A Feminist Analysis of Lyman Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Lucy Maud Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables and Frances Hodgson Burnett’s The Secret Garden
- Authors: Becker, Bonnie
- Date: 2013-01
- Subjects: Fiction , Children , Orphans
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/23214 , vital:55905
- Description: The primary aim of this project is to provide a close contextual and textual analysis of the selected children’s classics: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Anne of Green Gables and The Secret Garden using the feminist literary theory. From this perspective I have shown how the selected works of Lyman Frank Baum, Lucy Maud Montgomery and Frances Hodgson Burnett’s writing have contributed to women’s stereotypical roles within society and perpetuated their subjugated position. I have also conducted an examination of the extent to which the female protagonists attempt to emancipate themselves from gender oppression. A comparative study of the selected children’s texts has not yet been conducted and therefore this project serves as a significant contribution to this field of study. An exploration of the historical background of the authors and children’s literature is conducted to provide an overview into the inner workings of the writers’ lives and the historical significance of children’s literature as a genre. The theoretical framework of feminist literary theory is used in the analysis of the selected texts. The connection between feminist literary theory and children’s literature is highlighted and provides further understanding of the purpose of this study. The history of feminism as both a movement and a contemporary literary criticism is explored. Simone de Beauvoir’s The Second Sex is used when analysing the texts’ characters and how they are based on society’s stereotypical gender roles. Luce Irigaray’s Speculum of the Other Woman and This Sex Which is Not One is examined to aid in an exploration of psychological female oppression through feminine and masculine discourse evident in the creation of the novels’ female and male characters. Hélène Cixous’ “The Laugh of the Medusa” and The Newly Born Woman is interrogated according to the stereotypical ideology surrounding the terms masculinity and femininity and how these terms are interpreted in the selected works. Judith Butler’s Gender Trouble and Undoing Gender are additionally explored to assist in the understanding of the concept of gender performativity and through the lens of Butler’s interpolation of gender the move towards the emancipation of women is seen in the selected children’s texts. The close textual feminist analysis focuses on the female protagonists: Dorothy, Anne and Mary as well as the secondary female characters: the wicked witches, Aunt Em, the Queen of the Field-Mice, the princess made from china, Glinda’s female soldiers from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz; Marilla Cuthbert, Rachel Lynde and Diana Barry from Anne of Green Gables and Martha, Mrs Sowerby and Mrs Craven from The Secret Garden. The portrayal of the secondary male characters are additionally explored according to feminist literary theory: The Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, the Lion and the wizard Oz from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz; Matthew Cuthbert and Gilbert Blythe from Anne of the Green Gables’ and Mr Craven, Colin Craven and Dickon Sowerby from The Secret Garden. The comparison of these children’s classics by Baum, Montgomery and Burnett provides insight into the selected works of all three writers, through the lens offered by feminist literary theory. Through the interrogation of these representative female protagonists found in early children’s literature, an understanding of not only the subordination of women, as evident in literature during this era, is illustrated but also the comprehension that women’s liberation was foreshadowed in these early children’s novels. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2013
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013-01
- Authors: Becker, Bonnie
- Date: 2013-01
- Subjects: Fiction , Children , Orphans
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/23214 , vital:55905
- Description: The primary aim of this project is to provide a close contextual and textual analysis of the selected children’s classics: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Anne of Green Gables and The Secret Garden using the feminist literary theory. From this perspective I have shown how the selected works of Lyman Frank Baum, Lucy Maud Montgomery and Frances Hodgson Burnett’s writing have contributed to women’s stereotypical roles within society and perpetuated their subjugated position. I have also conducted an examination of the extent to which the female protagonists attempt to emancipate themselves from gender oppression. A comparative study of the selected children’s texts has not yet been conducted and therefore this project serves as a significant contribution to this field of study. An exploration of the historical background of the authors and children’s literature is conducted to provide an overview into the inner workings of the writers’ lives and the historical significance of children’s literature as a genre. The theoretical framework of feminist literary theory is used in the analysis of the selected texts. The connection between feminist literary theory and children’s literature is highlighted and provides further understanding of the