Priscilla Gutura - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Priscilla Gutura
The major findings of the study point to the fact that social grants have reduced hunger and suff... more The major findings of the study point to the fact that social grants have reduced hunger and suffering among beneficiaries and their households as they are the major source of income, if not the only source of income in most households. Also, there is a great level of discretionary spending of social grants on school fees, payment of bills, nutrition and health in addition to investments in human and physical capital and in some cases labour force participation. Conversely, with the growing culture of entitlement among beneficiaries, a welfare state is being created. Confirmation of the existence of perverse incentive structures and unintended consequences associated with the social grants was established. An insatiable appetite has been created among poor rural households which cause fiscal strain, perverse incentives structures and dependency. With over 16 million social grant beneficiaries to date, it can be safely concluded that in the context of high levels of poverty, unemployment and HIV/AIDS, the existence of dependency as an unintended effect seems relatively important.
The Journal of practice teaching & learning, Apr 20, 2022
This paper discusses the sexual experiences of people involved in polyamorous relationships to de... more This paper discusses the sexual experiences of people involved in polyamorous relationships to determine the relation between polyamory and HIV/AIDS. The study was guided by social cognitive theory, constructivism, the meaning-making model and interpretative phenomenological analysis. Four emerging themes are discussed: sex practices in polyamorous relationships; the construction of sexual rules and agreements; the value of trust and honesty; and psychosocial support and services for polyamorists. The study concludes that polyamory does not pose risk to HIV. The paper suggests a reconceptualization of the partner reduction policy which was influenced by Morris and Kretzchmar's (1997) mathematical model Further, the findings are crucial to social work practice in the area of HIV/AIDS and social work education, particularly in regards to anti-discrimination. Therefore, social work is called upon to be aware and sensitive to polyamorous relationships.
دراسات - العلوم الإنسانية والاجتماعية, 2019
The study's point of departure is based on the assumption that the parent-child tie is the primar... more The study's point of departure is based on the assumption that the parent-child tie is the primary source of support within families. Therefore, by using a qualitative research design, this study is performed to explore the financial support being received by elderly parents in receipt of Old Age Grant (OAG) from their adult children. The study has been conducted in Amathole District in South Africa and thirty participants have been selected for the study. The participants have been selected using purposive sampling and data is collected by semi-structured interviews. Evidence from the study reveal that a significant proportion of the elderly who are receiving the OAG have not been getting support from their children precisely because of their receipt of the grant. Nevertheless, other reasons emerged are ranged from unemployment of the adult children, poverty, and urban migration. However, there is an insignificant proportion of those who have been receiving support from their adult children. On the other hand, the frequency of support received has not been regular. It is found that a large proportion of the support received is occasional and rare in some instances. The study reveals that extended family support networks are no longer as strong as they use to be in the past in rural South Africa. It is therefore recommended that more formal services will have to counteract the informal care provided by family members, in particular those provided by adult children.
Journal of Social Sciences, 2017
Reading newspapers and listening/watching news on television is gradually becoming a thing of the... more Reading newspapers and listening/watching news on television is gradually becoming a thing of the past, while attention is shifted to internet media. This has become a trend not only in developed countries but also in developing nations like South Africa. The increase in web visits is a problem that has led to vast decline in newspaper circulation, putting the future of the latter in a state of uncertainty. This paper studied the changes that were brought into journalism in South Africa through web media while the traditional media continue to feel the heat. Media-morphosis and technological determinism are two theories that underpinted this study. Media-morphosis supports the alliance between a current institution and changes that were introduced by new technology, while technological determinism advocates that a societal change is determined by technology. Hence, the traditional media operation could better be promoted by online journalism instead of it being banished, if infrastructure should be provided for media houses.
Ubuntu : Journal of Conflict and Social Transformation, 2019
An increasing number of children require alternative placement for their care and protection in S... more An increasing number of children require alternative placement for their care and protection in South Africa. The overwhelming socioeconomic factors negatively impact on the capacity of the extended family to continue to serve as an effective safety net which has inevitably led to the emergence of non-relative foster parents. Anecdotal evidence suggests a sense of apathy and suspicion regarding the non-relative foster parents especially with regards to motivation for fostering. This paper, therefore, seeks to explore and describe the motivation of non-relative foster parents. Findings come from a broader doctoral study which explored the experiences of twenty non-relative foster parents in De Deur, South Africa. Semi-structured interviews and a focus group discussion were used to collect data. The findings show that the foster parents were motivated by altruistic and intrinsic factors such as fostering as a calling; personal life experiences; and a desire to make a difference in the lives of vulnerable children. The study concludes that the motives expressed are likely to be associated with positive outcomes for foster children and result in placement stability. This paper therefore, recommends that the selection and assessment criteria for non-relative foster parents should be based on the examination of their motivations to ensure foster care placement success and retention.
