African Journals Online
Acta Academica

Gender, society and theory: the University of the Free State 
Supplementum 2002
ABSTRACTS

Fighting from within: gender equity at the University of the Free State

Pretorius, Engela; De Villiers Human, Suzanne; Niemann, Rita; Klinck, Elsabe; Alt, Heinrich

Abstract: This study sets out to assess the extent to which gender equity has been mainstreamed at the University of the Free State (UFS). The external environment is briefly discussed in terms of the policy framework within which the institution operates. This is followed by a gender analysis of the institution. It is first compared with other universities. Data are then presented in respect of the position of women academics at the institution, as well as of their experience of and reaction to the organisational culture. Several employment barriers are identified and the relevant legal implications of the Employment Equity Act are indicated.

Stryd van binne: geslagsgelykberegtiging aan die Universiteit van die Vrystaat

Die ondersoek poog om vas te stel hoe geslagsgelykberegtiging in die hoofstroomaktiwiteite van die Universiteit van die Vrystaat (UV) geïntegreer word. Die eksterne omgewing word kortliks bespreek in terme van die beleidsraamwerk waarbinne die instelling funksioneer, gevolg deur 'n gender-analise van die instelling. Eerstens word dit met ander universiteite in die land vergelyk. Data word dan voorgehou oor die posisie van vroue-akademici aan die UV, asook oor hul ervaring van en reaksie op die organisasiekultuur. Verskeie werkplekhindernisse word geïdentifiseer en die wetlike implikasies in terme van die Wet op Billike Indiensneming word aangedui.

The sexual politics of the head: the legal history of the veil

Nel, Philip

Abstract: To trace the origins of legal provisions pertaining to the veiling of women, Mesopotamian legal documents of the early second and first millennia BCE are scrutinized in order to determine their first entries regarding the veil, the specific intentions of the legislator, and the cultural background of the legislation. Were the investigation to reveal only the material detail of the first legislation on veiling, the historical impact of patriarchy would remain obscure. Consequently the introduction of the veiling laws is evaluated against the background of a tradition of patriarchy which had a total disregard for the equality of women and reified their sexuality. The importance of this aspect lies in the fact that this inculcated degradation of women persists, even without the veil, in contemporaneous patriarchal societies. However, marked changes in the "sexual politics of the head" are currently discernible nationalist movements within Muslim countries and communities.

Seksuele politiek van die kop: die regsgeskiedenis van die sluier

Met die oogmerk om die oorsprong en konteks van die regsvoorskrifte wat verband hou met die sluiering van vroue te bepaal, word die vroegste Mesopotamiese regsdokumente van die tweede en eerste millennia vC deurgewerk om die bedoeling en die kulturele konteks van die eerste regsinskrywings te bepaal. Indien die ondersoek sou stop by die behandeling van die materiële evidensie van die regsvoorskrifte ten opsigte van die sluier, sal die beslissende rol van patriargie nie duidelik blyk nie. Daarom word die wetgewing oor die sluier geëvalueer teen die agtergrond van 'n patriargale tradisie wat die gelyke regte van vroue verontagsaam en vroue en hul seksualiteit geobjektiveer het (reïfikasie). Dit word aangetoon dat die ingeburgerde tradisie van die onderwaardering van vroue verder strek as die sluier en steeds voortgesit word in huidige patriargale samelewings. Daar is egter tans besliste veranderings in die "seksuele politiek van die kop" binne nasionalitiese bewegings in Muslimlande en -gemeenskappe.

Medieval images of womanhood: the construction of Mary of Nemmegen

Raftery, Margaret Mary

Abstract: The late-medieval English prose text Mary of Nemmegen (c 1518) relates the tale of a girl who spends seven years with the devil but is ultimately miraculously saved. In the context of Chaucer's Wife of Bath's textualisation of female experience versus male authority, this feminist study problematises the orthodox interpretation of the exemplum as a quintessentially medieval tale of the triumph of Good over Evil by offering a "resisting" reading of the text's constructions of Good / Evil, the church, and female identity. It does so by means of an investigation into the "authoritative" textual and iconographical sources of medieval images of womanhood - their nature and their coercive power in the construction of female identity, both generally and in the specific context of the operation of their discourse in Mary of Nemmegen. The text's culminating dream is also read "resistingly" as unmasking the falsity of these images of womanhood by liberating the text to interrogate and deconstruct its own key terms, notably the binary Good / Evil and the medieval church's construction of God.

