Faculty of Arts and Humanities

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The 1945 General Strike in Northern Nigeria and its Role in Anti-Colonial Nationalism
(University of the Western Cape, 2014) Yohanna, Stephen; Rousseau, Nicky
This thesis follows the course of the Nigerian general strike of 1945 in the Northern provinces, a previously under-researched region. It examines some of the many ways in which the strike has been understood in the academy, focusing in particular on the works of Alkasum Abba, Kazah-Toure and Bill Freund who have regarded the strike as well supported and successful. By employing Ian Phimister and Brian Raftopoulos's analysis of the 1948 general strike in colonial Zimbabwe, this thesis re-reads the narrative of success by bringing to the fore previosuly ignored issues relating to questions of planning, tactics, propaganda, solidarity, leadership, and execution of the strike. This re-reading reveals a considerably more varied and uneven response across and within the different categories of workers than has been previously assumed by scholars. Such unevenness challenges notions of "solidarity" and "steadfastness" attributed to the industrial action, with implications for how workers struggles have been incorporated into wider narratives of decolonization and anti-colonial nationalism.
The 21st century academic library: the case of three state universities in Zimbabwe
(The University of the Western Cape, 2018) Mabweazara, Rangarirai Moira; Zinn, Sandy
The advent of the 21st century and its dynamic information environment have changed higher education considerably including the library spaces. Library patrons, namely undergraduates, postgraduates, and academics are placing heavy demands on academic libraries requiring support in research, teaching and learning. As a result, academic librarians globally have undertaken major re-evaluations of what they do and how they do it, to ensure relevance amongst their diverse user communities. The new information landscape is fraught with controversies that prompt opposing perspectives towards change acceptance amongst librarians. In Zimbabwe, academic libraries seemed to be lagging behind regarding changes presented by this information landscape. Given this context, the study sought to understand how librarians are adjusting to the 21st century environment against the expectations of the students and academics. The Diffusion of Innovation Theory crafted by Rogers (2003) and the McKinsey 7S model propounded by Waterman, Peters and Phillips (1982) were used as theoretical and conceptual frameworks. The research further applied a conceptual framework from the literature to determine the expectations of students and academics of the academic library in the 21st century. For data collection, the study adopted a case study design and a mixed methods approach using Web-based questionnaires, follow-up interviews and website content analysis. Data was collected from students, academics and librarians at three selected Zimbabwean universities. All data collecting tools were pre-tested amongst librarians, academics, postgraduate and undergraduate students prior to collecting data. Data collected using questionnaires was analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) and Microsoft Excel while interview data was analysed using thematic text analysis. Findings of this study revealed that the Midlands State University Library had to a larger extent embraced new trends which are in-line with the 21st century environment compared to the National University of Science and Technology and Lupane State University libraries. The Library and Information Science qualification remains important in service delivery among academic librarians. Inadequate funding, limited time due to multitasking, slow uptake of new concepts and limited knowledge and skills were barriers to keeping up with new trends amongst librarians. Academic librarians collaborated with academics in collection development, Information Literacy Skills (ILS) teaching and uploading theses and research papers into the Institution Repository (IR).
