This study investigates what factors impede women's ability to be included in politics in Kenya in light of reforms such as decentralization and electoral gender quotas. The Kenyan case highlights a paradox: reforms are progressive in reaching a more gender-balanced representation, including women from more levels of the country in the political sphere. Despite this, women in Kenyan politics face several barriers when aiming for a position in office and partaking in political activities on equal terms as men. The material was collected through a three-week field trip to Nairobi, interviewing female politicians either elected through the number of votes or nominated through quota in the National Parliament and the devolved level of Nairobi City County Assembly. Findings suggest that women on both levels face several barriers when attaining a political position and performing their roles in the office. Women face unattainable financial requirements, violence and threats, voters' biases towards their capacity, and parties favoring men. Patriarchal structures also hinder women's political inclusion, where non-governmental organizations play an important role by offering different venues for political training to build aspiring female politicians from the bottom-up. More work is needed to ensure women's political inclusion in Kenya, starting with implementing the two-thirds gender rule in National Parliament and pressuring political parties to be gender-inclusive. To reach women's political inclusion, educating people on women's equal rights to gain political representation and be included in political work on similar terms as men is vital.

This dissertation examines women’s colleges emergence as new organizational types in higher education in the late 1800s and early 1900s. In building these colleges, administrators both deviated from societal norms and values about gender and race while conforming to others. They pushed for women’s place in advanced education without betraying notions about womanhood, especially white womanhood. Through academic programs, campus rules, and campus design, administrators built colleges that connected older standards from men’s universities set for higher education and established new ones meant specifically for women’s education. Using historical data (e.g., college publications and women’s magazines), I examine how women’s colleges developed as gendered educational spaces and responded to societal expectations. Women’s colleges are understudied, especially as distinct organizational types. By incorporating organizational theory and strategic action theory, I highlight the significance of field-specific norms and values in organizations’ development of legitimacy, reputation, and culture. I argue that women’s colleges navigated multilevel processes across fields, race, and gender in crafting and maintaining their legitimacy, reputation, and culture strategies. Despite great doubts about the societal need for women’s education, Black and white women’s colleges successfully built themselves into legitimate liberal arts colleges with a history of reputable educational training.

In February 2022 the lives of millions of people all over Europe have been divided into two parts – before and after the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. Fearing for their lives, 5,2 million Ukrainians were forced to relocate to neighbouring countries, women and children accounting for about 90% of all refugees leaving Ukraine, as with few exceptions men are prohibited from leaving Ukraine by law. The law has created an advantage and an ethical dilemma for numerous women: they can either seek safety outside Ukraine, meaning they would have to leave their husbands, brothers, and fathers, or stay together but risk their own lives instead. This thesis aims to investigate the effect of the war on women’s rights and the nature of artificially created gender advantage. It aims to answer the following research questions: what current implications does the war in Ukraine have on women’s rights and how do these implications affect women’s decision to leave Ukraine? Through interviewing volunteers who work with Ukrainian refugees it was discovered that what creates a gender difference and a foundation of an advantage to a certain extent is that women are much more exposed to the danger of sexual violence and human trafficking. They also experience larger financial difficulties resulting in poverty and health complications. But it is the parenthood and the desire to protect their children that actually drives women’s decision to leave Ukraine and seek shelter in other countries, even if it means that they will be separated from their families. By creating a gender advantage, government is trying to rescue children and future generations. They cannot leave alone because someone has to take care of them, and it is usually a mother who would do this in Ukraine due to an existing gender order, so women gain an advantage by proxy, while an actual advantage is given to children.

This thesis explores the roles of women of faith in peacebuilding in the conflict between the Gusii and Maasai of South-western Kenya. While religion has at times legitimated women’s exclusion and predominantly created male religious elite figures in peacebuilding, I demonstrate how women of faith deploy religious resources for peace. Acting within complex unequal gendered socio-cultural conditions and positions, the women of faith deploy religious faith as an identity, motivation, and legitimating moral authority and voice in peacebuilding. Gendered barriers hinder them from finding status and a place in formal peacebuilding mechanisms alongside males, but still the women of faith struggle and develop an attitude and disposition of moral influence, and faith power that facilitates them to act as agents in peacebuilding. The women of faith deploy religious resources in mourning and burial rituals of healing and reconciliation, in everyday spiritual practices of sharing lives, and through services that provide security and protection especially for children, the elderly, the injured and the infirm. Religion enables women to establish protective infrastructure through women of faith networks and organizations that provide services to the community, mobilize human capital, and conduct outreach and community engagement. I show that even as the women of faith deploy these religious resources for peacebuilding, they recognize the gendered barriers they are faced with and the public peacebuilding mechanisms that they are excluded from. Deployment of religious resources for peacebuilding intersects with gender identities and relations, and in some instances religious faith transcends established gender norms and gendered barriers or even removes them.