Journal of Human Ecology, 2016
This study investigated the management of HIV /AIDS programmes at the workplace using four select... more This study investigated the management of HIV /AIDS programmes at the workplace using four selected organizations in Chris Hani District, Eastern Cape Province (two public organizations and two private organizations). Using a quantitative survey, two hundred employees were administered semi-structured questionnaires. The major findings revealed that all the four organizations had HIV/AIDS programmes and policies for their employees. However, there were no budget allocations for these programmes; hence, they were not fully and effectively implemented. Managers were blamed for negligence towards management of HIV/AIDS programmes. The study recommends that managers should positively show commitment and management skills through allocating funds towards HIV/AIDS management programmes at their workplaces. Also, managers should hire quality service providers to implement an intensive destigmatisation process, which adequately addresses the fears of employees pertaining to HIV/AIDS related issues at the workplace. By adopting these measures, organizations will be able to achieve their strategic business objectives and reduce the negative impact of HIV/AIDS at their workplaces.
Criminological and Victimological Society of Southern Africa (CRIMSA), 2020
African Journal of Development Studies (formerly AFFRIKA Journal of Politics, Economics and Society), 2021
A serious risk facing children worldwide is homelessness and living on the streets. This paper so... more A serious risk facing children worldwide is homelessness and living on the streets. This paper sought to provide an understanding into the interplaying factors promoting the prevalence of children living on the streets. To contextualise the findings, a literature review method was used to understand the challenges of children living on the streets. Challenges associated with residing on the streets include the likelihood of harm as a result of risky sexual behaviour which can be escalated by their vulnerability and lack of a protective parent. Furthermore, children living on the streets are at risk of being involved in chronic and relapsing conditions associated with drug abuse and other criminal activities. Recovery can be a very long enduring process. Moreover, some are also likely to die from hunger and there is a lot of potential that is buried as a result of living on the streets. This paper uses the ecological perspective to emphasise and articulate the role of the social cont...
Southern African Journal of Social Work and Social Development, 2021
Caring for and protecting vulnerable children in foster care continues to be an important realisa... more Caring for and protecting vulnerable children in foster care continues to be an important realisation of the rights of children in South Africa. The weakening of the extended family and the increasing number of orphaned and vulnerable children give rise to the relevance of non-relative fostering. This article discusses the different sources of support used by female non-relative foster parents when caring for the children. The findings come from a broader doctoral study that explored the experiences of non-relative foster parents. The data were collected using semi-structured interviews and a focus group discussion. The findings indicate that the participants received the same support as relative foster parents, including financial support from the government in foster care grants, support from faith-based organisations, and support from nuclear family members. Most participants were self-supported through personal incomes and savings, which differed from relative foster parents who...
Journal of Economics, 2015
Abstract This paper emanated from a broader study conducted on the use of social grants in the Ng... more Abstract This paper emanated from a broader study conducted on the use of social grants in the Ngqwushwa Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province in South Africa. The survey used a sample of 541 recipients who were either administered questionnaires, interviewed or participated in focus group discussions. The purpose of this report is to explore whether the intended outcomes of the social grants are being reached among the poor rural population. The findings of the survey have identified social grants as effectively targeted. It emerged that social grants improve both the welfare of recipients and their entire families. Furthermore, there is evidence of the investment in productive assets, both human and capital. The grant money is further utilized for education expenditure among children. The money is applied even to upgrade or build houses, and payment of water, electricity and other bills. Therefore, the grant money is used by recipients in a number of ways, some urban, some less so. The study confirms that the poor are well aware of their individual needs and some of the intended outcomes of the social grants are remarkable. Nevertheless, the idea of reduction of poverty through social grants still persists as questionable.