purpose of this study. The history of feminism as both a movement and a contemporary literary criticism is explored. Simone de Beauvoir’s The Second Sex is used when analysing the texts’ characters and how they are based on society’s stereotypical gender roles. Luce Irigaray’s Speculum of the Other Woman and This Sex Which is Not One is examined to aid in an exploration of psychological female oppression through feminine and masculine discourse evident in the creation of the novels’ female and male characters. Hélène Cixous’ “The Laugh of the Medusa” and The Newly Born Woman is interrogated according to the stereotypical ideology surrounding the terms masculinity and femininity and how these terms are interpreted in the selected works. Judith Butler’s Gender Trouble and Undoing Gender are additionally explored to assist in the understanding of the concept of gender performativity and through the lens of Butler’s interpolation of gender the move towards the emancipation of women is seen in the selected children’s texts. The close textual feminist analysis focuses on the female protagonists: Dorothy, Anne and Mary as well as the secondary female characters: the wicked witches, Aunt Em, the Queen of the Field-Mice, the princess made from china, Glinda’s female soldiers from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz; Marilla Cuthbert, Rachel Lynde and Diana Barry from Anne of Green Gables and Martha, Mrs Sowerby and Mrs Craven from The Secret Garden. The portrayal of the secondary male characters are additionally explored according to feminist literary theory: The Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, the Lion and the wizard Oz from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz; Matthew Cuthbert and Gilbert Blythe from Anne of the Green Gables’ and Mr Craven, Colin Craven and Dickon Sowerby from The Secret Garden. The comparison of these children’s classics by Baum, Montgomery and Burnett provides insight into the selected works of all three writers, through the lens offered by feminist literary theory. Through the interrogation of these representative female protagonists found in early children’s literature, an understanding of not only the subordination of women, as evident in literature during this era, is illustrated but also the comprehension that women’s liberation was foreshadowed in these early children’s novels. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2013
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013-01
Children’s Grants and Social Security Communities in the Eastern Cape : The Case of Nqabarha Administrative Area
- Authors: Mwangolela, Tafadzwa Fungay
- Date: 2013-01
- Subjects: Children -- Services for -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Grants in aid , Social Security -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/23159 , vital:55664
- Description: This study examines the impact of children’s grants on household access to food, education and health care. In the face of increased poverty and socio-economic inequalities, social grants are a critical poverty alleviation intervention implemented by the government of South Africa. The children’s grants are offered as part of the social security system which is provided for in the Republic of South Africa Constitution of 1996 and the Social Assistance Act of 2004. The basic needs conceptual framework is the lens informing the focus of the study. Among other major findings, the study reveals that (a) childrens grants play a critical role in improvement of access to food, health care and education, (b) childrens grants are used as collateral, to access short term loans, and (c) social networks and home gardens play a significant role in aiding children’s grants to ensure household access to food, education and health care. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty Social Sciences and Humanities, 2013
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013-01
- Authors: Mwangolela, Tafadzwa Fungay
- Date: 2013-01
- Subjects: Children -- Services for -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Grants in aid , Social Security -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/23159 , vital:55664
- Description: This study examines the impact of children’s grants on household access to food, education and health care. In the face of increased poverty and socio-economic inequalities, social grants are a critical poverty alleviation intervention implemented by the government of South Africa. The children’s grants are offered as part of the social security system which is provided for in the Republic of South Africa Constitution of 1996 and the Social Assistance Act of 2004. The basic needs conceptual framework is the lens informing the focus of the study. Among other major findings, the study reveals that (a) childrens grants play a critical role in improvement of access to food, health care and education, (b) childrens grants are used as collateral, to access short term loans, and (c) social networks and home gardens play a significant role in aiding children’s grants to ensure household access to food, education and health care. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty Social Sciences and Humanities, 2013
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013-01
Perspectives of communities on use of alcohol among children in rural areas
- Authors: Noganta, Nandi
- Date: 2013-01
- Subjects: Children -- Alcohol use , Youth -- Alcohol use -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/25382 , vital:64234
