Child participation is one of the fundamental principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989), which South Africa ratified in 1995, together with (a) the best interest of the child; (b) survival, protection and development; and (c) non-discrimination (Hodgkin&Newell, 2002:17). It can be viewed as one of the cornerstones of child rights (and also human rights) as far as the Convention is concerned. The strongest foundations for children’s right to participation in society can be found in universally agreed upon human rights treaties as well as domestic laws. These provide, either directly or by interpretation, for the right of children to participate in claiming their civil and political rights (first order rights) as well as their social, economic and cultural rights (second order rights). It is apparent that the construction of childhood by the adult portion of society directly affects children’s ability to claim and execute their right to participation as citizens. These constructions of childhood are largely determined by the large differences in power between children and adults, where adults hold the power and decide when and how much power will be given to children, and by children’s perceived status as “lesser” than adults and, as such, needing to behave and respond in certain ways. Both these perceptions influence the meaningful participation of children. Despite progression being made globally on the importance and value of children’s participation, there remains a tension between children’s right to participation and society’s construct of children and childhood. While this tension prevails, it is important that mechanisms be found that will ensure that children’s right to participation is executed in a way that will ensure that society’s perceptions of childhood do not influence the quality of meaningful participation. Authentic and meaningful participation can be safeguarded by ensuring that participation occurs within a framework that spells out the ethical principles to which child participation should adhere. Research was undertaken to explore the foundations of child participation as a fundamental right, and to develop ethical principles for child participation for use in practice. As part of a qualitative study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with adult experts in child participation, and focus group discussions were held with children involved in child participation. From the study it was concluded that ethical principles for child participation are important to ensure that children are enabled to participate in an authentic and meaningful manner in all matters that affect them and their communities. Based on the findings and the conclusion, a framework for the ethical principles of child participation was developed. Recommendations included the following: <ul> <li> Publishing and dissemination of the framework for the ethical principles of child participation.</li> <li> Monitoring of child participation to ensure that it is ethical.</li> <li> Training in ethical child participation for all role players.</li></ul> / Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Social Work and Criminology / unrestricted

The thesis interrogates how the political dynamics that emerged in the formulation of the 2016 land legislation in Malawi influenced the gendered outcomes. It highlights the complexity of the policymaking process that was shaped by divergent interests and power dynamics of the stakeholders. It argues that although the interests and agenda complicated the process, their discourses were framed and justified their positions within the development and gender equality framework. It highlights the progressive nature of the socio-legal provisions in the legislation by significantly recognising and promoting women’s land rights. It contends that advances in legal institutions are essential; however, for inclusive transformation to be sustainable, changes in social and cultural practices and norms are imperative. This is because Malawian women continue to face exclusion in owning, controlling and accessing land albeit being the major agricultural producers. This is owed to the persistence of patriarchal attitudes in institutions that perpetuate contestation in the public and private spheres of women’s rights to access, own and control over land. Such is persistent particularly within customary laws which remain sites of struggle between traditional leaders’ claims and women’s societal positions. Hence, creating enabling environments for women will allow them to articulate their political voices and agenda and as such influence policy and legal formulation. Through a multi-faceted approach encompassing of legal pluralism, feminist perspectives on gender and development, and the theory of change, the paper discusses the complexity of policymaking that has been shaped by interests and power. For instance, most chiefs contested against their limited powers and the inclusion of women in land administration issues as stipulated in the new Land Laws, while CSOs advocated for the laws to be people-centred, gender-sensitive and responsive to women’s needs. Also, International organisations were interested in ensuring that there is improved land governance framework and its implementation is in line with VGGT. Thus, apparent realities emerge from the analysis of these political dynamics within the adoption of the 2016 Land Laws: the differing stakeholders’ agenda and how they all pressed on advancing their agenda. Nonetheless, gender equality and development discourse was an aspect that was apparent in the debates.