A comparison of the views of Augustine Shutte and Thaddeus Metz on African philosophy and Ubuntu ethics
(University of the Western Cape, 2017) Ehlers, Patrick Joseph; Lombard, Christoffel
In the theoretical study of Ethics much emphasis has traditionally been placed on established ethical theories, via approaches typified e.g. as deontological, divine command, utilitarian, virtue ethics and natural ethics. At UWC all these approaches, very much entrenched in the Western academic canon, have been taught, together with ethical views carried by the world religions. Over the last few years, however, an interest in the study of African ideas (philosophy, theology, worldview studies, especially around the elusive but fascinating concept of Ubuntu) has grown. This study is an attempt to make a contribution towards a more serious exchange with African ethical ideas and their application in a global context. In this mini-thesis I compare the views of two academics, Augustine Shutte and Thaddeus Metz, who have actively and deliberately worked in the field of African philosophy and ethics. Through this comparative study of two rather different readings of Ubuntu philosophy, I wish to contribute to the growing interest in ethical views and discourse emanating from African ways of looking at the world and at humanity. The well-known, recently deceased, Augustine Shutte, a Catholic scholar of repute, taught Philosophy at the University of Cape Town, and published books such as Philosophy for Africa, The Mystery of Humanity; Ubuntu, An ethic for a New South Africa and The Quest for Humanity in Science and Religion, The South African Experience. The other scholar, the American born philosopher Thaddeus Metz, started teaching Philosophy at the University of Johannesburg and shifted his intellectual attention to African ideas and ethics. Coming from a rational Kantian approach, mixed with utilitarian ethical concerns, Metz discovered the difficulty of adding another �African mix� to main stream academia, based on the comprehensive scope of the very inclusive look at what it means to be human in the quite unique African worldview. He has published widely and in depth on many aspects of this �clash of cultures� while also holding on to enlightenment ideals and an ongoing conversation with science, especially also social science. These two authors thus share many concerns and interests, but also represent two different angles and approaches into African philosophy and ethics. The question for this limited study is formulated in the short introduction: How do Shutte and Metz connect the ethical implications of a widely shared �African worldview� with the core idea of Ubuntu, and which ethical implications do they draw from their reading of Ubuntu � for Africa and the world? These questions are addressed via five chapters: In the first an introduction to the research focus and question and the second of these the field of African Philosophy and Ethics is briefly covered via appropriate literature, thus providing a framework for comparing Shutte and Metz. The third chapter deals with Shutte�s search for an Ubuntu approach to South Africa�s problems within the African and global context - via his emphasis on an inclusive anthropology of caring and justice in which the pitfalls of individualism, materialism and consumerism can be avoided while promoting a sustainable work ethos and attunement with �science�. The fourth chapter focuses on Metz� critical deontological approach, and his attempt to take the comprehensive African worldview seriously in conversation with utility, reason and science. In the fifth chapter the comparison of these two overlapping, but still quite different with an approach that can lead to a concrete ethical conclusion and application for South Africa, Africa and the world.
A critical evaluation of the development of Rumanyo as a national language in Namibia
(University of the Western Cape, 2017) Haingura, Paulinus; Banda, Felix
Among others, the current study had been conceived due to the fact that, although Namibia is endowed with multiple languages, their development throughout the long colonial history, had been unequal. That is, some languages received more attention than others and some were hardly developed at all. After independence, Namibians had legitimate expectations that all their (different) languages would be developed equitably throughout all the regions, and among all ethnic groups or speech communities. In the post-apartheid era, however, Namibians have been subjected to a limited and unequal language and literacy development which encouraged me to conduct a research to critically evaluate the development of Rumanyo or lack of thereof. The focus of this study is on understanding the disparities in language and literacy development in Namibia with particular emphasis on ethno-regional disparities and what precipitates these inequalities. The reason for the emphasis on region and ethnicity in researching language and literacy development was due to Namibia's multi-ethnicity and the over-lapping of regions and ethnic groups.
A critical study of the use of loan words in Sesotho translations: a case study of Mangaung region
(University of the Western Cape, 2024) Molatou, Ishmael Thabang; Mokapela, Sebolelo
It has been observed that most of Sesotho translations comprise of loan words since there are not enough Sesotho equivalents when it comes to translating some from English into Sesotho. This issue is seen on how Sesotho speakers who make use of the Sesotho translations use these loan words in their vocabularies as well as in their everyday communication. It is this realization that prompted the research on how loan words impact the Sesotho translations in various socio-cultural settings in Mangaung, a region in the Free State Province. The study is therefore aimed at investigating how loan words impact Sesotho translations in various socio-cultural settings and to determine the effect these loan words have on the development of what is deemed pure Sesotho as well as on the Sesotho speaking community. Consequently, the study posed three research questions: (1) What influence does loan words have on the Sesotho speakers (the inter-generational speakers of Sesotho aged between 18 years to above 65 years) within the region of Mangaung? (2) How loan words in Sesotho translations affect the socio-cultural settings of Mangaung? (3) What are the advantages and disadvantages of using these loan words within the Basotho linguistic community? The study employed a qualitative method research approach to gain an understanding of the language practitioners’ choices as well as perceptions of the language users on the use of loan words. The sample of this study is fourteen (14) Sesotho translators from various language practice fields, thirty (30) Sesotho students with a focus group of ten (10) students who are studying Language Practice and Media Studies at one higher education institution in the Free State Province and nine (9) general Sesotho speakers. Ethnographic tools such as interviews and questionnaires were used to gain an understanding on the choice to use borrowed words.