- Description: Globalisation raises hopes that communities will become self reliant through development success and thus become an integrated whole (Offiong 2001). But the creation of global village leads to fragmentation of communities, a loss of norms and local values. This study focuses on communities of the Eastern Cape Province, exploring the nature of and extent to which children use alcohol as a consequence of cultural rituals. The researcher aims to develop a culturally sensitive psycho-social approach to address alcohol use among children. The purpose of the research was to investigate the extent to which certain cultural practices contribute towards alcohol use among children in the rural areas of the Eastern Cape Province. Thus exploring the nature and extent to which children use alcohol as a consequence of cultural rituals and to explore whether families and communities are aware of the impact of alcohol use by children in the community. The research was qualitative in nature and through semi-structured interview schedules the researcher was able to gain insight in the area of substance use amongst children in the rural areas of the Eastern Cape Province. Community members, learners from schools, educators and probation officers formed part of the research sample. The research findings suggest that community members are aware that the traditional rituals that are carried out in the rural areas have been contributing to the issue of children using alcohol. However, the community members feel challenged as they become conflicted by their traditional rituals and this impacts upon children using alcohol. , Thesis (MSoc) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2013
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013-01
- Authors: Noganta, Nandi
- Date: 2013-01
- Subjects: Children -- Alcohol use , Youth -- Alcohol use -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/25382 , vital:64234
- Description: Globalisation raises hopes that communities will become self reliant through development success and thus become an integrated whole (Offiong 2001). But the creation of global village leads to fragmentation of communities, a loss of norms and local values. This study focuses on communities of the Eastern Cape Province, exploring the nature of and extent to which children use alcohol as a consequence of cultural rituals. The researcher aims to develop a culturally sensitive psycho-social approach to address alcohol use among children. The purpose of the research was to investigate the extent to which certain cultural practices contribute towards alcohol use among children in the rural areas of the Eastern Cape Province. Thus exploring the nature and extent to which children use alcohol as a consequence of cultural rituals and to explore whether families and communities are aware of the impact of alcohol use by children in the community. The research was qualitative in nature and through semi-structured interview schedules the researcher was able to gain insight in the area of substance use amongst children in the rural areas of the Eastern Cape Province. Community members, learners from schools, educators and probation officers formed part of the research sample. The research findings suggest that community members are aware that the traditional rituals that are carried out in the rural areas have been contributing to the issue of children using alcohol. However, the community members feel challenged as they become conflicted by their traditional rituals and this impacts upon children using alcohol. , Thesis (MSoc) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2013
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013-01
Perspectives of communities on use of alcohol among children in rural areas
- Noganta, Nandi https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7115-3261
- Authors: Noganta, Nandi https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7115-3261
- Date: 2013-01
- Subjects: Alcohol use , Substance abuse , Children
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/23192 , vital:55893
- Description: Globalisation raises hopes that communities will become self reliant through development success and thus become an integrated whole (Offiong 2001). But the creation of global village leads to fragmentation of communities, a loss of norms and local values. This study focuses on communities of the Eastern Cape Province, exploring the nature of and extent to which children use alcohol as a consequence of cultural rituals. The researcher aims to develop a culturally sensitive psycho-social approach to address alcohol use among children. The purpose of the research was to investigate the extent to which certain cultural practices contribute towards alcohol use among children in the rural areas of the Eastern Cape Province. Thus exploring the nature and extent to which children use alcohol as a consequence of cultural rituals and to explore whether families and communities are aware of the impact of alcohol use by children in the community. The research was qualitative in nature and through semi-structured interview schedules the researcher was able to gain insight in the area of substance use amongst children in the rural areas of the Eastern Cape Province. Community members, learners from schools, educators and probation officers formed part of the research sample. The research findings suggest that community members are aware that the traditional rituals that are carried out in the rural areas have been contributing to the issue of children using alcohol. However, the community members feel challenged as they become conflicted by their traditional rituals and this impacts upon children using alcohol. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2013