Bakgrund: Alla människor i alla åldrar har rätt till att uppnå god hälsa och välbefinnande. Sexualitet beskrivs som en central aspekt för kvinnor i klimakteriet då god sexuell hälsa kan öka kvinnors livskvalité. Dock är det vanligt med menopausala symtom och sexuell dysfunktion bland kvinnor under och efter klimakteriet vilket har en negativ inverkan på kvinnornas sexualitet och sexuella välbefinnande. För att säkerställa hälsosamma liv och främja välbefinnande för dessa kvinnor behövs tillgång till en god sexuell hälsovård. Syfte: Syftet med denna metasyntes var att undersöka hur kvinnor upplever sin sexualitet under och efter klimakteriet. Metod: Kvalitativ metasyntes med en meta-etnografisk analysmetod. Databaser som inkluderats var CINAHL, PsycInfo, PubMed och Web of science. Efter kvalitetsgranskning återstod 13 artiklar som representerar metasyntesens resultat. Resultat: Fyra huvudteman har identifierats, Lust, Kroppsbildens förändring och betydelse, Yttre faktorer och ”Job as a wife”. I resultatet har även sju underteman identifierats, Symtom, Lustens transition, Acceptans, Strategier och kommunikation, Intimitet, Information och Adaptation. Slutsats: Metasyntesens resultat visade att klimakteriet medförde förändringar som ofta hade inverkan på kvinnors upplevelse av deras kroppsbild och sexuella lust. Till följd av minskad lust undvek kvinnor sexuella aktiviteter vilket hade en negativ inverkan på deras välbefinnande och relationer. Yttre faktorer påverkade även kvinnornas sexualitet. Partnerns roll och handlingar påverkade kvinnornas upplevelse av sin sexualitet vilket medförde att kvinnan adapterade sina sexuella behov efter partnerns behov och funktion. Klinisk tillämpbarhet: Resultaten av metasyntesen kan framför allt användas av barnmorskor men även av annan vårdpersonal för att öka kunskapen om hur kvinnor upplever sin sexualitet under och efter klimakteriet för att bättre kunna bemöta och tillhandahålla med information till dessa kvinnor. Förslagsvis kan barnmorskan göra det möjligt för kvinnor att mötas för diskussion och lyfta fram frågor, erfarenheter och upplevelser rörande sexualitet och sexuell hälsa. / Backgound: All people of all ages have the right to achieve good health and well-being. Sexuality is described as a central aspect for women during menopause as good sexual health can increase women's quality of life. However, menopausal symptoms and sexual dysfunction are common among women during and after menopause, which have negative impact on women's sexuality and sexual well-being. To ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for these women, access to good sexual health care is needed. Aim: The purpose of this metasynthesis was to investigate how women experience their sexuality during and after menopause. Method: Qualitative metasynthesis with a meta-ethnographic analysis method. Databases included were CINAHL, PsycInfo, PubMed och Web of science. After quality review, 13 articles remained to represent the results of the metasynthesis. Result: Four main themes have been identified, Lust, Change in body image and its significance, External factors and "Job as a wife". The result also identified seven sub-themes, Symptoms, Transition of Lust, Acceptance, Strategies and Communication, Intimacy, Information and Adaptation. Conclusion: The results of the meta-synthesis showed that menopause brought changes that had an impact on women's experience of their body image and sexual desire. As a result of decreased desire, women avoided sexual activities, which had a negative impact on their well-being and relationships. External factors also affected women's sexuality. The partner's role and actions influenced the women's experience of their sexuality, which meant that the woman often adapted her sexual needs to the partner's needs and function. Clinical implications: The results of the metasynthesis can primarily be used by midwives but also by other healthcare professionals to increase knowledge about how women experience their sexuality during and after menopause in order to better respond and provide information to these women. As a suggestion, the midwife can make it possible for women to meet for discussion and highlight questions and experiences concerning sexuality and sexual health.