Syftet med studien var att med utgångspunkt i socialarbetares erfarenheter undersöka synen på och medvetenhet om makt i form av maktutövning och maktrelationer gentemot klienter. Vidare undersöktes om detta skiljer sig beroende på om socialarbetaren har en myndighetsutövande eller en behandlande roll och vilka arbetsuppgifter de utför. En kvalitativ metod i form av intervjuer användes. Totalt fyra yrkesverksamma socialarbetare intervjuades, två myndighetsutövare och två behandlare. Som teoretisk referensram användes begreppen frikoppling och sammankoppling samt en maktförhållande matris, vilket möjliggjorde att analysera maktrelationerna utifrån både mikro- och makronivå. Tillsammans med tidigare forskning användes de teoretiska perspektiven för att analysera studiens resultat. Resultatet visade att socialarbetarna hade olika uppfattningar om makt och den maktrelation som uppstår mellan dem och klienterna oberoende av deras yrkesroller. Exempelvis utgjorde lagstiftning en mer väsentlig del av myndighetsutövarnas arbete än behandlarnas arbete. Denna konkreta skillnad i de respektive yrkesrollerna antyder att maktpositionen i förhållande till klienten var tydligare i det myndighetsutövande arbetet än i behandling. Till skillnad från de myndighetsutövande socialarbetarna behövde de behandlande socialarbetarna inte förmedla svåra besked eller beslut till klienterna. Myndighetsutövarna har även med sin beslutsrätt i det dagliga arbetet mer makt-över, medan behandlarna utifrån sitt nära arbete med klienterna har mer makt-tillsammans. / The purpose of the study was to, based on the experiences of social workers, examine the view of and awareness of power in the form of exercise of power and power relations towards clients. It was further investigated whether this differs depending on whether the social worker has an executive or a therapeutic role and which tasks they performs. A qualitative method in the form of interviews was used. A total of four professional social workers were interviewed, two authorities and two therapists. Disconnecting and interconnecting, as well as the Matrix of power relations were used as a theoretical frame of reference, which made it possible to analyze the power relations from both micro and macro level. Together with previous research, the theoretical perspectives were used to analyze the results of the study. The result showed that social workers had various perceptions of power and the power relationship that arises between them and the clients, regardless of their professional roles. Legislation was a more significant part of the work of the authorities than the work of the therapists. This difference in the respective professional roles suggests that the position of power in relation to the client was clearer in the administrative work than in treatment. Unlike the authorities, the therapists did not have to convey difficult decisions to the clients. The authorities also have more power-over with their decision-making power in the daily work, while the therapists, based on their close work with the clients, have more power-together.

This thesis aims to conduct an in-depth study of the activism surrounding the #DeleteFacebook hashtag by applying Critical Discourse Analysis. By theorizing framing, digital colonialism, power relations, and antagonism, this thesis examines the qualitative analysis of 1.987 Tweets posted on Twitter between 20 February and 4 March 2021. This study identifies the key thematic content of these Tweets and then conducts an in-depth critical analysis. These questions will be addressed in the research: “What are the principle discourse typologies and their intertextual interpretation of hashtag activism #DeleteFacebook?”, “What were the key themes that emerged during the #DeleteFacebook hashtag movement?” and “How can we interpret the online engagement with #DeleteFacebook as hashtag activism?”. This thesis presents an analysis of #DeleteFacebook related Tweets through coding and then reveals an intertextual analysis of it, including the social context. Also, this study provides a thorough review of the related literature concerning the costs of connection, social movements, hashtag activism, and collective identity. Finally, it concludes with a discussion reflecting on the role of digital colonialism and the power of Facebook.