Middeleeuse beelde van die vrou: die konstruksie van Mary in Mary of Nemmegen

Die Laat-Middelengelse prosateks Mary of Nemmegen (c 1518) vertel die verhaal van 'n meisie wat sewe jaar lank met die duiwel verkeer maar uiteindelik deur middel van 'n wonderwerk verlos word. Binne die kader van die tekstualisering van vroulike ondervinding teenoor manlike outoriteit in Chaucer se Wife of Bath, problematiseer hierdie feministiese analise die tradisionele siening van die exemplum as 'n tipies-middeleeuse storie oor die sege van die Goeie oor die Bose; dit bied 'n herwaardering wat sig teen die teks se konstruksies van die Goeie en die Bose, die kerk, en vroulike identiteit "verset". Hierdie herwaardering geskied op grond van 'n ondersoek na die gesaghebbende tekstuele en ikonografiese bronne vir vroulike identiteit in die middeleeue: die aard en die konstruktiewe dwangmag daarvan, so algemeen gesien, sowel as in die spesifieke konteks van die werking van sodanige diskoerse in Mary of Nemmegen. Die droom waarmee die teks sy klimaks bereik, word ook "met verset" gelees. Op hierdie manier ontmasker dit as't ware die valsheid van die teks se beelde van die vrou. Sodoende word die teks uiteindelik vrygestel om selfrefleksief al sy sleutelterme, vernaamlik die binêre opposisie Goed / Kwaad en die middeleeuse kerk se konstruksie van God, te bevraagteken en te dekonstrueer.

Reception, deception, illusion and magic: feminism and theoretical practice

De Villiers Human, Suzanne; Visagie, Johann

Abstract: This article is an exploration of the relationship between ideology theory, feminism and "theoretical practice". It is an attempt to formulate a "figurative semiotics" in which theory is "seen" to be done. There is a tendency within feminist art whereby, as a strategy to address "actual readers" and to concretely affect the "real" world, artists humorously exploit the association of art, magic, illusion and deception in order to shock, move or activate their audiences. We argue that such feminist art, which humorously enhances art's potentially carnalising impact on a gendered spectator, can be linked to a longer tradition of ideology-sensitive picaresque art which humorously keeps alive an awareness of art's power to deceive.

Resepsie, illusie, bedrog en die magiese: die feminisme en teoretiese praktyk

Hierdie artikel is 'n ondersoek na die verhouding tussen ideologie-teorie, feminisme en "teoretiese praktyk". Dit is 'n poging om volgens die "figuratiewe semiotiek" te werk te gaan, waardeur teoretiese onderskeidinge "visueel waargeneem" word. Daar is 'n onderskeibare neiging by feministiese kunstenaars om die verwantskappe tussen kuns, illusionisme, bedrog en die magiese op humoristiese wyse in te span as 'n strategie om toeskouers te skok, te ontroer en te aktiveer. Die outeurs argumenteer dat hierdie soort feministiese kuns, met 'n liggaamlike en geslagtelike impak op toeskouers, gekoppel kan word aan 'n langer tradisie van ideologie-sensitiewe pikareske kuns, waarin kuns se vermoë om te bedrieg op humoristiese wyse lewendig gehou is.

Fractious holism: the complex relationship between women and war

Hudson, Heidi

Abstract: Feminists have agreed to disagree on the interaction between women and war. This is elucidated by means of a critical assessment of the various positions of feminists regarding comprehensive human security in general and military security in particular. It is argued that a feminist perspective has the potential to raise consciousness and contextualise women's insecurity by employing gender as a principle of social organisation. This argument is supported by the contention that the relationship between women and war may be characterised as a fractious holism dominated by difference and multiplicity rather than harmony and stability. Such an imperfect holism gives rise to a plurality of ambiguities and complexities in relation to globalisation, militarism, combat and the broadly conceptualised notion of gender violence.

Gefragmenteerde holisme: die komplekse verhouding tussen vroue en oorlog

Feministe verskil onderling oor die interaksie tussen vroue en oorlog. Dit word onder die soeklig geplaas by wyse van 'n kritiese ontleding van die gedifferensieerde feministiese standpunte rakende omvattende menslike sekuriteit in die algemeen en militêre veiligheid in die besonder. Dit word aangevoer dat die feministiese perspektief oor die potensiaal beskik om, deur middel van gender as 'n kategorie van ontleding, groter bewussyn rondom die onveiligheid van vroue te bevorder. Die argument word gerugsteun deur die standpunt dat die verhouding tussen vroue en oorlog 'n gefragmenteerde holisme verteenwoordig, waar verskille en veelvuldigheid eerder as harmonie en stabiliteit heers. 'n Onperfekte holisme lei tot 'n veelvoud van dubbelsinnighede en ingewikkeldhede met betrekking tot globalisering, militarisme, vegtery en die breë begrip geslagtelike geweld.

Gender issues in housing delivery in the Free State since 1994

Marais, Lochner

Abstract: Although policies have become far more gender-sensitive there is still no guarantee that females and males have 'comparatively speaking' the same access to housing opportunities. In South Africa (specifically the Free State), although the housing policy has no discriminatory clauses it does not necessarily impact positively on the living conditions of women. While specific attempts are being made to increase the role played by women in the construction of houses, the power dynamic is overwhelming against women. More attention needs to be paid to understanding gender issues and effectively integrating their implications into policy.