Bakgrund Missfall drabbar ca 20% av alla kvinnor med bekräftade graviditeter i Sverige. Den vanligaste orsaken till missfall är kromosomavvikelser hos fostret. Riskfaktorer för missfall är bland annat om kvinnan har diabetes mellitus eller en sköldkörtelsjukdom som inte är medicinskt välinställd. Även livsstilsrelaterade riskfaktorer föreligger. Vid missfall kan kvinnan uppleva en känsla av att sakna kontroll och hjälplöshet. Ett missfall kan upplevas traumatiskt och förlusten kan påverka kvinnan under en längre tid. Viktiga omvårdnadsåtgärder som lyfts upp är information om vem kvinnan kan kontakta och allmän information, samt även att vara lyhörd som sjuksköterska. Syfte Syftet var att belysa kvinnors upplevelse av omvårdnad vid missfall.​ Metod En litteraturöversikt som inkluderat 7 kvalitativa artiklar samt 3 artiklar med mixad metod. Litteratursökningen genomfördes i databaserna Cinahl complete och PubMed. Resultat Resultatet presenteras i tre huvudteman: Vårdmiljön skapar oro och ovisshet, Vikten av omvårdnadsinformatik och Vikten av psykosocialt stöd. Resultatet visar bland annat på att kvinnor upplevde att väntan på svar kring diagnostiseringen av missfallet skapade ångest och oro, medan snabb hantering och behandling värdesattes. Även en bristande medkänsla från sjuksköterskor i samband med missfall framkom och bristande information kring missfall samt att många kvinnor kände att de lämnades frågandes efter ett missfall. Slutsats Trots vissa positiva upplevelser av omvårdnad vid missfall, såsom tydlig information och emotionellt stöd från sjuksköterskor, var de negativa upplevelserna övervägande. Kvinnor upplevde en otrygg vårdmiljö, bristande bemötande och bristande information. Kvinnor efterfrågade mer information samt tydlig och direkt kommunikation samt uppföljning. Den känslomässiga hanteringen av förlusten upplevdes lättare om sjukvårdspersonal hade ett bemötande med medkänsla då det upplevdes som tröstande. / Background Miscarriage affetcs around 20% of all women with confirmed pregnancies in Sweden. The most common cause of miscarriage is chromosomal abnormalities in the fetus. Various diseases can consitute risk factors, such as diabetes mellitus or thyroid disease that’s not medicaly well-controlled. Lifestyle-related risk factors also exist. During a miscarriage, the women can experience a sense of lacking control and helplessness. A miscarriage can be perceived as traumatic and the loss can impact the woman for an extended period. Essential nursing measures that were highlighted include providing information about who the women can contact and general information. Additionally, being attentive as a nurse is important. Aim The aim was to enlighten women’s experience of nursing care in the context of miscarriage. Method A literature review including 7 qualitative atricles and 3 articles with mixed method. The literature search was conducted in the databases Cinahl complete and PubMed. Results The results are presented in three main themes: The healthcare environment creates anxiety and uncertainty, The importance of nursing informatics and The importance of psychosocial support. The findings indicated, among other things, that women experience anxiety and worry during the wait for diagnostic results of the miscarriage, quick handling and treatment was valued. A lack of compassion from nurses in connection with miscarriage was evident, leaving many women with unanswered questions after a miscarriage.​ Conclusions Despite some positive experiences of care during miscarriage, such as clear information and emotional support from nurses, the negative experiences were dominant. Women perceived an insecure care environment, inadequate treatment och lack of information. Women sought more information as well as clear and direct communication and follow-up. The emotional handling of the loss was perceived easier if the nurses approached it with compassion, as it was found to be comforting.

This study aims to research the progress and evolution of the Swedish medical discourse regarding childbed fever. Several texts that are considered to be part of said discourse have been chosen, the earliest being Dr. Joseph Elliot's book regarding childbed fever from 1844 and the latest being two articles from the Swedish midwifery and women's health journal Jordemodern from 1903. During this time several discoveries on the subject of hygiene and antiseptics took place in Europe, leading to a quick development in the medical field eventually making its way to Sweden. This knowledge led to a hypothesis that the definition, belived causes and desirable measures taken to control the outbreaks of childbed fever, would change from 1844 to 1903.  By analyzing these sources through a genus theoretical framework a change was indeed found. The disease was originally belived to be airborne and none of the taken measures had any effect. By 1903 the germ theory had arrived and settled in the Swedish medical discourse and it became widely known that the disease was transmitted from doctors and midwifes to the patient by contact and appropriate measures could be taken.  Lastly the studiy aims to present a viable way to use this information in a classroom situation related to the syllabus for both primary and upper secondary school.