This study aims to investigate if there has been a shift over the last 25 years in the discourses on how trade unions are being discussed in Swedish print news media. More specifically, I will investigate whether a social change and change in power relations of trade unions can be detected in the discourses. The questions that guide this study are (1) How have discourses and discursive practices around news media reporting on unions and their role in society changed over the last 25 years? And (2) What kind of power relations can be detected in these discourses? 52 articles from four different print newspapers within the period of 1995–2019 and six semi-structured narrative interviews with union representatives, labor market reporters and think tank representatives compose the study’s material. From the material, three central themes could be extracted and analyzed with the theories of critical discourse analysis (CDA) and power resource theory (PRT). These themes are (1) the coverage of trade unions’ abilities and agencies, where union initiatives rarely are covered and unions, in general, have faded into more of a commentating role. (2) The discourse of the Swedish model serves as a discourse of power and highlights the alliance of unions and employers’ organizations. And lastly (3) how the reporting has moved away from a collective focus to a focus on the individual in the labor market. Conclusively, the study highlights the relational aspects of power and question whether the Swedish model is contra-productive on the part of labor, as the lack of conflicts fails to draw attention and thereby also fails to create a widespread and collective understanding of what unions are and do. / Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka det skett en förändring i hur man talar om facket i svenska tryckta nyhetsmedier under de senaste 25 åren. Mer specifikt kommer jag att undersöka om en social förändring och förändring av maktförhållanden kring fackförbunden kan utläsas ur diskurserna. Frågorna som leder denna studie är (1) Hur har diskurser och diskursiva praktiker kring nyhetsmediernas rapportering om fackförbund och deras roll i samhället förändrats under de senaste 25 åren? Och (2) Vilken typ av maktförhållanden kan utläsas i dessa diskurser? 52 artiklar från fyra olika tidningar inom tidsperioden 1995–2019 och sex semistrukturerade narrativa intervjuer med medarbetare på fackförbund, arbetsgivareorganisationer och tankesmedjor samt arbetsmarknadsreportrar utgör studiens material. Från materialet kunde tre centrala teman extraheras och analyseras med teorierna kritisk diskursanalys och maktresursteori. Dessa teman är (1) rapporteringen av fackförbundens agens och förmåga. Fackliga initiativ rapporteras det alltmer sällan om de har i allmänhet fått en mer kommenterande roll än en agerande roll. (2) Diskursen kring den svenska modellen som fungerar som en maktdiskurs och underbygger alliansen mellan fackförbund och arbetsgivarorganisationer och legitimerar deras maktposition på svensk arbetsmarknad. Och slutligen (3) hur rapporteringen har skiftat från ett kollektivt fokus till ett fokus på individen på arbetsmarknaden. Sammanfattningsvis belyser studien de relationella aspekterna av makt och lyfter frågan om huruvida den svenska modellen skulle kunna vara kontraproduktiv för fackförbundens räkning. Detta eftersom bristen på konflikter leder till mindre mediauppmärksamhet och därmed inte bidrar en utbredd och kollektiv förståelse kring vad fackföreningar är och gör.

Visual aesthetics play a vital role in today’s Western society. We built up a society where physical appearance represents high values in our everyday life. Not only the way we consume things and engage with the internet have a connection to how we see and place ourselves in society but the way the system works and treats us. Under the word “system” I refer to the intertwined connection of patriarchy and capitalism. With this project, I explore this connection as well as how the system influences social norms, body aesthetics and acceptance. More specifically, I take shaving and myself as an example and examine the question of “Why do women shave?”. The representation of women in our current society shapes our idea and opinion on shaving therefore I work with questions such as: How are social norms created and how do they influence us? What are the ways to challenge and break these norms, if it is possible at all? How can our capacity for developing autonomy remain while being influenced by the system? My practice investigates these questions comprehensively and addresses the importance of discussions and the understanding of the roots of our behavior as well as how we as individuals contribute to the influence of society and the system.

This thesis discusses the conception of power relations and gender stereotypes in Gabriela Preissová's literary masterpiece - Gazdina roba and Její pastorkyňa. The analysis employs the concept of power as an analytical categoryand draws on Michel Foucault's theories. The thesis further examines the discourse in which the main characters find themselves. The analysis of male and female characters focuses on the position of the main character and also on the ways in which female protagonists become influenced by their male partners. Selected characters are also interpreted by using Foucault's concept of bio-power and a special attention is paid to the subject type of homo oeconomicus. The thesis attempts to answer the question, whether the discussed literary characters are "disciplined bodies", or whether they embody a subversion of the (gender) system. Part of the text is also dedicated to the comparison of male and female characters in both Preissová's works as to whether they do or do not comly with traditional images of "masculinity" and "femininity" (and related gender stereotypes), or how many of them represent resisting or (in the case of some female protagonists) collaborating entities. Possible interpretations of the characters' inner drive in this regard are also offered. Key words:...