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013-01
- Authors: Noganta, Nandi https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7115-3261
- Date: 2013-01
- Subjects: Alcohol use , Substance abuse , Children
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/23192 , vital:55893
- Description: Globalisation raises hopes that communities will become self reliant through development success and thus become an integrated whole (Offiong 2001). But the creation of global village leads to fragmentation of communities, a loss of norms and local values. This study focuses on communities of the Eastern Cape Province, exploring the nature of and extent to which children use alcohol as a consequence of cultural rituals. The researcher aims to develop a culturally sensitive psycho-social approach to address alcohol use among children. The purpose of the research was to investigate the extent to which certain cultural practices contribute towards alcohol use among children in the rural areas of the Eastern Cape Province. Thus exploring the nature and extent to which children use alcohol as a consequence of cultural rituals and to explore whether families and communities are aware of the impact of alcohol use by children in the community. The research was qualitative in nature and through semi-structured interview schedules the researcher was able to gain insight in the area of substance use amongst children in the rural areas of the Eastern Cape Province. Community members, learners from schools, educators and probation officers formed part of the research sample. The research findings suggest that community members are aware that the traditional rituals that are carried out in the rural areas have been contributing to the issue of children using alcohol. However, the community members feel challenged as they become conflicted by their traditional rituals and this impacts upon children using alcohol. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2013
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013-01
Pregnant teenagers' readiness for motherhood: a quantitative investigation in Nkonkobe Municipality, Eastern Cape
- Authors: Pitso, Tsolo Joseph
- Date: 2013-01
- Subjects: Teenage mothers -- South Africa , Teenage pregnancy -- South Africa , Motherhood -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/27440 , vital:67298
- Description: The issue of teenage motherhood has been a concern, globally, continentally and locally. The quantitative study assessed whether the pregnant teenagers were ready for motherhood. This report analysed the current positions of women whose first child was to be born when they were teenagers in the rural Eastern Cape setting. The structured questionnaires were given to 106 pregnant teenagers who visited the War Memorial clinic for pregnancy check-up and convenient sampling was used to select these respondents. The items of the questionnaire were divided into the following sub-topics: prenatal and postnatal challenges and roles and responsibilities of motherhood. The study found that most of the pregnant teenagers were aware of the prenatal and postnatal challenges but they were not ready to perform the roles and responsibilities associated with motherhood. The analysis of data was divided in terms of descriptive and inferential statistics. The binary regression model was used to assess the factors affecting the pregnant teenagers’ readiness for motherhood. The finding of this study indicated that most (about 79%) of the pregnant teenagers were not aware of the roles and responsibilities of motherhood In addition to being not ready to face the psycho-social challenges of motherhood. Hence they indicated low level of readiness to motherhood. The psycho-social theory of Erikson posited that children who had strong and intact psycho-social relationships with the caregivers might have a high possibility of acquiring their identity during adolescent stage and this will help them to interact both effectively and efficiently with their peers and the society at large. While those do had negative psycho-social development have a high chance of facing identity crisis/confusion. As a result, they might lead them to being victims of psycho-social interaction such as early pregnancy. , Thesis (MSoc) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2013
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013-01
- Authors: Pitso, Tsolo Joseph
- Date: 2013-01
- Subjects: Teenage mothers -- South Africa , Teenage pregnancy -- South Africa , Motherhood -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/27440 , vital:67298
