Volunteer Motivations in Namibian LGBT Rights-Based Organisations

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Volunteer Motivations in Namibian LGBT Rights-Based Organisations View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Unisa Institutional Repository Outreach: Volunteer Motivations in Namibian LGBT Rights-Based Organisations by Willem Stander submitted in accordance with the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS In the subject PSYCHOLOGY at the University of South Africa Supervisor: Jacques Livingston February 2015 i Namibian LGBT Rights-Based Organisations DECLARATION OF ORIGINALITY I declare that Outreach: Volunteer Motivations in Namibian LGBT Rights-Based Organisations is my own work and that all the sources that I have used or quoted have been indicated and acknowledged by means of complete references. 18th of February 2015 3581-283-4 iii Namibian LGBT Rights-Based Organisations ABSTRACT Namibia continues to face an ongoing struggle in protecting the rights and civil liberties of its LGBT population with LGBT rights-based organisations in the country strongly relying upon their volunteers to take advantage of political opportunities and manage multiple visibilities. Despite a growing body of international research into volunteer motivation and the beneficial application of such knowledge in volunteer management strategies, a dearth of literature exists on the motives of volunteers within LGBT rights-based organisations. This study uses data from qualitative interviews with 6 formal volunteers from Namibian LGBT rights-based organisations to explore volunteer motivations. A thematic analysis of the research findings reveal the complex motivations underlying volunteering in these organisations. Volunteer motivations in Namibian LGBT rights-based organisations included: (a) addressing and promoting humanitarian concerns; (b) improved social interaction, integration and support; (c) self-regulatory opportunities for personal enhancement; (d) developing career prospects; and (e) responding to past homophobic incidents. Barriers to volunteering were also identified and included: (a) strained organisational resources; (b) LGBT discrimination; and (c) complacency. For volunteer recruitment and retention strategies to be effective, organisations need to recognise and satisfy volunteers’ motives while also properly training and assisting volunteers in their respective roles. Also, given the local LGBT community’s sense of complacency, Namibian LGBT rights-based organisations would greatly benefit by strategically engaging community members and working to overcome the community’s lack of urgency. iv Namibian LGBT Rights-Based Organisations KEY TERMS: Volunteer motivation; Volunteer barriers; LGBT rights-based organisations; Lesbian; Gay; Bisexual; Transgender; Gender and sexual diversities; Namibia v Namibian LGBT Rights-Based Organisations ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to formally express my gratitude to a number of people for their advice, assistance, guidance and encouragement throughout the production of this dissertation. First and foremost, a special thank you to the participants of this study for their participation in, and contribution towards, this research project despite their busy schedules. Second, I would have been lost if not for the advice and encouragement from my supervisor, Jacques Livingston. His kindness, patience and guidance has not only been invaluable to me, but also incredibly inspiring. Third, I would not have been able to finish this dissertation had it not been for my incredible support system who kept me sane, caffeinated, and who made sure I took a break every once in a while. A special thank you thus goes to Gloudi de Beer, Thomas Richards, Marsela Nur Rita, Marsha Robert, and Laurika Williams. Finally, and most importantly, this project is dedicated to my family. This dissertation would not have been possible without their love, emotional support and financial assistance. Thank you for helping me pursue a dream. I am forever grateful to you. vi Namibian LGBT Rights-Based Organisations TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION OF ORIGINALITY ................................................................................... i ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................................ iii KEY TERMS: ......................................................................................................................... iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................................................................................................... v TABLE OF CONTENTS ....................................................................................................... vi LIST OF TABLES ................................................................................................................... x LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................................ xi CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................ 1 1.1 Background and Motivation ........................................................................................ 1 1.2 Aims and Objectives ................................................................................................... 4 1.3 Methodological Approach ........................................................................................... 4 1.4 Outline of the Study .................................................................................................... 4 1.5 Summary ..................................................................................................................... 5 CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW ................................................................................ 7 2.1 The Namibian Socio-Cultural Context ........................................................................ 7 2.1.1 Anti-LGBT legislation. ........................................................................................ 8 2.1.2 Political homophobia. .......................................................................................... 8 2.1.3 Colonialist, apartheid and Christian roots. ........................................................... 9 2.1.4 Gendered strategy. ............................................................................................. 10 2.1.5 State-sanctioned discrimination. ........................................................................ 12 2.2 The Emergence and History of LGBT Organisations in Namibia ............................ 12 2.3 Conceptualisations of Volunteering and Volunteerism ............................................ 16 2.4 Models of Motivation ................................................................................................ 17 2.4.1 Two-factor models. ............................................................................................ 18 vii Namibian LGBT Rights-Based Organisations 2.4.1.1 Early two-factor models. ........................................................................... 18 2.4.1.2 Intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation. ........................................................ 19 2.4.2 Three-factor models. .......................................................................................... 19 2.4.3 The unidimensional model. ................................................................................ 20 2.4.4 Multi-dimensional models. ................................................................................ 21 2.4.4.1 The functional approach to volunteer motivation. .................................... 21 2.4.4.2 The volunteer motivation inventory. ......................................................... 22 2.5 General Trends .......................................................................................................... 23 2.6 Volunteer Motivation within LGBT Rights-Based Organisations ............................ 25 2.7 Barriers to Volunteer Motivation .............................................................................. 27 2.8 Summary and Conclusion ......................................................................................... 28 CHAPTER 3 RESEARCH DESIGN ................................................................................... 30 3.1 Purpose of the Research ............................................................................................ 30 3.2 The Qualitative Research Paradigm .......................................................................... 31 3.3 Interpretivist Approach ............................................................................................. 34 3.4 Research Design ........................................................................................................ 36 3.5 Role of the Researcher .............................................................................................. 36 3.5.1 Reflexivity.......................................................................................................... 37 3.6 The Participants ......................................................................................................... 42 3.6.1 Selection of participants. .................................................................................... 42 3.6.2 Description of participants. ................................................................................ 43 3.6.3 Research site. ..................................................................................................... 44 3.7 Data Collection Methods ..........................................................................................
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