Journal of Human Ecology, 2015
This paper investigates the influence of the Child Support Grant (CSG) on increased birth rate am... more This paper investigates the influence of the Child Support Grant (CSG) on increased birth rate among women of childbearing age. A qualitative research method was employed and data was collected from fifteen femaleparticipants aged between 16 and 40 years. The results of the study suggests that increased birth rate in Alice Townin the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa was mainly caused by CSG in terms of its easy accessibility and thegovernment’s inability to control usage of the grant. Furthermore, it was revealed that young women refusedcontraceptives purposely to get pregnant in order to have access to the grant. Nevertheless, there were many otherfactors that emerged, which caused increased birth rate and these included lack of parental control, social exclusion,unemployment and poverty. Notably, the grant was not only benefiting the intended beneficiary only that is thechild, but also the family as a whole. It was suggested that the government should check and control grant ...
The effects of both colonialism and the apartheid that succeeded it resulted in the indigenous pe... more The effects of both colonialism and the apartheid that succeeded it resulted in the indigenous peoples of South Africa being displaced, marginalised, excluded and exploited. For many generations, indigenous population groups were disenfranchised, their destinies were taken out of their hands and their socio-economic status was predetermined. As colonisers tended to perceive the knowledge systems of indigenous peoples as being inferior to their own, colonised countries inherited most of their infrastructure and administrations from their colonisers, and their influence continues to be felt in many post-colonial countries even today. The discipline of social work has often been criticised for being dominated by white, Western and middle-class discourses. Although education in social work in South Africa needs to be sensitive to African world views, attempts to decolonise it and to replace Western modes of thinking, being and feeling with modes that are relevant to African cultural exp...
Sexuality & Culture, 2020
Many studies indicate that rape-supportive beliefs persist and influence sexually aggressive beha... more Many studies indicate that rape-supportive beliefs persist and influence sexually aggressive behaviors and hostility toward women. Despite the plethora of studies, cross-cultural knowledge remains sparse. The present study examined rape myth acceptance across gender and countries (i.e., United States, South Africa, Ghana, and Nigeria). An online questionnaire was administered to a convenience sample of 699 respondents in the four countries. Results suggested that respondents in Nigeria were the most likely and respondents in United States were the least likely to endorse rape myths. Respondents in South Africa were less likely than respondents in Ghana to endorse the myth that the female victim of rape “asked for it” and that the male perpetrator “didn’t mean to” rape the female victim. Although men were more likely than women to endorse rape myths, female respondents in Nigeria endorsed the myths “she asked for it” and “he didn’t mean to” more than did male respondents in Nigeria. In general, exposure to various patriarchal structures and ideologies; differences in preventive, protective, and punitive policy responses to gender-based violence; repressive cultural and religious practices; reinforcement of demeaning stereotypes against women; and psychological assimilation of oppressive policy, values and beliefs may be responsible for cross-national differences. Cross-country differences in rape myths suggest the need for formal and informal intervention in vulnerable countries. International transfer of effective policies and programs for combating gender-based violence in protective countries might lead to considerable changes in vulnerable countries and help to shift the focus from patriarchal to egalitarian views of women.
Journal of Social Sciences, 2017
ABSTRACT This paper explores the contribution of social grants on the household income of benefic... more ABSTRACT This paper explores the contribution of social grants on the household income of beneficiaries staying in rural areas in South Africa. The study used a sample of 541 beneficiaries from Ngqushwa Municipality, who were either administered questionnaires, interviewed or participated in a focus group discussion. The findings reflect that the beneficiaries expected the grant to cover ‘all costs’, which is contrary to the grants’ purpose of contributing towards costs. Social grants were the only and main source of income for most households. Social grants were mainly the sole source of income for most households. With a culture of family ties and reciprocity among participants whereby they stayed in extended families and took care of each other, beneficiaries showed concern on the grants failing to provide enough income to live on, as the grants were too low and had not kept up with inflation. Therefore, the social grant beneficiaries had cultivated a culture of credits as they borrowed money, as the grants were insufficient to meet the basic needs. Nevertheless, survival without social grants seemed impossible for most beneficiaries, and hence they advocated for increase in the monetary value of social grants.