This master’s thesis investigates how freelancers experience job precarity and asymmetrical power relations which have been established within the media production industry as well as the relevance and value of coworking spaces providing a workspace with the possibilities of knowledge sharing, networking and community building, as a framework in order to challenge their precarious working conditions. Furthermore, the research aims at examining the participants’ experiences in a qualitative manner to explore those rather new concepts of freelancing and coworking spaces as previous research has failed to address the individual experiences of how freelancers deal with the nature of work in the media production industry.Situated in the context of the structural changes within media production towards a project-based nature of work and the decrease of permanent employment, freelancers are increasingly facing precarious working conditions such as uncertainty and instability.Applying the theory of structure and agency as theoretical framework, it is discussed to what extent freelancers are influenced by the established structures, rules and norms within the media production industry and how their agency is enabled within these structures.Using a qualitative research approach, this study is based on an investigation of the experiences and knowledge of eleven freelancers working in the media production industry and who are users of coworking spaces by the means of semi-structured interviews. In summary, this thesis reveals that the majority of the participants experience asymmetrical power relations and precarity to a high degree. Furthermore, freelancers who seek for communities in order to challenge their precarious working conditions, experience coworking spaces as highly valuable concept in order to increase the possibilities for their individual agency. Having investigated those rather novel concepts, this thesis serves as a starting point for examining further research on freelancers’ individual experiences of their working conditions.

The purpose of this study is to examine how preschool teachers’ and childminders’ perceive parental/guardian influence in preschool. This qualitative study is based on individual interviews with five preschool teachers and childminders representing a wide range of professional experiences and backgrounds. A phenomenographic approach was used to highlight the variations in the way parental/guardian influence was perceived. The variations were then analysed using Alasuutari’s (2010) horizontal and vertical frames of power to determine power relations between preschool teachers/childminders and parents/guardians. The results were further analysed through Moss’ (2007) views on democratic practices in the preschool setting. The results of this study show that both preschool teachers and childminders acknowledge the parental/guardian knowledge and expertise of their own children and place significance on open communication and building a trusting relationship. However, preschool teachers and childminders exerted their professional background when it came to matters regarding the preschool’s pedagogy. This finding alludes to the practice that preschool teachers and childminders attempt to regulate and limit parental/guardian influence under certain circumstances, which is not in line with Moss’ views on democratic practices. In addition the study found that an uncertainty exists among preschool teachers and childminders in regards to what parental/guardian influence actually means.

This thesis explores how those relating to banking institutions engage with, and experience responsibility throughout their daily interaction with these institutional environments. The proposed thesis’ research question is What is responsibility in banking?. To be able to answer it, the relation of the responsibility concept to historical, philosophical, and business accounts were analysed from a selection of papers deemed as important in generating the notion of responsibility. In addition, it was considered living stories resulting from semi-structured interviews conducted with the 19 study participants, which were both professionally related and nonrelated to banks. The interviews offered the participants’ understanding of responsibility and its accounts, both during their upbringing, educational, cultural, and professional spheres. Furthermore, the empirical data were analysed employing the hermeneutic phenomenology, subjectification, and power relations concepts of Foucault’s work. This thesis has shown that responsibility is experienced and perceived differently depending on the context (space and time) and nature of interactions and that these experiences are both similar and different from those in the customer, employee, leader, and shareholder segments of the study sample. The notion of responsibility in banking depends on what is the responsible priority to the established interplay of power. How banking should tackle the improvement of their responsible practices is not an easy matter since stakeholders’ interests are so unsynchronized. Thus, these times call for humanity, collaboration, and discussion among parties, bringing together stories and power as a strategic relationship that allows plurality and political agency to reinvent meaning. This research contributes to a larger body of research exploring sensemaking in finance organizations and contributes to understanding the experiences of those who are engaged with financial services, and the difficulties encountered when considering changing the ethos perception of responsibility.