Proceedings of the International Conference on Gender and Sexuality

SOUTH AFRICAN TRADITIONAL HEALERS’ PERCEPTIONS OF MALE HOMOSEXUALITY IN RELATION TO ANCESTRAL CALLING, SPIRIT POSSESSION, LOSS, AND INITIATION

Daniel Letsoalo — Mon, 20 May 2024 00:00:00 +0530

Homosexuality is a controversial issue among some rural African ethnic groups such as the Vendas and the Zulus as established by research. To gain more insights into this conundrum, a qualitative study, using a constructivist research paradigm and an exploratory research design was conducted to explore Northern Sotho traditional healers’ perceptions of male homosexuality in relation to ancestral calling, spirit possession, loss and initiation in the Capricorn District of Limpopo province, South Africa. Ten participants (7 females and 3 males) between the ages of 32 and 72 with grade 12 highest education level formed part of the study. Data was collected through individual face-to-face semi-structured interviews. Data was analyzed with Thematic Analysis (TA) and 10 main themes, and 9 sub-themes emerged from the data, although only 4 of the main themes and 1 sub-theme are presented in this paper. The results indicate that the traditional healers are un-accepting of male homosexuality as they consider it to be inconsistent with their culture, although there are circumstances where exceptions can be made such as when a male homosexual has an ancestral calling or is sick. The study contributes to knowledge by providing new insights and suggestions for Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS), academic training, legislation, and policy development concerning male homosexuality and indigenous culture. Future studies ought to investigate how male homosexuals residing in rural African communities are treated to gain insights into their experiences.

MITIGATING THE IMPACT OF GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE IN SOUTH AFRICA: A SCOPING REVIEW OF PATRIARCHAL CULTURE

MJ Sethu, Hasina, R Bux — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0530

Background Gender-based violence (GBV) remains a concerning issue globally with widespread prevalence in the South African context, due to both historical Apartheid and its traditional values. In addition, the socialization of gender, conventional expectations of femininity and masculinity, prejudice and gender stereotypes, the idea that the home is a private space run by men, and the general acceptance of violence as a part of public life, further create a society where GBV is rampant. Significant social, psychological, and physical impact on individuals and communities manifest as a violation of human rights.

Method In a period where social justice is at the forefront of global policy and development work, this scoping review guided by Arksey and O'Malley aims to give a thorough overview of the scientific body of research on the following aspects in South Africa over the past ten years: men as viewed through a lens of economic power, and patriarchal culture as a social problem which South African men embody.

Discussion Research, promoting legislative reforms, addressing GBV through educational programs that improve people's attitudes of violent behavior, and collaborating with political, non-governmental, and spiritual leaders are all effective ways to reduce violence against the vulnerable.

Therefore, in conducting a scoping review, crucial gaps in interventions can be addressed. The framework by Arksey and O'Malley will be used to identify, select, and review relevant studies from various databases and sources. This study will make an important contribution towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) target of eliminating all forms of violence in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) by 2030.

AN ANALYSIS OF THE EXERCISE OF SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS BY WOMEN INCARCERATED IN THE AMERICAS

Y Monteiro — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0530

The present article addresses the exercise of sexual and reproductive rights by women incarcerated in the Americas. The State, through the use of police power, has the legitimacy to restrict the freedom of individuals who have violated laws. However, such restrictions on freedom not only serve the corrective function of penalties but also impact the reproductive and sexual rights of women prisoners. This is due to the construction of prisons, which disregards female bodies and their needs. The need for adequate apparatus and infrastructure to address women's health demands, the exclusion of women's sexual rights in many prisons, and the precarious nature of maternity in prison were studied. The article is based on a critical analysis of repressive criminal law, prioritizing imprisonment over alternative sentences, and disregarding the serious consequences of incarceration for women, especially considering the gender roles to which they are conditioned. The analysis focused on key situations, including intimate visits, breastfeeding, pregnancy, abortion, menstrual poverty, among other specific women's health issues within the context of women's prisons. The research employs an intersectional approach to study gender, race, social class, sexual orientation, religion, and other vulnerability factors. The main methodology adopted was qualitative bibliographical research, in order to build critical thinking through the analysis of the works of the main authors dealing with the subject.

