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School of Built Environment and Development Studies

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Browsing School of Built Environment and Development Studies by SDG "SDG5"

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    An analysis of the links between poverty and gender at Vedriet farm in KwaZulu-Natal province.
    (2022) Emmanuel, Thamsanqa Mncube.; Matse, Muzi Patrick.
    This study aimed to describe the relationship between poverty and gender inequality. The study also sought to understand how gender inequality promotes poverty and to determine prevalent incidences linked to poverty and gender inequality. The study employed a qualitative research methodology in the form of semi-structured interviews and focus groups. Purposive sampling was used to select 16 participants who met the minimum of four of the five criteria. Using Structural functionalism theory to conduct the study, the main findings revealed that females are at greater risk of poverty because of the social construct of gender. The literature reviewed confirmed that gender inequality is a major threat to poverty reduction. The study further revealed that younger and older women do not agree over challenging patriarchal practices in the community. Moreover, the study further revealed that the social construct of gender affects women negatively and harms men and boys who are regarded weak when they advocate for equal rights and opportunities. As a result, social restrictions discourage men and boys from deviation from traditional expectations. In addition, patriarchal practices and beliefs allow too much freedom to boys than girls. The practical implications of the findings are that poverty and gender inequality interventions need to concentrate on gender-related poverty differentials and consider access level to and control over resources at the initial stage. Moreover, analysis of gender relations and gender impact assessment must be a prerequisite for successfully implementing any poverty alleviation programmes, policies, and projects.
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    Assessing the impact of community structures in protecting forced migrant women in inner city Durban.
    (2021) Maliti, Tamasha Nyambura.; Tshishonga, Ndwakhulu Stephen.
    Forced migration has become a global crisis, with half of those being women. Forced migrant women are the most vulnerable in situations of displacement and resettling in host countries. Community structures, however, can play important roles in protecting, integrating and providing women with support in their host country. The purpose of this study is to assess the roles and impact of existing community structures in protecting and integrating forced migrant women in the inner city of Durban, South Africa. This study uses social capital and social networks as a theoretical framework to understand the role of community structures in the protection and integration of forced migrant women. The study used a qualitative approach, with in-depth interviews with 12 women who were forced migrants. Participants were recruited through purposive sampling through a local non-governmental organization working with refugees. Data were thematically analysed with respect to the study’s objectives. Results showed community structures played two main roles, first, in offering short-term assistance such as, short-term accommodation, food and medical attention to women. Second, in providing longer - term assistance, in the form of spiritual support, connection to work opportunities and reuniting families. Women’s bonding and bridging social capital were important for them in accessing a wider range of opportunities via community structures and in establishing close-knit social networks such as support groups and savings clubs. Community structures also hindered migrant women’s integration and protection, specifically, around women’s experiences of sexual and gender based violence and intimate partner violence, community structures reinforced traditional gender roles, and they had limited resources to support women. Issues of mistrust also impeded the women from accessing needed assistance from wider social networks in the city. As a result, some women remained isolated and not adequately protected, hindering their integration and access to support systems. This study suggests that strategies to improve forced migrant women’s integration and protection could include creating safe spaces for women. In addition, working with and building the existing community structures’ capacity can help develop better responses to the needs of women.
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    Perspectives and experiences of pregnancy among three generations of women in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal.
    (2023) Blose, Thobeka S'Busisiwe.; Maharaj, Pranitha.
    For the past few decades, there has been numerous studies done on pregnancy and factors that influence pregnancy. The rise in pregnancy among young people has led to an increasing concern as to what is the cause of it. Women across all generations have different perspectives and experiences of pregnancy outcomes. There might be an unwavering concern as to if mothers from across the three generations investigated influence their daughter’s outcome and perspectives of pregnancy. However, mothers have the minimal influence of their daughter’s pregnancy outcomes. This study aims to explore the influence of three generations namely grandmothers, mothers and daughters on pregnancy outcomes. All women were living in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. Telephonic in-depth interviews were held with fifteen women, five from each generation. The interviews suggest that mothers do not solely influence their daughter’s pregnancy outcomes, but there are others factors such socio-economic factors which contribute to the pregnancy outcome. Additionally, the findings demonstrated that sex education remains taboo in most families. The findings also shed light on how unplanned pregnancies are caused by a lack of understanding, stigma, and knowledge about contraception. The study suggests that the intendedness of pregnancy must be revised from a more multidimensional and structural perspective in light of shifting demographics, community norms regarding sex, marriage, and contraception, as well as advancements in social research.
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    Unpacking the social constructions of motherhood: exploring mother presence among young African women=Ukuthukululwa kwezincazelo zomphakathi ngobumama: Ukuhlola ubukhona bukamama kwabesifazane abasebasha bama-Afrika.
    (2022) Majola, Thobelani Nompilo.; Maharaj, Pranitha.
