Browsing by Author "Nzuza, Nokwanda Yoliswa."

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Awareness and understanding of dementia among women in rural areas: HA-Sephapo, Mohale's Hoek, Lesotho.
(2020) Mokhosi, Mamatsie Margaret.; Nzuza, Nokwanda Yoliswa.
Dementia is increasingly becoming a health issue that must be prioritised in national policies. With the increased life expectancy in both developed and developing countries, there is a high percentage of demented patients as it is highly associated with ageing. However, the prevalence is higher in ethnic communities in developing countries, especially amongst elderly women. As a mental health illness, dementia is not only a public health problem but is also linked with social challenges: dementia patients are victimised and stigmatised because of the symptoms presented by dementia. The purpose of the research was to assess awareness and understanding of dementia amongst women in the community of Ha-Sephapo. It investigated measures taken by the Lesotho Ministry of Social Development in raising awareness and understanding of dementia as a whole, and explored the understanding of dementia among women of Ha-Sephapo. The research study employed both an evaluative and qualitative research design and gathered data using semi-structured interviews, with open-ended questions for the participants. From the findings of the study, it was discovered that the Ministry of Social Development is not doing much to raise awareness and understanding of dementia in rural areas and to keep older women safe. It was also revealed from the participants' narratives that little is known about dementia as a mental health condition, and that they have not linked the illness to normal ageing. This lack of knowledge puts women in danger as some of the symptoms are related to witchcraft, in the minds of the community. Therefore, the researcher recommends that more programmes should be developed, not just by the Ministry of Social Development but also by involved stakeholders, to raise awareness and understanding of dementia among women in rural areas. This will help combat the victimisation and stigmatisation of older women showing some symptoms of dementia.
The effectiveness of the Occupational Health and Safety principle in relation to women workers at the Lesotho Precious Garment factory.
(2018) Chesetsi, Lisemelo Lydia.; Nzuza, Nokwanda Yoliswa.
The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the occupational health and safety principles at the Lesotho Precious Garments factory. The study investigated the perceptions and the experiences of Basotho women working at the Lesotho Precious Garments factory. The study employed an evaluative, qualitative research design. Major findings were gathered through the use of semi-structured, open-ended interviews with women working at the Lesotho Precious Garments factory, and the officials from the Ministry of Labour and Employment and the Department of Health and Environment. Findings from this study revealed that some of the common hazards that workers are exposed to include: physical, ergonomic, psycho-social and mechanical hazards. Furthermore, the findings revealed that there is no national policy regarding occupational health and safety in the textile industries of Lesotho. It became evident from the narratives of the participants that the absence of a national health and safety policy in Lesotho has trivialised safety issues within the industry. Consequently this has increased the rate of occupational hazards in textile industries. The study therefore recommends that there is a need for a comprehensive national policy to oversee the activities of factory owners in complying with international labour standards.
Never marry a woman with big feet : the proverbial oppression of women in Igbo African culture : an investigation of the semantics of female devaluation in Igbo African proverbs.
(2017) Chikwelu, Emmanuel J.; Otu, Monica Njanjokuma.; Nzuza, Nokwanda Yoliswa.
Gender discourse has occupied an important position in African scholarship. The question is no longer whether women are being marginalized and abused, the question is how and why women are abused and relegated. Men in various cultures and societies have taken the responsibility for the construction of female identity based on some gender stereotype through cultural vehicles such as proverb. Proverbs in Igbo African culture have perpetuated the mainstream oppression and subjugation of women in Igbo society of Nigeria. Like in many other African cultures, proverbs help in defining moral consciousness, thought and belief. They are at the core of African oral literature and are believed to be a reflection of wisdom and truth preserved and passed from one generation to the other. Nonetheless, the beauty presented by this integral aspect of African folklore has been partial and paints a derogatory image about women. This stereotypical depiction of women in Igbo African proverbs has continued to limit and deny the notable contributions of women in the enhancement of humanity in the society. This study, therefore seeks to interrogate the overt sexism in Igbo African proverbs. Through the use of in-depth interview and qualitative content analysis, this study highlights evidence of marginalization of women in Igbo African proverbs. The study equally makes use of social construct and liberal feminist theory to give a thick descriptive approach to the issue at hand. The study makes use of 5 in-depth interviews and 16 proverbs samples collected from written texts and unwritten narratives accessed from Nigerian movie industry (Nollywood) and other visual sources.
