidated, rejected, and oppressed. This is especially true for those who do not fit into these norms or who want to challenge that discrimination. Border/ave is a project formed in a close collaboration between Lauretta Kubbi and Jaanika Malla whose intent is to make a change with narrated poetry, visualisation and materialisation as an artist book that presents difficulties experienced by a woman with borderline personality disorder. The project questions to which extent Border/ave can make a change by showcasing that our current patriarchal norm in a society suppresses physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally many, but especially women with mental disorders.

Domestic violence is defined as mishandling of power, from one person to another. Although the degree differs depending on the community and society, women have largely been on the receiving end in nearly 95 per cent of all known cases. Domestic violence is an international issue that has reached national boundaries as well as socio-economic, cultural, racial, and class distinctions. Violence against women constitutes an act of gender-based violence and women have been subjected to various types of violence ranging from battering, rape to trafficking, and murder. Nigerian women are often violated without apology. This issue is not only widely disseminated nationally but its occurrence is also widespread, making it a typical and acknowledged behaviour. The violence is deeply ingrained and has serious consequences on women’s health and their well-being, which is likely to result in psychological, mental, and physical harm to women. Efforts made by the world body organizations such as the United Nations, Universal Declaration of HumanRights, the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights, and Nigeria’s constitutions to eradicate violence and discrimination against women, and to promote the idea of equality, freedom, and justice. This paper attempts to recognize and examine the consequences of domestic violence against women’s health in Chibok Local Government, Nigeria.

Feminist literary critics have long focused on the female gender role in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. This essay turns instead to the role of fatherhood in Frankenstein. This has been achieved by applying Judith Butler’s feminist theory, the Theory of Performativity, and by examining the different examples of fatherhood in the novel, performing a comparative study whilst applying a historical context. The main point of focus has been to compare the effects, of the existing types of fatherhood in the novel, on family and society, using the Theory of Performativity. This has resulted in the understanding that Frankenstein gives much consideration to the constituents of fatherhood which may represent the most immediate threat to the family as a building block, to the happiness of children, and the improvement of society.