GENDER EQUALITY IN TRADITIONAL LEADERSHIP IN SOUTH AFRICA: A NOSTALGIC DREAM?

NC Dlamini — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0530

Whilst considerable progress has been made to advance gender equality in South Africa, particularly in the modern democratic governance space, traditional leadership has remained relatively less responsive to calls for gender inclusion. Yet, women’s participation in decision-making does not only have historical footprints in Africa, as espoused in much of the literature; it also has a potential to facilitate better performance of traditional authority and local municipalities and promote more credible and accountable local government. Although the literature advances several reasons to explain the near exclusion of women’s participation in traditional leadership in the country, this paper argues that the primary factor associated with gender inequality in traditional leadership in South Africa is patriarchy. The paper maintains that patriarchy is a common denominator of much of the explanation for gender inequality in traditional leadership. It is argued, therefore, that understanding the gender issue from this perspective and the sustained yet routinized and systemic ways in which, through patriarchy, women are discriminated against, is critical to promoting women’s participation in traditional leadership.The article relies on secondary data derived from a review of local and international peer-reviewed journals and research reports, including dissertations and databases of research and relevant public institutions. The data was scrupulously analysed and cross-checked to offset the disadvantages of secondary data to ensure credibility of the sources and data reliability and consistency. The article confirms that women’s participation in traditional leadership is constrained by patriarchal biases against women and that promoting women’s participation in decision-making in that institution of governance will evidently enhance performance of local government and quality of life in rural communities. The article concludes that attempts to promote gender equality in traditional leadership should not only focus on legal and administrative precepts but also the development of positive human factor, particularly among members of royal families and tribal communities.

CHALLENGES FACED BY WOMEN OF COLOR IN RURAL COMMUNITIES OF KWAZULU-NATAL, SOUTH AFRICA

NC Dlamini — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0530

Despite the political freedom gained in 1994, black women labour tenants in South African still never tasted the fruits of democracy and live under very harsh conditions and face discriminations. However, such circumstances are seldomly reported in academic literature. Therefore, this paper investigates the challenges faced by women on farms in rural areas using a qualitative exploratory case study design. Primary data from 37 farmers in UMgungundlovu; was derived from the Qina-Mbokodo project case study to investigate barriers to women's participation in agriculture and support from the government. The results of the analysis identified five themes that embody the difficulties faced by women in farms of uMgungundlovu. These include a lack of community engagement in the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) and District Development Model (DDM), gaps in awareness and knowledge, gender issues, economic empowerment and development, and lack of Technical support. The paper suggests economic empowerment regardless of gaps to help beneficiaries address poverty, as well as social support, participation in integrated development plans, and district development model to address beneficiaries' low economic status.

QINA MBOKODO – STANDING IN THE GAP FOR POOR WOMEN WORKING ON THE FARMS IN KWAZULU- NATAL SOUTH AFRICA

NC Dlamini, S Zantsi — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0530

Women’s empowerment is one of the global priority agendas. Qina Mbokodo (QM) is a group of women living and working on farms in the uMgungundlovu District of KwaZulu-Natal. QM mobilises and advocates for women’s land and labour rights through a series of activities, including empowerment; women claiming their rights; shaping decisions, policies and processes that affect their lives; and holding power to account by challenging systems that perpetuate poverty and inequality. This is in line with Goal 2 of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, which explicitly mentions addressing the nutritional needs of women and adolescent girls and the constraints facing women. Small-scale food producers’ poverty remains a persistent contributing factor to gender inequality, particularly for young girls and women residing within the farms of the uMgungundlovu area, which is also among the reasons why women are often rendered vulnerable as victims of exploitation. This organisation (QM) allows all women who live on farms or are labour tenants to speak out and voice their issues to policy-makers. The purpose of this paper is to document the formation of QM and to describe how the organisation is assisting women labour tenants to get justice and service delivery. The material for the paper is based on focus group discussions with QM members, the Association for Rural Advancement Land Rights Advocacy (AFRA) and the Office of the Special Master. The main finding from our qualitative study speaks to women’s empowerment through gaining knowledge about their rights and how to exercise them. Through this knowledge gained from QM, women have accessed social security benefits such as social grants and improved basic services.