Bakgrund: Graviditet och förlossning innebär en fysisk och mental påfrestning. Efter förlossning kan det vara svårt att återgå till den nivå av fysisk aktivitet som innan en graviditet. Med fluktuerande hormoner visar att vissa kvinnor kan vara mer utsatt för upplevd stress och ångest vilket kan leda till depression. Det finns ej några nationella riktlinjer för fysisk aktivitet och träning postpartum. Det finns endast ett fåtal studier som studerar sambandet mellan fysisk aktivitetsnivå och stress hos kvinnor postpartum.  Syfte: Syftet är att undersöka fysisk aktivitet och upplevd stress, samt sambandet mellan fysisk aktivitet och upplevd stress hos kvinnor i Sverige 3 – 6 månader efter vaginal förlossning.  Metod: En korrelerande och deskriptiv kvantitativ icke experimentell design användes i denna tvärsnittsstudie. Urvalet skedde via riktade svenska Facebookgrupper och självskattningsenkäter rörande fysisk aktivitetsnivå (Socialstyrelsens indikatorfrågor om fysisk aktivitet) och upplevd stress (The Perceived stress scale - 10) samlades in vid ett tillfälle från 26 kvinnor. Totalt 19 enkäter användes i undersökningen. Resultat: Studiedeltagarna skattade sin vardagsmotion till 225 minuter/vecka (IQR = 180), sin fysiska träning till 15 min/vecka (IQR = 75), samt totala aktivitetsminuter till 300 minuter/vecka (IQR = 225). Den upplevda stressnivån skattades till 16 (IQR = 10). En svag, icke signifikant negativ korrelation förelåg mellan totala aktivitetsminuter och upplevd stress (r = -0,25).  Slutsats: Denna studie är den enda studien som studerat samband mellan fysisk aktivitetsnivå och stress hos kvinnor 3–6 månader postpartum. Ingen korrelation förelåg men kvinnorna hade en relativt hög fysisk aktivitetsnivå totalt. Undersökningen har gjorts på en liten grupp individer på 19 personer och därför är slutsatser svåra att dra. / Background: Pregnancy and childbirth involve physical and mental strain. After giving birth, it can be difficult to return to the level of physical activity within a pregnancy. Having fluctuating hormones shows that some women may be more vulnerable to perceived stress and anxiety which can lead to depression. There are no national guidelines for physical activity and exercise postpartum. Only few studies study the relationship between physical activity level and stress in postpartum women. Objective: The aim is to investigate physical activity and perceived stress, as well as the relationship between physical activity and perceived stress in women in Sweden 3 – 6 months after giving vaginal birth. Method: A correlational and descriptive quantitative non-experimental design was used in this cross-sectional study. The selection took place via targeted Swedish Facebook groups and self-assessment questionnaires regarding physical activity level (The National Board of Health and Welfare's indicator questions on physical activity) and perceived stress (The Perceived stress scale-10) were collected on one occasion from 26 women. A total of 19 questionnaires were used in the survey. Results: The study participants estimated their daily exercise to be 225 minutes/week (IQR = 180), their physical training to be 15 minutes/week (IQR = 75), and a total activity level to 300 minutes/week (IQR = 225). The perceived stress level was estimated at 16 (IQR = 10). A weak, non-significant negative correlation existed between total activity minutes and perceived stress (r = -0.25). Conclusion: This study is the only study that studied the relationship between physical activity level and stress in women 3–6 months postpartum. There was no correlation, but the women had a relatively high level of physical activity overall. The study has been done on a small group of individuals of 19 people, which is why conclusions are difficult to draw.

This qualitative case study focuses on the development of women’s political representation in national legislation, from 2000 to 2021 in Mexico. To examine the development of women’s political representation, this study will use Hanna Pitkin’s (1967) four interconnected diminutions of representation: formal, descriptive, substantive, and symbolic representation. The result of this study has revealed a predominantly positive development trends in Mexican women’s political representation in the Congress of the Union, from 2000 to 2021 in terms of formal, descriptive, substantive representation. While the implantation of a gender quota system has had an overall positive impact, the unwavering scepticism and lack of trust of the democratic and representative political institutions, among women is still persistent.

There is a growing recognition that community-based organizations (CBOs) show greater success than other development organizations in promoting empowerment. It has also been acknowledged that information and communication technology (ICT) can be a powerful tool for development. In pursuit of empowerment of women, there is an interest to further study CBOs and ICT, and how they can be combined to take further steps forward. The purpose of this thesis is to investigate how mobile phones can be utilized in women's community-based organizations to promote empowerment, conducted as a case study on a women's CBO in Bangalore, India. The study shows that the main organizational characteristics that promote empowerment in CBOs are the participatory approach and the fostering of sense of community. Mobile phones constitute a valuable tool for enhancing these characteristics. However, the study also shows that the digital gender divide and ICT related risks that women face also have organizational implications that have to be considered by CBOs when utilizing ICT.