A discourse analysis of the construction of gendered relationships in grade 10-12 Life Orientation textbooks in the Eastern Cape
- Authors: Adams, Luvo
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Sex instruction -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Life skills -- Study and teaching (Secondary)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSoc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/5532 , vital:29315
- Description: School-based sexuality education has been the subject of research in the social sciences and pedagogical spheres globally. In South Africa, growing interest among social scientists in the topic, were ignited by the introduction of sexuality education as a compulsory part of Life Orientation (LO) by the late 1990s. However, the implementation of LO has been problematic. Reviewed literature in the current study, reveals how the dominance of the heterosex discourse is foregrounded in LO content on gender and sexuality. The current study was aimed at examining the construction of gendered relationships in LO textbooks. The study sampled LO textbooks for Grades 10-12, learners in these grades are between the mean ages 16-18 years. This group is the target group, because they are legally afforded the right to consent to sexual activity with peers, within the same age bracket. Conducted from a social constructionist perspective, the current study employed qualitative methods of inquiry (textual analysis). Against the backdrop of heterosexuality as norm, it was the aim of the current study to understand the subject positions made available for female learners to construct themselves, within the discursive spaces in LO content. Findings suggest that two discourses namely: the heterosex discourse and the discourse of danger and disease, dominate in LO content on gender and sexuality. This leads to the construction of gendered relationships a s inherently heterosexual, leading to the marginalisation of relationships that fall outside of the norm. The female learner is positioned as a passive-victim, incapable of exercising sexual agency, while young men are positioned as inherently more powerful members of the intimate relationships or dangerous sexual predators. In the discourse of danger and disease, she is also positioned as a potential victim but the focus is on equipping her with skills, in a way which positioned her as an active-resistor in refusing sexual activity; and being in control of decision-making on issues of safety in relationships. The implications of these contradictions, is that they focus on the individual and disallow her taking up of sexual agency, and disregard the context in which she has to do so.
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- Date Issued: 2017
Agricultural urbanism and urban agriculture : exploring the possible role of University of Fort Hare and Buffalo City Municipality in supporting small-scale urban farming in East London, South Africa
- Authors: Rumsha, Siphamandla
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Urban agriculture -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Agriculture -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSoc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/5072 , vital:29054
- Description: This study investigates the impact of urban agriculture in the city of East London as well as the possibility of adopting agricultural urbanism as an urban farming model to bolster food security. The study goes further to understand the role that could be played by University of Fort Hare and Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality in capacitating small scale urban farmers in the city of East London. Unemployment and food insecurity are the key challenges that are affecting many families in South Africa, including urban dwellers. The main objective of this study therefore is to investigate the contributions of urban farming in securing food security and livelihoods in East London. This study adopted a mixed methods research approach, where both quantitative and qualitative methods were used to harvest data. Statistical analysis (descriptive) was then used to analyse quantitative data. Thematic approach used to analyse qualitative data. The study shows that urban farming plays an important role in the livelihoods of urban dwellers. However, the sector still faces various challenges such as lack of recognition by authorities. The study also revealed that the city of East London has potential to establish agricultural urbanism as it has most of the essential aspects that are necessary to establish it. The study recommends strengthening of the partnership between University of Fort Hare, Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality and small scale urban farmers in East London.
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- Date Issued: 2017