- Description: The issue of teenage motherhood has been a concern, globally, continentally and locally. The quantitative study assessed whether the pregnant teenagers were ready for motherhood. This report analysed the current positions of women whose first child was to be born when they were teenagers in the rural Eastern Cape setting. The structured questionnaires were given to 106 pregnant teenagers who visited the War Memorial clinic for pregnancy check-up and convenient sampling was used to select these respondents. The items of the questionnaire were divided into the following sub-topics: prenatal and postnatal challenges and roles and responsibilities of motherhood. The study found that most of the pregnant teenagers were aware of the prenatal and postnatal challenges but they were not ready to perform the roles and responsibilities associated with motherhood. The analysis of data was divided in terms of descriptive and inferential statistics. The binary regression model was used to assess the factors affecting the pregnant teenagers’ readiness for motherhood. The finding of this study indicated that most (about 79%) of the pregnant teenagers were not aware of the roles and responsibilities of motherhood In addition to being not ready to face the psycho-social challenges of motherhood. Hence they indicated low level of readiness to motherhood. The psycho-social theory of Erikson posited that children who had strong and intact psycho-social relationships with the caregivers might have a high possibility of acquiring their identity during adolescent stage and this will help them to interact both effectively and efficiently with their peers and the society at large. While those do had negative psycho-social development have a high chance of facing identity crisis/confusion. As a result, they might lead them to being victims of psycho-social interaction such as early pregnancy. , Thesis (MSoc) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2013
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013-01
Pregnant teenagers’ readiness for motherhood:A quantitative investigation in Nkonkobe Municipality, Eastern Cape
- Authors: Pitso, Tsolo Joseph
- Date: 2013-01
- Subjects: Teenage Mothers , Teenage Pregnancy
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/23142 , vital:55652
- Description: The issue of teenage motherhood has been a concern, globally, continentally and locally. The quantitative study assessed whether the pregnant teenagers were ready for motherhood. This report analysed the current positions of women whose first child was to be born when they were teenagers in the rural Eastern Cape setting. The structured questionnaires were given to 106 pregnant teenagers who visited the War Memorial clinic for pregnancy check-up and convenient sampling was used to select these respondents. The items of the questionnaire were divided into the following sub-topics: prenatal and postnatal challenges and roles and responsibilities of motherhood. The study found that most of the pregnant teenagers were aware of the prenatal and postnatal challenges but they were not ready to perform the roles and responsibilities associated with motherhood. The analysis of data was divided in terms of descriptive and inferential statistics. The binary regression model was used to assess the factors affecting the pregnant teenagers’ readiness for motherhood. The finding of this study indicated that most (about 79 percent) of the pregnant teenagers were not aware of the roles and responsibilities of motherhood In addition to being not ready to face the psycho-social challenges of motherhood. Hence they indicated low level of readiness to motherhood. The psycho-social theory of Erikson posited that children who had strong and intact psycho-social relationships with the caregivers might have a high possibility of acquiring their identity during adolescent stage and this will help them to interact both effectively and efficiently with their peers and the society at large. While those do had negative psycho-social development have a high chance of facing identity crisis/confusion. As a result, they might lead them to being victims of psycho-social interaction such as early pregnancy. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013-01
- Authors: Pitso, Tsolo Joseph
- Date: 2013-01
- Subjects: Teenage Mothers , Teenage Pregnancy
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/23142 , vital:55652
- Description: The issue of teenage motherhood has been a concern, globally, continentally and locally. The quantitative study assessed whether the pregnant teenagers were ready for motherhood. This report analysed the current positions of women whose first child was to be born when they were teenagers in the rural Eastern Cape setting. The structured questionnaires were given to 106 pregnant teenagers who visited the War Memorial clinic for pregnancy check-up and convenient sampling was used to select these respondents. The items of the questionnaire were divided into the following sub-topics: prenatal and postnatal challenges and roles and responsibilities of motherhood. The study found that most of the pregnant teenagers were aware of the prenatal and postnatal challenges but they were not ready to perform the roles and responsibilities associated with motherhood. The analysis of data was divided in terms of descriptive and inferential statistics. The binary regression model was used to assess the factors affecting the pregnant teenagers’ readiness for motherhood. The finding of this study indicated that most (about 79 percent) of the pregnant teenagers were not aware of the roles and responsibilities of motherhood In addition to being not ready to face the psycho-social challenges of motherhood. Hence they indicated low level of readiness to motherhood. The psycho-social theory of Erikson posited that children who had strong and intact psycho-social relationships with the caregivers might have a high possibility of acquiring their identity during adolescent stage and this will help them to interact both effectively and efficiently with their peers and the society at large. While those do had negative psycho-social development have a high chance of facing identity crisis/confusion. As a result, they might lead them to being victims of psycho-social interaction such as early pregnancy. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013-01
