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Constructions of dislosure by black lesbians in South Africa
Dissertation (MA) (Research Psychology)--University of Pretoria, 2011.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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University of Pretoria
2013
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| _version_ | 1867613675957780480 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author2 | Lynch, Ingrid |
| author_browse | Lynch, Ingrid |
| author_facet | Lynch, Ingrid |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | © 2011, University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria |
| description | Dissertation (MA) (Research Psychology)--University of Pretoria, 2011. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/31407 |
| institution | University of Pretoria (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:39:55.528Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| publishDate | 2013 |
| publishDateRange | 2013 |
| publishDateSort | 2013 |
| publisher | University of Pretoria |
| publisherStr | University of Pretoria |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| spelling | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/31407 Constructions of dislosure by black lesbians in South Africa Lynch, Ingrid glodean_thani@yahoo.com Thani, Glodean Qondile Tintswalo UCTD Disclosure Social construction Lesbian Identity Black Dissertation (MA) (Research Psychology)--University of Pretoria, 2011. The dominant belief about homosexuality in South Africa is that it is un-African. There however, are reports within literature that allude to the presence of homosexual relationships between women. This belief results in intolerance towards lesbians in South Africa. Some constructions focus on homosexual relationships among sangomas and the relationships of mummy-baby relationships in Africa. These constructions conceal same-sex sexuality as individuals do not necessarily identify as being lesbian in these contexts. The individuals who claim a lesbian identity in modern times have to find a way to exist within a patriarchal society that is often judgmental towards those who do not conform to predetermined gender roles. As questions regarding future plans of nuptials and children surface they are faced with the challenge of disclosure. The act of disclosure confirms that an individual ascribes to a lesbian identity. This qualitative study explored the experiences of disclosure by five black lesbians in Pretoria, South Africa, using a social constructionist lens. The sample was obtained using snowball sampling. Using a semi-structured interview guide to obtain the data the study focused on the participants’ disclosures of their sexual orientation as well as the reactions that these disclosures evoke. The meanings that the participants have attached to these reactions are explored in relation to the impact that these reactions have on the individual’s life. Using thematic analysis, the research discovered that disclosures were difficult for black lesbians as a result of the social climate of intolerance and patriarchal expectations of conformity to pre-determined gender roles. The prospective disclosures are marred by fear of rejection and of violent reactions by community members who threatened the participants with corrective rape. The culture of homo-negativity encourages social rejection of lesbians and confines them to certain spaces where they are accepted. Thus the decision to disclose is often a difficult one for the individual, with many choosing non-disclosure. The researcher concluded that there was an inclination for participants to disclose to friends as they predominantly refrained from disclosing to their families due to fear of the perceived permanency of their sexual orientation. This affirmed the constructed nature of sexuality in that some participants acknowledged that their sexuality was not permanent but that it changed according to their needs. This was also illustrated in their associations with both male and female relationships as well as in the way some participants described prospects of marriage to males as part of predetermined gender roles. Copyright Psychology Restricted Humanities 2013-09-09T12:14:41Z 2012-11-12 2013-09-09T12:14:41Z 2012-04-17 2011 2012-11-06 Dissertation Thani, GQT 2011, Constructions of dislosure by black lesbians in South Africa, MA dissertation, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, viewed yymmdd < http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-011062012-172938 / > F12/4/571/gm http://hdl.handle.net/2263/31407 http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-11062012-172938/ en © 2011, University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria application/pdf University of Pretoria |
| spellingShingle | UCTD Disclosure Social construction Lesbian Identity Black Constructions of dislosure by black lesbians in South Africa |
| title | Constructions of dislosure by black lesbians in South Africa |
| title_full | Constructions of dislosure by black lesbians in South Africa |
| title_fullStr | Constructions of dislosure by black lesbians in South Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Constructions of dislosure by black lesbians in South Africa |
| title_short | Constructions of dislosure by black lesbians in South Africa |
| title_sort | constructions of dislosure by black lesbians in south africa |
| topic | UCTD Disclosure Social construction Lesbian Identity Black |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/2263/31407 http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-11062012-172938/ |