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    Gender awareness in Japan International Cooperation Agency's development assistance : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy in Development Studies, Massey University
    (Massey University, 1999) Matsui, Junko
    In the past, development efforts have failed to bring about genuine women's development which concerns both women's well-being and their status in the Third World. In order to achieve women's development, thorough understanding of the causes of women's underdevelopment, sound conceptualisation of women and development and strategies to bring about women's development are required. States and development agencies have specific perception on women and conceptualise women and development in various ways. From the different concepts we could expect different outcomes. In this research I look at implications of Japan International Cooperation Agency's women in development policy concerning women's development in the Third World. In the first part of this research, I discuss concepts and strategies for women's development. The earlier thought on women and development, emerged in 1970s, attributes failure of past development efforts bringing about women's development, to preconceptions policymakers and planners have about women's roles in their families communities and nations. However, women's issues and women's projects were often continued to be marginalised within the development efforts which is informed by the perspective. Another perspective identified women's subordination to men as the fundamental cause of women's disadvantages they face. Strategies for women's development are suggested based on the perspective problematising women's subordination in this research. The strategies must involve the improvement of women's immediate conditions and the change of unequal gender relations. Women's needs to achieve their well-being and ones derived from their tasks need to be identified and addressed. It is recognised that improvement of women's status is necessary to achieve their well-being. Women's needs could be addressed through both women specific projects and mainstream projects. In order to alter women's subordination to men transformative intervention was suggested. The transformative intervention seeks to address women's interests in transforming gender relations in a project addressing women's material needs. Moreover, in order for women to become agents of their development and to alter power within gender relations, women's self­ empowerment process must be encouraged. Self-empowerment is regarded as complementary to the strategies. Self-empowerment includes conscientisation about oppressive structure, and mobilisation of women to meet their own needs. JICA concerns about women's participation in development projects, identification of gender division of labour and improvement of women's well-being in the Third World. However, JICA's concept of Women in Development is grounded on the perspective advocated in 1970s and is not informed by the failures of attempts made during 1970s and 1980s. JICA fails to problematise unequal gender relations and to develop strategies to transform gender relations. Hence, self-empowerment and transformative intervention are not recognised. JICA also lacks awareness toward marginalisation of women's issues and women's projects in development operation. Women's subordination in planning procedures reflects in the number of WID-related projects implemented and the kinds of needs addressed through development projects.
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    "Lasses, live up to your privileges, and stand up for your rights!" : gender equality in the Salvation Army in New Zealand, 1883-1960 : a thesis submitted to Massey University in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in History
    (Massey University, 2017) Hendy, Raewyn
    This thesis evaluates The Salvation Army’s claim that women and men had equal status in the organisation, in the light of research from elsewhere in the world that women did not have genuinely equal opportunities in the organisation. It examines the gender history of The Salvation Army in New Zealand from the time of its arrival in Dunedin in 1883 until 1960 with its primary aim being to determine the nature and extent of gender equality in the organisation during this period. In order to do this, it examines the roles, opportunities and responsibilities offered both to male and female officers; discusses how women and men were portrayed in official publications, primarily the New Zealand edition of The War Cry; and looks for both obvious and subtle signs of discrimination against women officers. It also attempts to uncover traces of the voices and stories of the women who served The Salvation Army in New Zealand. Throughout the period under investigation women officers made up a very high proportion of Salvation Army officers in New Zealand. Prior to World War One, particularly in the period from 1883 to 1900, women officers were able to participate in most aspects of the work of The Salvation Army in New Zealand, with positions appearing to be allocated on merit and availability rather than on gender. Over time however and particularly in the years from 1930 to 1960, women officers were increasingly relegated to positions in smaller corps and into roles involving the care of women and children. Married women officers were often treated as subordinate to their husbands and offered limited opportunities within the organisation. The Salvation Army increasingly conformed to, rather than challenged, the gender mores of other religious denominations and of New Zealand society more generally. Therefore, I conclude, that on balance, although there were occasionally some exceptional women, and at some points, particularly during the years prior to World War One, a degree of equality, that The Salvation Army in New Zealand largely failed to offer equality of opportunity, or equal roles, responsibilities and status to its women officers.
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    Patriarchy, power and tradition : third world women, human rights and gender violence in the context of global economic imperialism : a thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Social Anthropology at Massey University
    (Massey University, 2000) Tanguay, Antoinette Mary
    Whether sanctioned by society, made into law, or simply tolerated, gender-based abuse and discrimination against women occurs in virtually every country throughout the world. Under democracy and dictatorship, in times or war and times of peace, the human rights of women and girls are violated daily, and often systematically. Although the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights proclaims: "All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights", women's freedom, dignity and equality are persistently compromised by law and custom in ways that men's are not. Through the articulation of Third World women's writing and first person dialogue, this study seeks to explore the relationship between cross cultural violence against women, and the cultural or religious practices that are often used to legitimate its existence. Through the use of four specific case studies - women in Islam, the Taliban as an example of religious fundamentalism, female genital mutilation and the international trafficking of women for sex tourism - I attempt to position the international phenomenon of violence against women within today's globalised world economic structure. Through exploring and revealing the cross cultural nature of gender violence, this study attempts to illustrate how patriarchal values are reinforced through religious, cultural and political structures in both western and Third World society. Through the utilisation of human-centered anthropological methodology, this study aims to present a wide ranging discussion of these complex issues in such a way that the world view of the women who the study is about is presented as paramount. Through recognising and naming my location as a western woman writing about the lives of women in the Third World, I hope to make it clear from the outset of this study that I do not intend to speak for, or on behalf of, women whose experiences I have not shared, but aim instead to address and discuss a range of complex issues that are of vital importance not only to the discipline of anthropology, but to the wider world in which we live.
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    The impact of institutional-political factors of employment equity : a comparative study of the policy framework in New Zealand and Australia : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Social Policy at Massey University
    (Massey University, 1995) Fordham, Annabel Mary
    This study addresses the question: to what extent does the development of employment equity for women rely upon direct government intervention in the labour market? Particular attention is given to how institutional arrangements and structural factors in New Zealand and Australia affect the achievement of employment equity. These factors include: the system of wage-fixing and negotiation of conditions; the human rights, equal pay and equal employment opportunity legislation; and the agencies that administer these policies. This research takes a comparative public policy approach, using official statistics and documentary analysis. The extent of employment equity is measured in terms of equal female and male labour force participation; the elimination of the earnings gap; and the reduction of occupational and industrial segregation. By making a comparison with the Australian situation, this research examines the proposition that the movement towards a deregulated labour market in New Zealand has inhibited the achievement of employment equity for women. The period covered is 1980-94. The study found that labour force participation rates increased for Australian women over the period 1987-94, while the labour force participation rate for New Zealand women fluctuated during this same period. Depending on the measure used, the earnings gap in New Zealand has slightly widened, or at the most, remained static since 1987. In Australia, male and female earnings continue to slowly converge. Ordinary time weekly earnings for Australian women and men are 6-8 percent closer together than is the case for their New Zealand counterparts. The total weekly earnings of Australian women and men are also approximately 6 percent closer than between New Zealand women and men. In Australia, any improvements have occurred under a centralised bargaining system, reflecting a greater level of government intervention in the labour market. In New Zealand, however, women's position in the labour market has slightly deteriorated over the period of deregulation and lack of employment equity policies. Women's position in the labour market is discussed critically in the light of the institutional and statutory differences of the two countries.