A decolonial anthropology: You can dismantle the master’s house with the master’s tools
(Sage, 2024) Venkatesan, Soumhya; Gillespie, Kelly; Ntarangwi, Mwenda
The 2022 meeting of the Group for Debates in Anthropological Theory (GDAT) Social Anthropology, University of Manchester. The motion is, of course, a riff on Audre Lorde’s well-known 1984 claim that ‘the master’s tools will never dismantle the master’s house. They may allow us temporarily to beat him at his own game, but they will never enable us to bring about genuine change.’ Lorde is asking about the tools of a racist and constitutionally exclusionary world, but we can ask similar questions about the tools of an academic discipline, anthropology, which arose during the height of empire, and the house that anthropology has built and its location in the university. Are anthropology’s tools able to dismantle a house built on oppression, exploitation and discrimination and then build a different better house? If not, then what kinds of other tools might we use, and what is it that we might want to build? The motion is proposed by David Mills and Mwenda Ntarangwi and opposed by Kelly Gillespie and Naisargi Dav´e with Soumhya Venkatesan convening and editing the debate for publication.
A disposable diaper collection project in Langa, Cape Town, South Africa: a pilot study
(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), 2024) Schenck, Catherina; Grobler, Lizette; Niyobuhungiro, Rissa; Kimani, Alexander
In developing countries, there is currently no established waste management plan that includes resource recovery from used disposable diapers (DDs) apart from incineration and landfilling. In low-income areas with limited storage space, the complex composition and odour of used DDs make it impossible to manage properly if not supported by effective waste management systems. In the absence of effective waste management, DDs are dumped in open spaces, burned or buried. These actions pose threats to the safety and health of humans, animals and the environment. Separation and collection of DDs are critical preliminary steps to landfilling, recycling or beneficiation. In this article, we describe a case study of two pilot collection projects in Langa township in Cape Town, South Africa, to determine whether and how a source-separated collection system can work in low-income, resource-constrained areas. The lessons learned highlighted the following: The eagerness of parents to participate for the benefit of their own and their children’s health; the complementarity of the two pilot collection models to serve the needs of the community; the important role non-government organisations play in the implementation of waste management projects; the significance of the possible job creation opportunities and the unintended benefits of enhancing social cohesion. The financial sustainability of these projects needs further exploration.
A fragmented history: visual sites of trauma in Zoë Wicomb's works of fiction
(University of the Western Cape, 2024) Petersen, Charlise Wall; Wittenberg, Hermann
Words cannot express my gratitude towards my supervisor, Dr Hermann Wittenberg, whose patience, words of encouragement, and outstanding feedback challenged my growth, and gave me the confidence to complete this thesis. I am also grateful for The University of the Western Cape which has always been a welcoming space to conduct my research, and for the Arts Faculty and English Department staff members whose professionalism and passion for learning helped to shape the academic I am today. I am indebted to the generosity of the A.W. Mellon Foundation which allowed me academic freedom, and without which I would not have accomplished this goal. I also wish to offer sincere thanks to my supportive friends and family, both nationally and internationally. Their prayers, texts and words of encouragement truly kept me going. In addition, I would be remiss not to offer a special word of thanks to my amazing mother who is unwavering in kindness and love, and whose support and enthusiasm carried me through the tough times. I hope this achievement makes her proud. I am also grateful for the support of my wonderful husband. He kept me smiling and motivated, carrying the load with me. I am thankful for his loving patience which made this task less daunting. Most chiefly, I owe this achievement to my God whose faithfulness I lean on, and who gave me this passion for academia and writing. All glory belongs to Him.
A land occupation called Covid in the time of COVID-19
(University of the Western Cape, 2024) Mvimbi, Yanathi; Benson, Koni
Most people would associate the word “Covid” with the coronavirus pandemic that disrupted people’s lives globally in 2020. However, in this research, besides referring to the pandemic, “Covid” refers to a land occupation in Cape Town, South Africa. Living without proper housing is one of the hardest struggles that millions of poor black South Africans experience every day. Reflecting ongoing spatial apartheid, it is one of the greatest injustices of the democratic era that many people still do not have a decent home. This research seeks to understand the struggles that people went through during and after COVID-19 in the land occupation that resulted in the informal settlement named Covid. The mini-thesis documents how settlements like Covid are publicly represented through a critical reading of a selection of news articles, government media statements and nongovernmental organisation (NGO) reports. The paper examines how these ‘outsider’ perspectives represent and construct socioeconomic rights, poverty and inequality and how this impacts their attitudes and solutions to homelessness in Cape Town. The study highlights the roles of NGOs and social movements in the fight against spatial injustice during and since the pandemic. Most importantly, all these perspectives are contrasted with how Covid residents represent themselves and their decision to occupy land.
