https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/13603 Sat, 11 Apr 2026 11:11:34 GMT 2026-04-11T11:11:34Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/111222 Title: Outsourcing, industrial organisation, and interfirm practices : sociological case studies from the Maltese experience 1970-2016 Abstract: This study focuses on the organisation of foreign direct investment in Malta with special attention to their transactional relations with Maltese-owned suppliers and subcontractors. The sociological diachronic case studies present a set of evolving scenarios involving two important exporters and nine small local enterprises. These scenarios enfold against the background of Malta’s economic development between 1970 and 2016. The studies are informed and in turn inform a number of theoretical issues in economic sociology, political economy, and the sociology of development. It opens the way for more extensive research of the overcoming of a classical dual economy with, on the one hand, traditional locally-owned firms producing or servicing the local market and on the other hand, modern and modernising foreign-owned companies driven by exports. Thus, this research contributes to the Industrial Organization of firms, to the Economic Sociology of the relationship between large firms and their supporting SMEs, and to the Economic Sociology of Development, by shedding light on the growth of linkages between FDI firms and indigenous enterprises in host countries. Description: M.A.(Melit.) Fri, 01 Jan 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/111222 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/101123 Title: Invisible voice in transition : bargaining with binary Abstract: Research shows that transsexual individuals undergoing medical transition, in particular Sex Confirmation Surgery and hormone therapy, endure an intricate, overwhelming and alienating experience filled with intense conflicting feelings. Qualitative analysis was deemed most appropriate in order to fully comprehend the subjects' experiences and by using both purposeful and snowball sampling, four professionals who are in direct contact with trans individuals were interviewed. The findings look at how these key informants experience, interpret and perceive their clients' journeys as they go against the expectations of a binary gender system. This study found that isolation, lack of support from loved ones and difficulty in keeping gainful employment are amongst the main socioeconomic and psychological challenges faced by this minority cohort in their quest to align their internal gender identity with their outer body. Lev's (2004) stages of transgender emergence were used as a framework for the analytical and exposition process. Thematic data analysis of the interview transcripts was carried out; from which one overarching theme emerged, being: Gender as a Social Construct. The respondents' statements describe their clients' journey. The researcher makes use of nautical metaphors to illustrate the different challenges encountered from the moment of realisation (embarkation) to the moment they arrive to the Promised Land. Yet, while for them the journey can be seen as an evolutionary metamorphosis, trans individuals struggle in their quest to (re)create a congruency between inner self and outer body. Sadly, arriving at destination, they may find that this dualistic world built around stereotypical expectations is not as accepting as they hoped it would be. A number of recommendations for further research are put forward. Description: DIP.SOC.STUD. Fri, 01 Jan 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/101123 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/101074 Title: Women who choose to go back to work after a career break Abstract: This qualitative research delves into the lives and experiences of Maltese mothers who choose to go back to work after a career break. It focuses on one category of the three categories of women discussed in Catherine Hakim's (2000) Preference theory, namely the lifestyle choice of adaptive women. In view of this literature, this study explored if Maltese women who decide to go back after a career break experienced difficulties, what are these difficulties and how these difficulties were experienced by them and their families. Fieldwork comprised six in-depth interviews with working mothers who chose to go back to work when their youngest child was not more than four years of age. The main findings of this study indicate that the choice for Maltese women to resume work after a career break is affected by work regulations and the Maltese society, which is influenced by the Church and family traditions. Findings also shed doubt on whether work as a choice around family commitments is the real choice women want. Research data suggest that choosing to go back to work after a career break can tum into a disadvantage rather than an advantage because of the unequal treatment of women in society as they challenge the traditional breadwinner family role; yielding to difficulties of structures at work, conflicts and constraints in both family and work life as a result of their choice to work. This research shows that although Maltese women feel the need to work, they are being set back by inequalities. Finally the research shows that women can have a better future in career if they work together with men, organisations, the Church and the government in addressing issues of work-life balance. Description: DIP.SOC.STUD. Fri, 01 Jan 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/101074 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/101049 Title: Uncovering gender differences in violence between intimate partners : the police inspectors' perspective Abstract: These days society is increasingly talking about women's use of force in intimate partner violence. This study aims at understanding gender differences, as perceived by Police Inspectors in the perpetration of abuse between intimate partners. I have conducted semi structured interviews with four police inspectors and through their experience I have highlighted their perceived differences between male and female perpetrators of IPV. The findings show that while there might be a small number of female perpetrators who use physical force there remains a significant difference in the kind of violence used by male perpetrators. According to the police inspectors' experiences, unlike male perpetrators, the violence used by female perpetrators could not be described as 'battering', invoking fear or aiming to control their partners. Description: DIP.SOC.STUD. Fri, 01 Jan 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/101049 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z