Aspekte van geslag in behuising: 'n evaluasie van behuisingslewering in die Vrystaat sedert 1994

Alhoewel huidige behuisingsbeleid geen diskriminerende fasette bevat nie, is dit klaarblyklik nog nie voldoende om gelyke behuisingsomstandighede vir vroue en mans te bewerkstellig nie. In Suid-Afrika (spesifiek die Vrystaat) is daar bevind dat, ten spyte van 'n nie-diskriminerende beleid, die lewensomstandighede van vroue nog nie noodwendig positief beïnvloed is nie. Ten spyte van pogings om meer huisboukontrakte aan vroue toe te ken, wil dit voorkom asof die diskriminasie teen vroue voortduur. Veel meer aandag moet gegee word aan die integrasie en verstaan van geslagsimplikasies in die behuisingsbeleid.

Redress and empowerment for gender equity in South African education

Niemann, Rita

Abstract: This study subjects gender equity in the South African education sector to scrutiny by focusing on gender domination, empowerment and redress in order to offer guidelines for effective movement towards gender equity. The education system is the single largest organisation in the country and could thus make a major contribution to the establishment of gender equity, if all forms of sexism and discrimination could be eradicated and if the necessary redress and empowerment were achieved. This study investigates sexism and discrimination, management, the school and the classroom as areas in urgent need of redress and then provides guidelines for rectifying the existing imbalances and for creating a foundation for sound gender relations.

Regstelling en bemagtiging vir geslagsgelykheid in die Suid-Afrikaanse onderwys

Hierdie studie neem geslagsgelykheid in die Suid-Afrikaanse onderwys onder die loep deur op geslagsdominansie, bemagtiging en die regstelling van ongelykhede te fokus sodat riglyne vir 'n doelgerigte beweging na geslagsgelykheid neergelê kan word. Die onderwysstelsel is die grootste enkele organisasie in die land en kan 'n belangrike bydrae tot die vestiging van geslagsgelykheid lewer, mits die onderwysstelsel self vry is van seksisme en diskriminasie en die nodige regstelling en bemagtiging sou plaasvind. Hierdie studie ondersoek seksisme en diskriminasie in die onderwysbestuur, die skool en die klaskamer, terreine waar 'n dringende behoefte aan regstelling bestaan en lê dan riglyne neer om die bestaande ongelykhede uit die weg te ruim en 'n grondslag vir gesonde geslagsverhoudinge daar te stel.

Sexual harassment in South African and American law

Snyman-Van Deventer, Elisabeth; De Bruin, Jaco

Abstract: Sexual harassment in the workplace is a grave problem and a significant obstacle to access to many sectors of the labour market. The number of sexual harassment complaints increases dramatically every year, although researchers estimate that 80 to 90% of such cases go unreported. Despite the high figures, few South African court cases and little of the legal literature deals with sexual harassment. The reason for this is that few victims of harassment report it for fear of losing their jobs or being ridiculed. Sexual harassment is an infringement upon a person's personality and thus an iniurandi. Negligence never suffices to prove liability. The South African Constitution determines that no-one shall be discriminated against and this provision includes a person's right to work without harassment or discrimination. It is therefore essential that all employers ensure all employees of a safe environment without discrimination. Employers must adopt a policy on sexual harassment, communicate it to all employees and ensure that it is adhered to. If harassment does take place, the procedure and disciplinary process prescribed in the policy must be enforced.

Seksuele teistering in die Suid-Afrikaanse en Amerikaanse reg

Seksuele teistering in die werkplek is 'n ernstige probleem en 'n wesenlike belemmering vir die toeganklikheid van die werksplek. Die aantal klagtes rakende seksuele teistering neem jaarliks drasties toe. Navorsers beraam dat 80 tot 90% van gevalle egter nie gerapporteer word nie. Ten spyte van die groot aantal gevalle word daar relatief min aandag in die literatuur en howe aan seksuele teistering gegee. Die rede is dat min mense wat geteister is die saak aanhangig maak, uit vrees dat hulle hul werk kan verloor of bespot kan word. Seksuele teistering is 'n skending van die persoonlikheidsregte van die individu en dus iniurandi. Die Suid-Afrikaanse Grondwet bepaal dat daar nie gediskrimineer mag word teen enige persoon nie, wat 'n persoon se reg om sonder teistering te werk insluit. Dit is derhalwe noodsaaklik dat werkgewers 'n veilige werksomgewing sonder diskriminasie vir alle werknemers verseker. Gevolglik behoort werkgewers 'n beleid rakende seksuele teistering daar te stel en sorg te dra dat dit aan werknemers gekommunikeer word. Indien seksuele teistering wel plaasvind, moet die prosedure en dissiplinêre proses soos uiteengesit in die beleid gevolg word.