Dissertation thoughts
12 Jul 2005 02:54 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kangeikoSo, I had a meeting with my dissertation supervisor today.
The way it's looking is a major restructuring of the whole thing in order to make it doable, 'cause it was much too broad previously.
Basically, I'm going to examine the impact of gender mainstreaming initiatives on the conceptualization of victim-hood within NGOs and multilateral front-line organizations, with a geographical focus on Central Africa and the Horn of Africa. This is going to involve unpacking the conceptualization of victim-hood prior to the gender mainstreaming programmes (going no father back than 1985, I’d say; much more likely that I’ll stick to the Beijing Conference as a starting point of the launch of mainstreaming programmes) – so, a focus on warfare, post-conflict theory, women in war etc etc.
Then, building on that, a look at the programmes themselves and exactly what they consist of. This will probably be a mix of unpacking training materials and also interviewing NGO reps and front-line workers about the impact of the initiatives, what their new thoughts are on the issues involved, etc.
(NB: this is a considerable change from before, as previously I was worried about having to use witness testimonies, and was even more worried that even if I were to secure them, they’d end up irrelevant, depending on the manner in which I narrowed my focus. Seeing as I’m focusing on the workers and the immediate impact of training etc, I’m quite glad that this has been resolved before I went through all the trouble of accessing databases of witness testimonies, especially as they’re now not the primary focus – although, depending on how things develop, they may become more relevant later.)
My hypothesis is that many training programmes are primarily means-orientated – the “ticky box” approach – rather than aims-orientated. The emphasis is on observing set rules and behaviours and fulfilling X,Y and Z on a list outlining M.O., which is resulting in distortions in the conceptualization of victim-hood, fetishing abuse rather than focusing on ameliorating the situation. I’d also argue that the media plays a major role here (maybe explore how it interferes / complements / distorts / whatever gender mainstreaming initiatives?).
Of course, it’s just a hypothesis. Hence, the question is more “what impact has gender mainstreaming had on ngos and front-line workers in the horn of Africa and central Africa?”, rather than “show how, with diagrams and ranting, gender mainstreaming has gone horribly wrong when it comes to rapid response and front-line workers.” ‘cause that would suck.
I’m still working this out in my head, obviously, but I think that I have a better grasp of it now. It involves oodles of work, but the write up is considerably smaller, especially with a narrower geographical and temporal focus than all conflict and media ever.
The way it's looking is a major restructuring of the whole thing in order to make it doable, 'cause it was much too broad previously.
Basically, I'm going to examine the impact of gender mainstreaming initiatives on the conceptualization of victim-hood within NGOs and multilateral front-line organizations, with a geographical focus on Central Africa and the Horn of Africa. This is going to involve unpacking the conceptualization of victim-hood prior to the gender mainstreaming programmes (going no father back than 1985, I’d say; much more likely that I’ll stick to the Beijing Conference as a starting point of the launch of mainstreaming programmes) – so, a focus on warfare, post-conflict theory, women in war etc etc.
Then, building on that, a look at the programmes themselves and exactly what they consist of. This will probably be a mix of unpacking training materials and also interviewing NGO reps and front-line workers about the impact of the initiatives, what their new thoughts are on the issues involved, etc.
(NB: this is a considerable change from before, as previously I was worried about having to use witness testimonies, and was even more worried that even if I were to secure them, they’d end up irrelevant, depending on the manner in which I narrowed my focus. Seeing as I’m focusing on the workers and the immediate impact of training etc, I’m quite glad that this has been resolved before I went through all the trouble of accessing databases of witness testimonies, especially as they’re now not the primary focus – although, depending on how things develop, they may become more relevant later.)
My hypothesis is that many training programmes are primarily means-orientated – the “ticky box” approach – rather than aims-orientated. The emphasis is on observing set rules and behaviours and fulfilling X,Y and Z on a list outlining M.O., which is resulting in distortions in the conceptualization of victim-hood, fetishing abuse rather than focusing on ameliorating the situation. I’d also argue that the media plays a major role here (maybe explore how it interferes / complements / distorts / whatever gender mainstreaming initiatives?).
Of course, it’s just a hypothesis. Hence, the question is more “what impact has gender mainstreaming had on ngos and front-line workers in the horn of Africa and central Africa?”, rather than “show how, with diagrams and ranting, gender mainstreaming has gone horribly wrong when it comes to rapid response and front-line workers.” ‘cause that would suck.
I’m still working this out in my head, obviously, but I think that I have a better grasp of it now. It involves oodles of work, but the write up is considerably smaller, especially with a narrower geographical and temporal focus than all conflict and media ever.
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no subject
Date: 2005-07-13 12:10 pm (UTC)Ah, I see.
Your dissertation would first step to overcome this limiting approach, obviously, but your plan to first focus on facts, figures, and reports before coming to a conclusion seems both good and necessary, from a scholarly perspective. It all reminds me of Dean Schwab's lecture now, of course, on empiric scholarship... *g*
no subject
Date: 2005-07-18 09:40 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-07-18 09:52 am (UTC)Open-ended questions are fine as long as you answer them, or at least give answering it your best shot (if you were a theologist, obviously all your questions--the essential ones, anyway, would be open-ended. *g*).
no subject
Date: 2005-07-18 09:59 am (UTC)Urgh. It all seems a bit big, really, given that it's only supposed to be a few thousand words (hard upper limit of 13,200 words, I believe: 10-12 +/- 10%). A geographical focus should narrow things down, and obviously researching things and including them as appendices would help, but... still. my last one was c. 17,000, and I was pushed for space then. *kicks things randomly* We'll see.
how are you today honey?
no subject
Date: 2005-07-18 10:33 am (UTC)And whoa, that's NOT a lot of words. (Or maybe the legal dissertations I know, my friends' ones, with their 300+ pages, aren't overly representative.)
no subject
Date: 2005-07-18 10:42 am (UTC)*pets you* Speaking of - when are you coming over to visit? *bounce bounce*
And whoa, that's NOT a lot of words. (Or maybe the legal dissertations I know, my friends' ones, with their 300+ pages, aren't overly representative.)
I know! It's going to be a ruthless editing process. They don't give you much space for these, but it could be worse - the English Lit ones were a mere 6,000 words. People were tearing their hair out left right and centre. *g*
no subject
Date: 2005-07-18 11:08 am (UTC)Ah, yes--I am still shuffling around with my schedule and time frame. Will you still be in London come autumn/early winter? For I may have to take my US vacation now rather than later, as originally planned...
no subject
Date: 2005-07-18 11:41 am (UTC)(also - you do jossverse things, don't you? how are you with ethan rayne? i'm writing a wee fic to cheer up andrastewhite, and it's going nowhere at the moment. i need a good solid thwack over the side of the head. *wide eyes and wobbly lip*)
no subject
Date: 2005-07-18 11:51 am (UTC)Do? Dude, I LIVE Jossverse things. & :-P
Send it over, I'll tell you what I think!
(Must run to the bank first, and iron--feh!--but shall be back!)
As for the US, I am heading over to Californi to bug
no subject
Date: 2005-07-20 02:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-07-13 01:35 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-07-18 09:41 am (UTC)