A phenomenological discourse analysis of harassed female 'skinscapes' in select public spaces in Cape Town
(University of the Western Cape, 2018) Harry, Janine; Banda, Felix; Peck, Amiena
Street harassment refers to the unsolicited verbal remarks and nonverbal gestures that women are subjected to by men when moving through (public) spaces. The dominant discourse sees this phenomenon as firstly a gendered interaction. In this sense, men are construed as initiators and women as recipients, although this is not always the case. Secondly, the remarks are often viewed as solely sexualized in nature. Lastly, public spaces are seen as male realms in which the actions of males are context specific, whereby the public nature of space sees it as conducive for inevitable street harassing events. This study seeks to understand how street harassment unfolds in the South African (post-apartheid) context. Drawing on Phenomenological Discourse Analysis approach, the study focuses on interview accounts of six participants from across the demographics whose experiences represent a microcosm of harassed female skinscapes in and around Cape Town. Phenomenology is a useful entry point to understanding emotive recounts of traumatic events in the lives of the participants, specifically street harassment. Public space is approached through the lens of Linguistic Landscapes (LL) which focuses on language and linguistic artefacts as they are arranged or located in space. For this study, the perception of and bodies in space comes to the fore. Hence, it is the interplay between space, body and the phenomenological account of the body as a corporeal 'site' of harassment which is a focal point.
A place to pray
(University of the Western Cape, 2024) Petersen, Andrea; Martin, Julia
A Place to Pray is a creative nonfiction piece that weaves together personal narrative and historical reflection to explore my family’s dispossession from their ancestral land in Ebenezer, South Africa. The story unfolds through a series of contemporary events—family gatherings, WhatsApp conversations, and the legal steps we are currently taking to reclaim the land. These present moments act as windows into the past, uncovering deep connections between land, identity, and belonging At the heart of this narrative is the figure of my great-grandmother, Ouma Betty, a quiet yet enduring presence in family lore. In A Place to Pray, her life becomes a metaphor for the silenced experiences of women whose stories, like hers, have been overshadowed by history and displacement. By telling a story of my quest to learn more about Ouma Betty, the narrative seeks to recover some of these lost voices and to acknowledge the often-overlooked struggles of women in coloured communities. The work moves between intimate family moments and broader national issues, using personal experience to reflect on the ongoing complexities of land redistribution in South Africa. It begins with a land claim meeting in Ebenezer which establishes both the historical and emotional context of the story. Subsequent chapters include interviews with Tannetjie, Ouma Betty’s daughter, which offer intimate insights into the family's history, and conversations with Antie Lindy, whose vivid memory of Ouma Betty is a crucial inspiration for shaping the narrative. Beyond this, it becomes increasingly difficult to find further information about Ouma Betty, and by end of the fifth chapter, I am unable to continue. Eventually in the final chapter the narrative arc shifts upward again, as I regain the motivation to return to the project, and the story reaches its emotional peak when my mother buys land in Ebenezer. This becomes a symbol of reclaiming not only land but also identity, and it offers a sense of resolution.
A social semiotic analysis of the linguistic landscape of two rural district municipalities in the Northern Cape, South Africa
(University of the Western Cape) Mokwena, Philadelphia Lorato; Banda, Felix
Linguistic Landscape (LL) studies typically focus on public signage displayed in urban environments, therefore LL is associated with cityscapes. There is limited research related to the LL of non-urban environments or ruralscapes. Another limiting aspect of the conceptualisation of LL is its emphasis on language only as a resource used in the construction of the LL. This study explored the Northern Cape rural landscape, particularly the Frances Baard District Municipality and John Taolo Gaestewe District Municipality. The study analysed various semiotic resources drawn on in the creation, narration and negotiation of the rural landscape. This study employed a multimodal ecological approach towards theorising and analysing the rural linguistic landscape of the Northern Cape. Semiotic remediation as repurposing was used to account for the extended sign systems in rural areas, in which sign-making and consumption is not necessarily dependent of written or 'visible' signs. In turn therefore, the study focused on aspects (visible and invisible signage; scripted and unscripted sign-making and consumption) that contributed to the construction of the rural landscape as distinct from urban landscapes. Gramsci's notion of site of struggle was drawn on to account for how meaning and space is constantly contested, as illustrated through the commercial signage, linguistic and naming practices of tuckshops. Material culture of multilingualism was employed to account for how written signage is used collaboratively with other materialities for sense-making purposes. Additionally, the adoption of material culture of multilingualism approach allowed for the exploration of the transformative role of a multilingual written and oral environment. More significantly is the study's contribution to the development of a more comprehensive theoretical approach to LL, than is currently in place. The study also contributes to the data collection tools and analytical frameworks of multilingualism studies.