Ubuntu : Journal of Conflict Transformation, 2018
Poverty is an international societal impediment. Women and children are the most vulnerable popul... more Poverty is an international societal impediment. Women and children are the most vulnerable populations to poverty which has led to the coining of the term 'feminisation of poverty'. This paper is based on literature review as it discusses the factors that promote the feminisation of poverty among girl children in selected African countries. Most of the factors which have been identified are as a result of the predominance of the system of patriarchy and rigid social and cultural traditions. The factors include sexual abuse of girl children; child and forced marriages; commercial sex exploitation of girl children; impact of HIV/AIDS and poor quality of education for girls. In light of the factors identified in the literature reviewed, the authors of this paper recommended social transformation in societies in order to reduce poverty among girl children. There is a need to make the communities aware of the girl child's rights so that they can prioritise the girl-child's best interests too. The government should prioritise instituting programmes and interventions to advocate for a cost-benefit analysis of cultural practices. This will help stop
Journal of Economics and Behavioral Studies, 2014
The findings of this paper emanates from a broader research that was conducted to examine the rol... more The findings of this paper emanates from a broader research that was conducted to examine the role of social grants on poor rural households in Ngqushwa Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The study adopted a methodological triangulation approach in data collection and analysis. Five hundred (500) questionnaires were distributed among social grant beneficiaries who were selected using multi-stage sampling. These yielded quantitative results which were then complemented by qualitative results obtained from 25 in-depth interviews and 2 focus group discussions conducted with 16 participants. One of the objectives of the broader study was to explore the role of social grants in tackling the vulnerability of beneficiaries to hunger. The major findings of the study point to the fact that the greatest discretion of spending is on food. This has improved food accessibility and availability among beneficiaries and has most importantly reduced both child and adult hunge...
JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY AND SOCIAL ANTHROPOLOGY, 2016
Southern African Journal of Social Work and Social Development, 2015
The aim of this paper is to provide a reflective analysis, twenty years after democracy, of socia... more The aim of this paper is to provide a reflective analysis, twenty years after democracy, of social assistance grants in accomplishing their primary objective of closing the poverty gap and inequality. Literature reviewed show that in the absence of any other safety net, access to social grants reduces destitution for many poor people and their households. However, various indicators confirm that even though poverty appears to have declined in the recent past, there are still millions of poor people who are exceedingly vulnerable and at risk. Unemployment levels have been fluctuating, but the trend has been upwards. Also, other researchers have argued that social grants are running the risk of being perceived as state hand-outs with over 16 million recipients benefiting. This paper therefore informs the policy makers of the expectations after 20 years of democracy and the reality 20 years after democracy.
The major findings of the study point to the fact that social grants have reduced hunger and suff... more The major findings of the study point to the fact that social grants have reduced hunger and suffering among beneficiaries and their households as they are the major source of income, if not the only source of income in most households. Also, there is a great level of discretionary spending of social grants on school fees, payment of bills, nutrition and health in addition to investments in human and physical capital and in some cases labour force participation. Conversely, with the growing culture of entitlement among beneficiaries, a welfare state is being created. Confirmation of the existence of perverse incentive structures and unintended consequences associated with the social grants was established. An insatiable appetite has been created among poor rural households which cause fiscal strain, perverse incentives structures and dependency. With over 16 million social grant beneficiaries to date, it can be safely concluded that in the context of high levels of poverty, unemployment and HIV/AIDS, the existence of dependency as an unintended effect seems relatively important.
The Journal of practice teaching & learning, Apr 20, 2022
This paper discusses the sexual experiences of people involved in polyamorous relationships to de... more This paper discusses the sexual experiences of people involved in polyamorous relationships to determine the relation between polyamory and HIV/AIDS. The study was guided by social cognitive theory, constructivism, the meaning-making model and interpretative phenomenological analysis. Four emerging themes are discussed: sex practices in polyamorous relationships; the construction of sexual rules and agreements; the value of trust and honesty; and psychosocial support and services for polyamorists. The study concludes that polyamory does not pose risk to HIV. The paper suggests a reconceptualization of the partner reduction policy which was influenced by Morris and Kretzchmar's (1997) mathematical model Further, the findings are crucial to social work practice in the area of HIV/AIDS and social work education, particularly in regards to anti-discrimination. Therefore, social work is called upon to be aware and sensitive to polyamorous relationships.
