Browsing by Author "Palm, Selina"

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
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    A place to feel free: Digital storytelling research report
    (University of the Western Cape, 2024) Kayser, Naythan; Palm, Selina
    The research report titled "A Space to Feel Free? Digital Storytelling Around Gender-Based Violence at UWC" presents findings from a student-led investigation conducted in 2022 at the University of the Western Cape (UWC). Authored by Dr. Selina Palm, this study is part of the Gender Equity and Empowerment Project (GEEP) and aims to enhance understanding of gender-based violence (GBV) through the perspectives of UWC students. Utilizing a qualitative and participatory methodology, the research involved seven Digital Storytelling Ambassadors who shared their insights via voice notes, capturing diverse experiences related to GBV on campus. The report identifies key themes such as types of GBV, safety perceptions, gender norms, and institutional responses, emphasizing the importance of student voices in shaping effective interventions. The findings aim to inform UWC's programming and contribute to broader discussions on GBV within South African higher education institutions.
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    Collaborating for change: Exploring gender equity, empowerment and violence at the University of the Western Cape
    (University of the Western Cape, 2024) Kayser, Naythan; Palm, Selina
    This report, titled "Collaborating for Change: Exploring Gender Equity, Empowerment, and Violence at the University of the Western Cape," presents interim findings from a qualitative study conducted under the Gender Equity and Empowerment Project (GEEP). The research aims to address critical issues surrounding sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) within South African universities, particularly UWC. Through Key Informant Interviews with students and staff, the report highlights perceptions of institutional strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for improvement in addressing gender norms and SGBV. The findings emphasize the importance of practice-based knowledge in shaping effective responses to these challenges and contribute to a broader understanding of how universities can enhance their duty of care towards students while fostering a safer and more inclusive academic environment.
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    Walking the talk: Journeying towards gender justice at UWC findings from student-centered research
    (University of the Western Cape, 2024) Palm, Selina; Kayser, Naythan
    Preventing and responding to gender-based violence (GBV), often with a particular focus on sexual violence (SGBV), has become a critical issue for universities across South Africa. This research report highlights key findings from empirical qualitative research carried out with students and staff at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) from 2022-2023 under the UCDG-funded Gender Equity and Empowerment Project (GEEP). It aims to help UWC better understand and improve institution-wide initiatives related to advancing gender justice and addressing GBV. This involves gaining perspectives from male and female students and student-facing staff and to enable both these groups, as insiders within this space, to contribute towards knowledge production. This research study was led by Dr Selina Palm, an experienced global researcher on GBV, who was situated within the Centre for Student Support Services (CSSS) at UWC over this research period. It takes a comprehensive, intersectional lens on GBV which includes queer violence against gender and sexual minority groups and sees gender justice as fundamentally connected to other social justice issues and wellbeing concerns at UWC including race, socio-economic location, sexuality, disabilities and mental health. Methodology: The overarching research question that guided this study was What lessons can be learned from Gender Equity and Empowerment Program (GEEP) activities (2021-2023) run by CSSS about how to bridge current gaps between policies and practices at UWC around the effective implementation of a holistic institution-wide approach to addressing GBV? In line with the wider GEEP mandate, the research took a comprehensive approach to gender justice based on a body of existing evidence that shows that GBV is entangled with and fuelled by wider patterns of gender inequality.