Renegotiating body image and sexuality after surviving breast cancer: narratives of young Black African women.
(2016) Nzuza, Nokwanda Yoliswa.; Naidu, Uma Maheshvari.
This study provides a contemporary contextualisation of the challenges that young Black African women face once they are diagnosed with breast cancer. It focuses particularly on 15 young Black African women in the age category of 24 and 40 living in Durban, South Africa. Using the interpretative paradigm, social identity theory as well as social construction theory, this study analyses young women’s understanding of their bodies as ‘African assets’ before and after breast surgery. This study used data collection methods such as focus groups, open-ended interviews, and observations to collect thick descriptions of the challenges that have been faced by young women, as well as stories of how the women have renegotiated their body image and sexuality. The findings of this study indicated that sociocultural expectations play a vital role in how young Black women understand themselves as individuals, partners, and family members. The findings also reveal that women are led to believe that ‘real’ African women can be seen through their appearance and physical attributes. The young women shared a common understanding of how Black African men prioritised when choosing potential partners. This construction of a women’s body was understood to be challenged once young Black African women started cancer treatment as this affected their physical and emotional well-being through medical challenges such as breast reconstruction, hair loss, depression and infertility. In an attempt to preserve their African assets and fertility, this study reports on the traditional and spiritual measures that young women engaged in with the help of traditional healers and spiritualists, to renegotiate their body image and sexuality.
The role of 'home food' in maintaining identity through social network ties : Sierra Leone migrants in Durban.
(2012) Nzuza, Nokwanda Yoliswa.; Naidu, Uma Maheshvari.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of ‘home food’ in the lives of Sierra Leoneans living in Durban who are members of the Sierra Leonean Association. Another aim was to find out if communal sharing of ‘home food’ in social networks assisted migrants in maintaining their home identity. To collect thick descriptive narratives from the twenty six members of the Sierra Leonean Association, this qualitative study used semi-structured, open-ended interview questions, participation observation and focus groups. The preliminary results of this study showed that for this group of migrants, ‘home food’ such as cassava leaves, egusi and okra play a significant role in mentally transporting these migrants vicariously back to their home country. Narratives showed that ‘home food’ acts as an ‘agent’ for maintaining home identity for Sierra Leonean migrants. The atmosphere in which ‘home food’ was eaten was said to have contributed to minimizing their longing for home as through food-related routines migrants brought’ home’ to their current living places. The conclusion can also be drawn that ‘home food’ plays a crucial role in preserving identity for Sierra Leoneans. It is one of the means by which culture can be maintained even when migrants are very far from home.
Understanding the factors contributing to sexual harassment amongst black African university students.
(2021) Ngubelanga, Noluvo Loveness.; Nzuza, Nokwanda Yoliswa.
Depictions of the sexuality of female university students included themes of insecurity, subordination, submissiveness and passivity. This study presents lived experiences of sexual harassment among Black African university students within a socio-cultural, gender and feminist context to understand the factors that lead to sexual harassment. Sexual harassment encounters among female university students created a questionable background for the victim to pursue arrangements of authority and ultimately exercise sexual power, agency and subjectivity. The research also tried to understand the degree to which these interactions were culturally and socially focused. Michael Foucault's concepts of sexuality and power, social constructionist epistemology and the theory of social identity influenced the theoretical analytical support of this research. The research implemented qualitative interpretive approaches that were in-depth individual interviews and focus group discussions. Data analysis and interpretation was carried out using the thematic and material analysis of Social Sciences. The study used convenient & purposive sampling techniques and 24 participants formed this study. In the form of graphs and emerging themes from the investigation, the study results are discussed. Black African university students' narratives portrayed a sexually dysfunctional context in which the perceptions of sexual abuse of the participants were reciprocity of social cultural and individual variables. Although sexual harassment at the university was found endemic, it was described as marginalized and underreported. A dissent from the notions of sexual docility and passivity retained in the current literature is addressed in this review. The study found sexual harassment as socialized in societies and societal norms for decades the normalization is through silence and rape culture. It is important to resolve and take aggressive and sexually abusive climates as a priority because it is a hindrance to the well-being and wellbeing of students. The research also found the LGBTQI+ and women students as often victims of sexual harassment by men who were more wealthy and influential than them.