دراسات - العلوم الإنسانية والاجتماعية, 2019
The study's point of departure is based on the assumption that the parent-child tie is the primar... more The study's point of departure is based on the assumption that the parent-child tie is the primary source of support within families. Therefore, by using a qualitative research design, this study is performed to explore the financial support being received by elderly parents in receipt of Old Age Grant (OAG) from their adult children. The study has been conducted in Amathole District in South Africa and thirty participants have been selected for the study. The participants have been selected using purposive sampling and data is collected by semi-structured interviews. Evidence from the study reveal that a significant proportion of the elderly who are receiving the OAG have not been getting support from their children precisely because of their receipt of the grant. Nevertheless, other reasons emerged are ranged from unemployment of the adult children, poverty, and urban migration. However, there is an insignificant proportion of those who have been receiving support from their adult children. On the other hand, the frequency of support received has not been regular. It is found that a large proportion of the support received is occasional and rare in some instances. The study reveals that extended family support networks are no longer as strong as they use to be in the past in rural South Africa. It is therefore recommended that more formal services will have to counteract the informal care provided by family members, in particular those provided by adult children.
Journal of Social Sciences, 2017
Reading newspapers and listening/watching news on television is gradually becoming a thing of the... more Reading newspapers and listening/watching news on television is gradually becoming a thing of the past, while attention is shifted to internet media. This has become a trend not only in developed countries but also in developing nations like South Africa. The increase in web visits is a problem that has led to vast decline in newspaper circulation, putting the future of the latter in a state of uncertainty. This paper studied the changes that were brought into journalism in South Africa through web media while the traditional media continue to feel the heat. Media-morphosis and technological determinism are two theories that underpinted this study. Media-morphosis supports the alliance between a current institution and changes that were introduced by new technology, while technological determinism advocates that a societal change is determined by technology. Hence, the traditional media operation could better be promoted by online journalism instead of it being banished, if infrastructure should be provided for media houses.
Ubuntu : Journal of Conflict and Social Transformation, 2019
An increasing number of children require alternative placement for their care and protection in S... more An increasing number of children require alternative placement for their care and protection in South Africa. The overwhelming socioeconomic factors negatively impact on the capacity of the extended family to continue to serve as an effective safety net which has inevitably led to the emergence of non-relative foster parents. Anecdotal evidence suggests a sense of apathy and suspicion regarding the non-relative foster parents especially with regards to motivation for fostering. This paper, therefore, seeks to explore and describe the motivation of non-relative foster parents. Findings come from a broader doctoral study which explored the experiences of twenty non-relative foster parents in De Deur, South Africa. Semi-structured interviews and a focus group discussion were used to collect data. The findings show that the foster parents were motivated by altruistic and intrinsic factors such as fostering as a calling; personal life experiences; and a desire to make a difference in the lives of vulnerable children. The study concludes that the motives expressed are likely to be associated with positive outcomes for foster children and result in placement stability. This paper therefore, recommends that the selection and assessment criteria for non-relative foster parents should be based on the examination of their motivations to ensure foster care placement success and retention.
Journal of Human Ecology, 2016
This study investigated the management of HIV /AIDS programmes at the workplace using four select... more This study investigated the management of HIV /AIDS programmes at the workplace using four selected organizations in Chris Hani District, Eastern Cape Province (two public organizations and two private organizations). Using a quantitative survey, two hundred employees were administered semi-structured questionnaires. The major findings revealed that all the four organizations had HIV/AIDS programmes and policies for their employees. However, there were no budget allocations for these programmes; hence, they were not fully and effectively implemented. Managers were blamed for negligence towards management of HIV/AIDS programmes. The study recommends that managers should positively show commitment and management skills through allocating funds towards HIV/AIDS management programmes at their workplaces. Also, managers should hire quality service providers to implement an intensive destigmatisation process, which adequately addresses the fears of employees pertaining to HIV/AIDS related issues at the workplace. By adopting these measures, organizations will be able to achieve their strategic business objectives and reduce the negative impact of HIV/AIDS at their workplaces.
Criminological and Victimological Society of Southern Africa (CRIMSA), 2020
African Journal of Development Studies (formerly AFFRIKA Journal of Politics, Economics and Society), 2021
A serious risk facing children worldwide is homelessness and living on the streets. This paper so... more A serious risk facing children worldwide is homelessness and living on the streets. This paper sought to provide an understanding into the interplaying factors promoting the prevalence of children living on the streets. To contextualise the findings, a literature review method was used to understand the challenges of children living on the streets. Challenges associated with residing on the streets include the likelihood of harm as a result of risky sexual behaviour which can be escalated by their vulnerability and lack of a protective parent. Furthermore, children living on the streets are at risk of being involved in chronic and relapsing conditions associated with drug abuse and other criminal activities. Recovery can be a very long enduring process. Moreover, some are also likely to die from hunger and there is a lot of potential that is buried as a result of living on the streets. This paper uses the ecological perspective to emphasise and articulate the role of the social cont...
