The Lived Experience of Inheritance for Muslim Widows in Contemporary South Africa

This empirical research explores experiences of inheritance in Muslim families, drawing upon case law, archival research and in-depth interviews with 6 Muslim widows in Cape Town. I examine women's experience of and attitudes towards inheritance in middle class Muslim families around Cape Town. This research aims to document Muslim widow's experiences of inheritance, furthermore, explore their attitudes towards these practices among their wider family. In particular, I investigate the experience of inheritance for Muslim widows, and interpret how these experiences relate to the governing principles of equality and diversity in the South African Constitution. This research has found that fairness and reciprocity serve as guiding principles of inheritance practices in middle class Muslim families around Cape Town. This is evidenced by two prominent practices of inheritance identified in the data, namely gendered conditionalities of inheritance shares, secondly the practice of gifting while alive. These findings indicate that to a large extent, on the micro level, the experiences of inheritance practices for Muslim women are in fact aligned with the principles of equality and diversity in the Constitution. However, these patterns of inheritance do occur in a context of gendered family practices. It is therefore argued that the challenge arises from the informality of inheritance practices among middle class Muslim families in Cape Town, characteristically occurring in the private sphere. In instances where fairness and reciprocity are not given primacy as guiding principles of inheritance practices, women tend to experience downward social mobility. Weak legal protection for Muslim widows during instances of discriminatory inheritances practices is resultant of the lack of a transformative mandate in the public sphere. Embedded within social forces, Muslim women's agency is conceptualised as proactively and strategically shaping their lives and the lives of female family members. Bringing the findings into conversation with transformative justice, there has been a stratification of rights and the realisation thereof, therefore resulting weak legal protection for Muslim widows in instances of discriminatory inheritance practices. It is further noted that existing international discourse regarding family law reform on a state level is relatable in this instance as gender-sensitive reforms do not in fact erode the foundations of religion and family, but merely challenge the tenuous balance of power. This research contributes to the developing body of literature on Muslim family practices in South Africa and acts as a lens in which to understand links between wider family history, and established social and institutional systems; therefore, leading to an evaluation of the role of transformative justice in this instance

DISPLACEMENT FOR CONSERVATION: LIVELIHOOD ADAPTATIONS TO NATIONAL PARKS IN EAST AFRICA

This thesis examines the livelihood implications of exclusionary conservation policies in East Africa. Specifically, it evaluates the livelihood adaptations of indigenous groups in reaction to national parks-induced displacement. Current conservation schemes have linkages to the original colonial-era scramble for Africa, which instituted sweeping changes to customary land access and use. This thesis utilized an adapted version of the Impoverishment Risks for Displaced Populations framework to conduct case studies of multiple indigenous groups displaced and living adjacent to both Mount Elgon National Park and Serengeti National Park. Indigenous adaptations indicate that reactions to conservation-based displacement follow similar patterns. Displaced groups are not passive victims and instead, turn to legal and extralegal methods to reassert land access and use, which can become a destabilizing force. This thesis argues that similar adaptation strategies may facilitate the construction of more effective conservation policies.Major, United States Air ForceApproved for public release. Distribution is unlimited

Comparative Analysis of Buckling-Restrained Braced Frames in Eccentric Configuration (BRBF-Es) and Eccentrically Braced Frames (EBFs)

Continuing on the findings of “Using Buckling-Restrained Braced Frames in Eccentric Configuration,” by Dr. Gary S. Prinz, P.E., which determined that, from a performance standpoint, BRBF-Es could be a viable alternative for EBFs. A comparative analysis was conducted on the design procedures and initial cost estimates of BRBF-Es and EBFs. Upon designing four 12-Story buildings (two BRBF-Es and two EBFs), it was determined that BRBF-Es were easier to design due to the statically determinant system. The initial costs estimates of BRBF-Es; however, ranged upwards of 30% more cost than EBFs. Therefore, the initial investment of more intensive structural engineering design in EBFs allowed for less cost in the construction phase of the building

The Alaska coastal current: an analytical approach

Thesis (M.S.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 198

Clinician perceptions of harm reduction, psychotherapy and the role of traditional abstinence models

This study sought to better understand clinicians’ perceptions of harm reduction, psychotherapy, and the role of traditional abstinence models when working with actively using clients. This study analyzed the results from a survey completed by 52 practicing clinicians in the United States. The survey contained demographic questions and Likert scale questions measuring attitudes toward harm reduction, abstinence, and psychotherapy with actively using clients. In addition to rating questions, there was also one open-ended question allowing participants to express their understandings of the development of a substance use disorder. The overall response to this survey was a positive attitude toward harm reduction techniques when working with this population. However, abstinence-based models of care are currently the widely accepted and utilized approach