A socio-rhetorical reading of Luke 7:36-50: A contra-cultural view in a patriarchal society
(University of the Western Cape, 2017) Cloete, Rynell Adrianno; Pillay, M.N
A number of biblical scholars have observed that the Bible has been used by dominant groups in certain societies to justify and condone discrimination and oppression. Slavery, colonialism and apartheid are often cited as examples of racial oppression based on particular understandings of the Bible. Some biblical scholars have pointed to the fact that theologians who work in contexts of racially liberated societies, such as South Africa, are slow in recognizing the injustices caused by gender discrimination. Instead, male privilege continues to be upheld particularly through the Biblical justification of male headship. The popularity of the 'Mighty Men' Conference is a case in point as it encourages men to take their supposedly rightful, "God-given" place as prophet, priest and king in marriage and family relationships. The emerging popularity of male-headship theology thwarts whatever gains have been made in the areas of gender justice and equality in various spheres of society, including the church. Headship theology often goes unquestioned because it is supported by particular interpretation/understanding of biblical texts which are quoted out of context to support and justify male dominance. For example, Luke 7: 36-50 is often interpreted in showing the "sinful" woman as one who needs forgiveness.
A study in the history of Protea Village and the impact of the Group Areas Act
(University of the Western Cape, 1995) Bantom, Ronald
In this story I will look at the Group Areas Act and how it effected the life of people with particular reference to the Protea Village Community in Cape Town. Protea Village was a coloured spot situated on the slopes of Table Mountain beneath Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens with Rhodes Drive as the boundry. Protea Village started in 1885 when Cecil John Rhodes built a road from Groote Schuur to Hout Bay. It was important for him to have his coloured labourers close to the workplace, thus he rented the Stegman Cottages in Kirstenbosh as home for their families.
Abstraction as a limit to semiosis
(De Gruyter, 2013) Wood, Tahir
In highly evolved culture, discourse is made up of complexes of implicit and explicit inter-textual relations, which form the meanings for new signifiers. Meanings for common abstract nouns are derived from the modeling of typical situations in everyday narratives. However at a further level of abstraction, models of discourses, which themselves contain abstract concepts, provide meanings for what are called �hyper-abstract� nominals. Here a certain limit is reached, and it is argued that this diachronic, onomasiological process provides a constraint on the notion of �unlimited semiosis.� This constraint has both natural and ethical aspects.
The absurdity of reconciliation. What we (should) learn from Rustenburg and the implications for South Africa
(Pieter de Waal Neethling Trust, 2020) Solomons, Demaine
The quest for reconciliation in South Africa is an exercise in the absurd. To say it is an exercise for the absurd might also have some merit. Like Sisyphus, the figure in Greek mythology, those engaged in the quest for reconciliation are condemned to repeat forever the same, in some cases, meaningless task of pushing a boulder up a mountain only to see it roll down again. This is amid the human propensity to forever search for meaning irrespective of the incongruity of the ideal and the absurdity that defines our existence. The illogicality of apartheid and the subsequent pain and alienation continues to be a defining feature of a country trying to come to terms not what it ought to be, but what it is � chaotic, irrational and sometimes meaningless. In this context, Rustenburg is a symbol of the audacity to dream of something beyond the absurd. Moreover, invoking a theology of reconciliation to achieve something extraordinary amid an uncertain future.
Academic libraries readiness in the fourth Industrial revolution: a comparative study between Ghana and South Africa
(Emerald Publishing, 2024) Darko Adjei, Noah; King, Lizette
Purpose: This study compares the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) preparedness of two advanced academic libraries each in Ghana and South Africa. Design/methodology/approach: The study utilized a conceptual framework that emanated from the socio-technical theory (STT) and global competitiveness index (GCI) models. Employing convergent parallel mixed methods, including questionnaires and interviews, 167 respondents, comprising librarians, IT staff and directors, shared insights on challenges faced by academic libraries in adapting to 4IR. Findings: Findings highlight a deficiency in Lib 4.0 skills crucial for survival in the 4IR, with South Africa showing better readiness. Both countries lack Lib 4.0 policies and face budget constraints, inadequate ICT infrastructure and limited support. The findings underscore the impact of relevant training on staff embracing Lib 4.0 technologies. Originality/value: The study then proposes a comprehensive model, highlighting the significance of librarians adopting a growth mindset and priori V Btizing continuous learning, relearning, reskilling and upskilling to effectively navigate the complexities posed by the 4IR.