Southern African Journal of Social Work and Social Development, 2021
Caring for and protecting vulnerable children in foster care continues to be an important realisa... more Caring for and protecting vulnerable children in foster care continues to be an important realisation of the rights of children in South Africa. The weakening of the extended family and the increasing number of orphaned and vulnerable children give rise to the relevance of non-relative fostering. This article discusses the different sources of support used by female non-relative foster parents when caring for the children. The findings come from a broader doctoral study that explored the experiences of non-relative foster parents. The data were collected using semi-structured interviews and a focus group discussion. The findings indicate that the participants received the same support as relative foster parents, including financial support from the government in foster care grants, support from faith-based organisations, and support from nuclear family members. Most participants were self-supported through personal incomes and savings, which differed from relative foster parents who...
Journal of Economics, 2015
Abstract This paper emanated from a broader study conducted on the use of social grants in the Ng... more Abstract This paper emanated from a broader study conducted on the use of social grants in the Ngqwushwa Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province in South Africa. The survey used a sample of 541 recipients who were either administered questionnaires, interviewed or participated in focus group discussions. The purpose of this report is to explore whether the intended outcomes of the social grants are being reached among the poor rural population. The findings of the survey have identified social grants as effectively targeted. It emerged that social grants improve both the welfare of recipients and their entire families. Furthermore, there is evidence of the investment in productive assets, both human and capital. The grant money is further utilized for education expenditure among children. The money is applied even to upgrade or build houses, and payment of water, electricity and other bills. Therefore, the grant money is used by recipients in a number of ways, some urban, some less so. The study confirms that the poor are well aware of their individual needs and some of the intended outcomes of the social grants are remarkable. Nevertheless, the idea of reduction of poverty through social grants still persists as questionable.
Journal of Human Ecology, 2015
This paper investigates the influence of the Child Support Grant (CSG) on increased birth rate am... more This paper investigates the influence of the Child Support Grant (CSG) on increased birth rate among women of childbearing age. A qualitative research method was employed and data was collected from fifteen femaleparticipants aged between 16 and 40 years. The results of the study suggests that increased birth rate in Alice Townin the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa was mainly caused by CSG in terms of its easy accessibility and thegovernment’s inability to control usage of the grant. Furthermore, it was revealed that young women refusedcontraceptives purposely to get pregnant in order to have access to the grant. Nevertheless, there were many otherfactors that emerged, which caused increased birth rate and these included lack of parental control, social exclusion,unemployment and poverty. Notably, the grant was not only benefiting the intended beneficiary only that is thechild, but also the family as a whole. It was suggested that the government should check and control grant ...
The effects of both colonialism and the apartheid that succeeded it resulted in the indigenous pe... more The effects of both colonialism and the apartheid that succeeded it resulted in the indigenous peoples of South Africa being displaced, marginalised, excluded and exploited. For many generations, indigenous population groups were disenfranchised, their destinies were taken out of their hands and their socio-economic status was predetermined. As colonisers tended to perceive the knowledge systems of indigenous peoples as being inferior to their own, colonised countries inherited most of their infrastructure and administrations from their colonisers, and their influence continues to be felt in many post-colonial countries even today. The discipline of social work has often been criticised for being dominated by white, Western and middle-class discourses. Although education in social work in South Africa needs to be sensitive to African world views, attempts to decolonise it and to replace Western modes of thinking, being and feeling with modes that are relevant to African cultural exp...
Sexuality & Culture, 2020
Many studies indicate that rape-supportive beliefs persist and influence sexually aggressive beha... more Many studies indicate that rape-supportive beliefs persist and influence sexually aggressive behaviors and hostility toward women. Despite the plethora of studies, cross-cultural knowledge remains sparse. The present study examined rape myth acceptance across gender and countries (i.e., United States, South Africa, Ghana, and Nigeria). An online questionnaire was administered to a convenience sample of 699 respondents in the four countries. Results suggested that respondents in Nigeria were the most likely and respondents in United States were the least likely to endorse rape myths. Respondents in South Africa were less likely than respondents in Ghana to endorse the myth that the female victim of rape “asked for it” and that the male perpetrator “didn’t mean to” rape the female victim. Although men were more likely than women to endorse rape myths, female respondents in Nigeria endorsed the myths “she asked for it” and “he didn’t mean to” more than did male respondents in Nigeria. In general, exposure to various patriarchal structures and ideologies; differences in preventive, protective, and punitive policy responses to gender-based violence; repressive cultural and religious practices; reinforcement of demeaning stereotypes against women; and psychological assimilation of oppressive policy, values and beliefs may be responsible for cross-national differences. Cross-country differences in rape myths suggest the need for formal and informal intervention in vulnerable countries. International transfer of effective policies and programs for combating gender-based violence in protective countries might lead to considerable changes in vulnerable countries and help to shift the focus from patriarchal to egalitarian views of women.