The impact of beliefs and values on agricultural change: a case of Murombedzi Irrigation Scheme, Zimbabwe
- Authors: Nyika, Emery
- Date: 2013-01
- Subjects: Agriculture -- Environmental aspects , Farms, Small , Agricultural productivity
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/25698 , vital:64469
- Description: Since the mid 1970s there has been an increasing effort to raise the level of adoption of agricultural innovations in small-scale farming for improved production. NGOs and governments have engaged in a participatory approach not only to empower local people, but also to give them an opportunity to learn, access, and utilize innovations that have been introduced in the agriculture sector. However due to several factors small-scale farmers in Zimbabwe have failed to fully adopt these changes that would enhance their farming activities. Most of these farmers have rather preferred maintaining and practising their preliterate farming methods. Like most irrigation schemes Murombedzi Irrigation Scheme is self funded due to the fact that the government has failed to fund most of such projects. This has subsequently left projects such as the Murombedzi Irrigation Scheme to provide for their own agricultural needs. NGOs have in the past provided assistance to these small-scale farmers but mostly in cases of drought. This study is an assessment of the impact of beliefs and values on the adoption of agricultural change in Murombedzi Irrigation Scheme. The study investigates the extent to which beliefs and values have an effect on small-scale farmer’s access and utilization to adopting innovations. Research findings reveal that farming production in Murombedzi is low and the local farmers have been passive participants in gaining training and education that can assist them in gaining knowledge on the effectiveness of implementing innovations. However; the farmers prefer to maintain their traditional methods that have been effectively used by their fore fathers. It is a common belief among the informants that their ancestors are to be kept pleased at all times and this means practicing traditional farming which, for them, has proved to be effective in the past. As a result, this calls for an empirical research to be carried out at the grass roots level to explore the dynamics that influence the status quo on the ground. This study was conducted to help agricultural change to be implemented in small-scale farming for the benefit of agricultural production. The focus was on a local irrigation scheme that is self funded. Data was gathered using an ethnographic research design. , Thesis (MSoc) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2013
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013-01
- Authors: Nyika, Emery
- Date: 2013-01
- Subjects: Agriculture -- Environmental aspects , Farms, Small , Agricultural productivity
- Language: English
- Type: text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/25698 , vital:64469
- Description: Since the mid 1970s there has been an increasing effort to raise the level of adoption of agricultural innovations in small-scale farming for improved production. NGOs and governments have engaged in a participatory approach not only to empower local people, but also to give them an opportunity to learn, access, and utilize innovations that have been introduced in the agriculture sector. However due to several factors small-scale farmers in Zimbabwe have failed to fully adopt these changes that would enhance their farming activities. Most of these farmers have rather preferred maintaining and practising their preliterate farming methods. Like most irrigation schemes Murombedzi Irrigation Scheme is self funded due to the fact that the government has failed to fund most of such projects. This has subsequently left projects such as the Murombedzi Irrigation Scheme to provide for their own agricultural needs. NGOs have in the past provided assistance to these small-scale farmers but mostly in cases of drought. This study is an assessment of the impact of beliefs and values on the adoption of agricultural change in Murombedzi Irrigation Scheme. The study investigates the extent to which beliefs and values have an effect on small-scale farmer’s access and utilization to adopting innovations. Research findings reveal that farming production in Murombedzi is low and the local farmers have been passive participants in gaining training and education that can assist them in gaining knowledge on the effectiveness of implementing innovations. However; the farmers prefer to maintain their traditional methods that have been effectively used by their fore fathers. It is a common belief among the informants that their ancestors are to be kept pleased at all times and this means practicing traditional farming which, for them, has proved to be effective in the past. As a result, this calls for an empirical research to be carried out at the grass roots level to explore the dynamics that influence the status quo on the ground. This study was conducted to help agricultural change to be implemented in small-scale farming for the benefit of agricultural production. The focus was on a local irrigation scheme that is self funded. Data was gathered using an ethnographic research design. , Thesis (MSoc) -- Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2013
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013-01
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