    The experience of pregnancy and childbirth are life changing for women. In most African societies, childcare is often a woman’s responsibility. The motherhood journey of a young woman may be significantly impacted by the presence and/or absence of a biological mother. The presence of a biological mother is regarded as important in all stages of development, particularly for female children. However, mothers are absent for a number of reasons including their death. The absence of a biological mother exposes children to various challenges, including poverty, poor educational attainments and health issues. A growing body of research in South Africa has focused on father absence; however, few has explored mother absence and the implications this has on children. Therefore, this study aimed to unpack the meaning of motherhood as socially constructed by young African women in a township of KwaZulu-Natal province. The study sought to explore the perspectives and experiences of young women, taking into consideration the presence and/or absence of a biological mother. A qualitative research methodology was employed and data was obtained through telephonic interviews with 20 young women who grew up living with the presence of their biological mothers as well as 20 young women who grew up in the absence of their biological mothers. Young women were recruited using purposive and snowball sampling. The findings of the study suggest that the presence of a biological mother was significant for women who fell pregnant at a young age. Even though grandmothers and extended family members were actively supporting young women who had absent mothers, the presence of a biological mother was deemed essential for women. The transition from girlhood to motherhood was accompanied by numerous implications for young women. Financial challenges stemming from unemployment, poor economic backgrounds and father absence affected young mothers. This negatively impacted education and career aspiration of certain young women. The study recommends the involvement of families, government and private stakeholders in supporting young mothers. This can be achieved by enhancing family support programmes within communities. Furthermore, the promotion of Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) is deemed important for the reduction of high rates of unemployment among young women in South Africa. Iqoqa Isimo sokukhulelwa kanye nokubeletha siyayiguqula impilo yabesifazane. Emiphakathini eminingi yase-Afrika kungumsebenzi womuntu wesifazane ukunakekela izingane. Uhambo lobumama oluhanjwa ngumuntu wesifazane osemusha lungachapazeleka kakhulu ngokuba khona noma ukungabikho kukamama omzalayo. Ukuba khona kukamama omzalayo kuthathwa njengento ebalulekile kuwo onke amabanga okukhula, ikakhulukazi ezinganeni zamantombazana. Nokho-ke, kuyenzeka omama bangabikho ngezizathu ezahlukene okungabalwa kuzo ukushona kwabo. Ukungabikho kukamama omzalayo kuletha izinselelo eziningi kubantwana. Kungabalwa kuzo ububha, izinkinga zokungasebenzi kahle esikoleni, kanye nezinkinga zezempilo. Ucwaningo oluningi eNingizimu Afrika lugxile kakhulu kobaba abanyamalele; kodwa-ke lumbalwa oluhlola ukungabikho kukamama kanye nemithelela yalokhu kubantwana. Ngakho-ke, lolu cwaningo luhlose ukuphenya ukuthi buchaza ukuthini ubumama ngokwendlela abazibona ngayo abesifazane abasebasha bama-Afrika elokishini lasesifundazweni saKwaZulu-Natali. Ucwaningo lwalufuna ukuhlola izindlelakubuka zabantu besifazane abasebasha kanye nendlela impilo yabo engayo uma kubhekwa ukuba khona nokungabikho kukamama omzalayo. Kwasetshenziswa indlelakwenza eyikhwalithethivu kwazise ukuthi imininingo yatholakala ngezingxoxo ezenziwa ngezingcingo kubuzwa imibuzo kwabesifazane abasebasha abangama-20 abakhula behlala nomama ababazalayo, kanye nabangama-20 abakhula bengekho omama ababazalayo. Kwaqoqwa abesifazane abasebasha ngenhloso kanye nangokuqoka okunikezelanayo. Imiphumela yalolu cwaningo ikhombisa ukuthi kubaluleke kakhulu ukuba khona kukamama omzalayo uma abesifazane bekhulelwa besebancane. Yize ogogo kanye namanye amalunga omndeni ayekhona ukusiza abesifazane abasebasha omama babo ababengekho, ukuba khona kukamama omzalayo kuyinto ethathwa njengebalulekile nedingekayo. Ukudlulela ebangeni lobumama usuka ebuntombazaneni kuhambisana nemithelela eminingi kubantu besifazane abasebasha. Izinkinga zezimali ezibangelwa ukungabikho kwemisebenzi, amakhaya ahluphekayo, kanye nokungabikho kobaba, kuyabathikameza omama abasebancane. Kuthikameza nemfundo kanye nezifiso zabathile abesifazane abasebasha. Ucwaningo luphakamisa ukuthi imindeni, uhulumeni kanye nabanye abantu abathintekayo ukuba baxhase omama abasebasha. Lokhu kungenzeka ngokukhuthaza emiphakathini izinhlelo zokuxhasa imindeni. Okunye futhi, ukuthuthukiswa kwamabhizinisi amancane aziwa ngeSmall, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) kubalulekile ekuncishisweni kwamazinga aphezulu okuntuleka kwemisebenzi kubantu besifazane abasebasha eNingizimu Afrika.