Journal of Social Sciences, 2017
ABSTRACT This paper explores the contribution of social grants on the household income of benefic... more ABSTRACT This paper explores the contribution of social grants on the household income of beneficiaries staying in rural areas in South Africa. The study used a sample of 541 beneficiaries from Ngqushwa Municipality, who were either administered questionnaires, interviewed or participated in a focus group discussion. The findings reflect that the beneficiaries expected the grant to cover ‘all costs’, which is contrary to the grants’ purpose of contributing towards costs. Social grants were the only and main source of income for most households. Social grants were mainly the sole source of income for most households. With a culture of family ties and reciprocity among participants whereby they stayed in extended families and took care of each other, beneficiaries showed concern on the grants failing to provide enough income to live on, as the grants were too low and had not kept up with inflation. Therefore, the social grant beneficiaries had cultivated a culture of credits as they borrowed money, as the grants were insufficient to meet the basic needs. Nevertheless, survival without social grants seemed impossible for most beneficiaries, and hence they advocated for increase in the monetary value of social grants.
Ubuntu : Journal of Conflict Transformation, 2018
Poverty is an international societal impediment. Women and children are the most vulnerable popul... more Poverty is an international societal impediment. Women and children are the most vulnerable populations to poverty which has led to the coining of the term 'feminisation of poverty'. This paper is based on literature review as it discusses the factors that promote the feminisation of poverty among girl children in selected African countries. Most of the factors which have been identified are as a result of the predominance of the system of patriarchy and rigid social and cultural traditions. The factors include sexual abuse of girl children; child and forced marriages; commercial sex exploitation of girl children; impact of HIV/AIDS and poor quality of education for girls. In light of the factors identified in the literature reviewed, the authors of this paper recommended social transformation in societies in order to reduce poverty among girl children. There is a need to make the communities aware of the girl child's rights so that they can prioritise the girl-child's best interests too. The government should prioritise instituting programmes and interventions to advocate for a cost-benefit analysis of cultural practices. This will help stop
Journal of Economics and Behavioral Studies, 2014
The findings of this paper emanates from a broader research that was conducted to examine the rol... more The findings of this paper emanates from a broader research that was conducted to examine the role of social grants on poor rural households in Ngqushwa Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The study adopted a methodological triangulation approach in data collection and analysis. Five hundred (500) questionnaires were distributed among social grant beneficiaries who were selected using multi-stage sampling. These yielded quantitative results which were then complemented by qualitative results obtained from 25 in-depth interviews and 2 focus group discussions conducted with 16 participants. One of the objectives of the broader study was to explore the role of social grants in tackling the vulnerability of beneficiaries to hunger. The major findings of the study point to the fact that the greatest discretion of spending is on food. This has improved food accessibility and availability among beneficiaries and has most importantly reduced both child and adult hunge...
JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY AND SOCIAL ANTHROPOLOGY, 2016
Southern African Journal of Social Work and Social Development, 2015
The aim of this paper is to provide a reflective analysis, twenty years after democracy, of socia... more The aim of this paper is to provide a reflective analysis, twenty years after democracy, of social assistance grants in accomplishing their primary objective of closing the poverty gap and inequality. Literature reviewed show that in the absence of any other safety net, access to social grants reduces destitution for many poor people and their households. However, various indicators confirm that even though poverty appears to have declined in the recent past, there are still millions of poor people who are exceedingly vulnerable and at risk. Unemployment levels have been fluctuating, but the trend has been upwards. Also, other researchers have argued that social grants are running the risk of being perceived as state hand-outs with over 16 million recipients benefiting. This paper therefore informs the policy makers of the expectations after 20 years of democracy and the reality 20 years after democracy.