Browsing by Author "Mulqueeny, Delarise Maud."

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Primary school and the construction of transgender identities: views from learners.
(2019) Syed, Laaiqah.; Bhana, Deevia.; Mulqueeny, Delarise Maud.
This phenomenological qualitative study examines the learners’ understanding of transgender identities in a primary school. My study focuses on how 12 to15 year-old girls and boys make meaning of the term transgender and the factors that shape their understanding of the concept. The research site is an urban primary school, Mbali Primary (pseudonym) which is located in Sydenham, Durban, in the province KwaZulu-Natal. My methodology within this study was aimed at investigating the lived experiences and opinions of particular individuals who made up my sample group. The sample group comprised a mixed group of learners from grades 6 and 7, ranging in ages from 12 to 15 years. I conducted 34 semi-structured interviews and eight focus group discussions. The findings reveal that there is an interrelation between societal ideologies and learners’ understanding of the term transgender. There is a distinct convergence of hetero-normativity, power relations and traditional gender binaries. In this study it was evident that the majority of participants held negative attitudes towards non-conforming identities. Incidentally, participants who were closely acquainted with non-conforming identities demonstrated favourable attitudes. Television and social media were influential in the way in which participants made meaning of transgender identities. They encouraged positive attitudes towards non-conforming identities. The findings indicated that the school curriculum did not provide adequate scope in terms of sexuality and gender. This creates a lack of awareness which perpetuates into transphobia and the marginalisation of non-conforming identities. The findings provide insight into the position of transgender learners within schools and societies and the reasons that some children are reluctant to disclose their sexual orientation or identity. It will also become more evident why many heterosexual learners are reluctant to interact with transgender identities. This study concludes by recommending amendments to school policies, ways to improve school functionality as well as general interventions to promote tolerance of learners irrespective of their transgender orientation.
A study of the dating and sexual challenges faced by HIV positive people.
(2012) Mulqueeny, Delarise Maud.; Kasiram, Madhubala Ishver.
Dating and sexual relations are basic processes in the lives of most human beings. However, dating and sexual relationships in HIV positive peoples’ lives are fraught with challenges. Limited knowledge of these challenges is recorded. Studies focusing on the challenges of serodiscordance, ARVS, adherence, side effects of ARVS, condoms, reproduction, disclosure and stigma are plentiful, however studies addressing dating and sexual challenges of HIV positive people are sadly lacking. The study described and explored the dating and sexual challenges faced by HIV infected people. The systems and ecosystems approach provided the theoretical framework for the study. A descriptive and exploratory design was chosen for this study. Purposive and snowball sampling was utilised to access respondents for this study. Data was collected qualitatively, using semi-structured interviews with 12 HIV positive respondents. The interviewed lasted between 1 to 2 hours. This study found that People living with HIV (PLHIV) experience many challenges in their dating and sexual lives. The challenges varied amongst the respondents. The challenges were divided into the following themes: disclosure; stigma; rejection and discrimination; dating options to pursue; serosorting or abstaining; guilt; anger; blame; social disconnection; negative self esteem and fear; physical, medical and psychological factors; impact of ARVS; sexual changes/sexual dysfunction; reproduction; community/society; the media; counselling, awareness and education about dating and sexual relationships; government and the consequences of relationships ending. The study encouraged further research on the topic.