Academic writing as social practice: a critical discourse analysis of student writing in higher education in Tanzania
(University of the Western Cape, 2006) Mohamed, Hashim Issa; Banda, Felix; Dept. of Linguistics, Language and Communication; Faculty of Arts
This thesis was a critical analysis of students academic second language writing at Sokoine University of Agriculture. Student writing in English as a second language in higher education has excited much interest in the English as a Second Language writing research and discussion in Tanzania. The interest was motivated by frequent criticisms from examiners regarding students literacy performance in the English as a Second Language writing in the post primary and higher education where the language of instruction is English as is configured in the Tanzanian language policy.
Accentuating institutional brands: A multimodal analysis of the homepages of selected South African universities
(Taylor & Francis, 2014) Mafofo, Lynn; Banda, Felix
In seeking to disentangle themselves from the constraints of apartheid, South African universities have immersed themselves in an identity modification process in which they not only seek to redress the past, but also to reposition their identities as equal opportunity and non-racial institutions. In this paper, we investigate how the University of the Western Cape, the University of Cape Town and Stellenbosch University have used visual and verbal semiotics to re-design their identities on their homepages to appeal to diverse national and international clients. Using Multimodal Discourse Analysis (MDA), we show how the multi-semiotic choices work together on the homepages to give the universities differentiated, competitive, powerful and attractive brands. We conclude that the homepages blended cultural semiotic artefacts, historical, global and transformational discourses, and architectural landscapes to construct different brand identities that, in turn, rebrand the universities from edifices of apartheid education to equal opportunity institutions.
Acceptability of medical male circumcision among men in Engela district of the Ohangwena region, Namibia
(University of the Western Cape, 2013) Nepaya, Magdalena Ndapewa; Mfecane, Sakhumzi
This study focused on acceptability of medical male circumcision (MMC) in Ohangwena region, Namibia. Since the scaling up of this program in public hospitals, no study was done with a specific focus on men who are the target population for this intervention. This study aimed at exploring the role of masculinities in MMC acceptance and specifically focused on circumcised men. To understand this context, I initially focused on general constructions of masculinity as well as the historical background of ritual circumcision which used to be practiced in this region. I spent three months at Engela District Hospital working with the male circumcision (MC) regional coordinator who is also the MC Nurse at the same hospital. Data collection process utilised an ethnographic study design involving qualitative research methods namely participant observation, formal and informal interviews and the use of field notes. Participants included men who visited the hospital for circumcision procedure, health workers and community elders. Findings indicate that, circumcision that is now offered in hospital settings is not a recognised marker of masculinity in Ohangwena. There is also paucity of information regarding traditional circumcision. Since its abolishment in the eighteenth century, little is known about the history of this practice. Contemporary means of being a man in this setting are situated in everyday circumstances and include work, being strong, independent and ability to fulfil family responsibilities. Thus, in this context notions of masculinity do not determine men?s responses to MMC. Instead, men are motivated by health benefits in accepting MMC. MMC?s proven ability to reduce HIV transmission by 60% is the primary reason why most men are willing to be circumcised. Other reasons include genital hygiene and correction of medical conditions related to the foreskin such as ulcers and lacerations. Men?s knowledge and understanding of the relationship between MC and HIV prevention also plays a role in MMC acceptance. Some concerns that were raised by men in relation to this intervention are pain and discomfort, fear of complications, decreased penile sensitivity, transfer of untruthful information and gender of circumciser. I regard these concerns as barriers to MMC acceptance. This thesis also argues that, the manner in which MMC is performed out in public health facilities in not gender sensitive since it is mostly done by women. This act in my view is likely to make men feel emasculated and thus discourage other men from taking up this voluntary service. This study therefore recommends similar research in other contexts to challenge speculations made about the likely impact of MMC on masculinity, because, in my research, uptake of MMC has nothing to do with constructions of manhood. I further recommend provision of standardised equipments and resources including human resources for efficient provision of this program countrywide.

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