This Work Is Protected by Copyright and Other Intellectual Property Rights and Duplication Or Sale of All Or Part Is Not Permitt

This work is protected by copyright and other intellectual property rights and duplication or sale of all or part is not permitted, except that material may be duplicated by you for research, private study, criticism/review or educational purposes. Electronic or print copies are for your own personal, non- commercial use and shall not be passed to any other individual. No quotation may be published without proper acknowledgement. For any other use, or to quote extensively from the work, permission must be obtained from the copyright holder/s. Family responsibilities, obligations, and commitment in the Seychelles Farida G Henriette Thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology June 2018 Keele University Abstract Drawing on a small-scale qualitative study, this thesis examines family relations in post- colonial Seychelles. The Seychelles is considered a post-colonial society because it used to be a colony. The aim of this qualitative research, using an interpretive epistemology, is to explore family responsibilities, obligations, and commitment in the Seychelles, and how this varies for different generations and genders. Semi-structured interviews and vignettes were used to gather data from forty participants who consented to take part in the research. The analysis of the data revealed that there are different types of family structures and they are in flux. Post-colonial societies have certain common characteristics and the analysis of the data revealed that the racial, power and gender characteristics common to such societies can be found in the Seychellois Creole family. The analysis revealed that gender is more important than the other characteristics which post-colonial writers have written about and that several family practices are considered as gendered practices. This include the care of the elderly. The analysis also revealed that there are certain family responsibilities that are considered more important than others which include the care of children, the sick and the elderly, and helping each other. The findings showed that obligations within family relationships are not necessarily negotiated – there is more of an expectation. The findings also revealed that commitment is developed through the idea of reciprocity and commitment is then displayed through the support that exists between family members and through intergenerational solidarity – where care of the elderly is provided, usually by the adult daughter. This thesis contributes to discourses about family life, obligations, duties, commitment, generation, racism, gender, care, and post-colonialism. In its novelty, it brings new knowledge to family relationships on small post-colonial island states and acts as an impetus for future sociological research. Key words: family, responsibilities, obligations, duties, commitment, the Seychelles, gender, care, post-colonialism. i Dedication Dedicated to my beloved grandmother, Mum, Theresine Gonzalves, (05 November 1928-12 April 2015). I thank you for all those years of support and the faith you had in my achievements. I lost myself for a while when you left, but I found my way again, like you taught me how to. Thank you for being there when I was growing up, for loving me. I am glad that I was able to reciprocate and fulfil my duties towards you. Those are years I will cherish forever. I will never forget you. Tida, your baby girl loves you, always. ii Acknowledgments I warmly thank the Commonwealth Commission which has made all this possible with the scholarship. I am eternally grateful to my supervisors, Dr Emma Head and Professor Clare Holdsworth, for your support, time, encouragement, knowledge and guidance. Thank you, Keele University, for accepting me as a student and for all the resources, including the workshops which have helped, especially with my confidence-building. Thank you, The Ministry of Education for granting me leave to further my studies. To my forty participants, I am eternally grateful. I thank you for your participation and your time. Thank you, Louise Cunningham, Sue Humphries and Helen Farell for all your help and support. Thank you, Helen Millward and Gulshan, my two colleagues and friends. Thank you, Dr Liz Spencer, Dr Lorna Roberts and Dr Liam Campling. I am grateful to my Seychellois translators, Vanessa Arrisol and Brian Dine. A special thank you to my parents Marc and Beryl Hoareau, for your support especially during my fieldwork in the Seychelles. To my siblings Marcus and Manoella Hoareau, I thank you both for your support especially during my fieldwork. To all those who were willing to snowball for me to get access to several participants, I am grateful. To my daughter AnnaMae, thank you for your understanding when mummy had to leave behind some of her responsibilities as your mother and as your art critique, and left you with daddy for four months. I missed you a lot (though it has been a good preparation for the both of us for when you leave for university). iii To my son BillyRae, thank you for staying with mummy in the Seychelles during her fieldwork, for your hugs and kisses made it a little less lonely. Last and certainly not least to my best friend (and better half) Raynold Henriette for being there throughout all those years, helping with childcare and taking over most of the household duties when I decided to further my education. You have indeed been patient with me and been supportive. You have been my mentor, the person who always pushes me to do better and no matter how hard times might have been you have never given up on me. When my confidence wavers, you were there to give me that extra push. I am lucky indeed to have you as my best friend and as my partner. You are indeed the wind beneath my wings. iv Contents Page Abstract i Dedication ii Acknowledgements iii Contents v Appendices xi List of Acronyms xii Maps xiii Chapter One: Introduction Introduction 1 Rationale 3 Policy implications 3 The development of the welfare structure 4 Research aim and the research questions 7 Structure of the thesis 8 Chapter Two: Post-colonialism in the Seychelles Introduction 12 The Seychelles – geography and history 13 Creole families 19 v Post-colonialism 20 Racial Characteristics 22 The Dependency Complex – Power 25 Gender Characteristics 28 Feminist post-colonial analysis 32 Conclusion 39 Chapter Three: Family Sociology Introduction 41 Family Practices 42 Support 45 Support between parents and children 46 Support between grandparents and grandchildren 48 Generation and intergenerational solidarity 49 Care 51 Gendered care 53 The triple role of women 54 Family responsibilities, duties and obligations 56 Reciprocity 60 Commitment 62 Morality 64 vi Ambivalence 65 Conclusion 67 Chapter Four: Methodology Introduction 69 The aim of qualitative research 69 Research Methods 71 Design 71 Sampling 72 Sample characteristics 73 The recruitment process 76 The use of semi-structured interviews 78 The use of vignettes 80 Data collection 82 Transcription and translation 85 Data analysis 86 The use of anecdotes in novel research 87 Ethical considerations 88 Consent 89 Anonymity 89 Confidentiality 90 vii Being an insider 91 The problem with studying families 95 Conclusion 97 Chapter Five: Analysis – The Seychellois family Introduction 99 Family Structures 100 Family structures participants grew up in 101 Family structures participants are living in now 104 The absent father 106 The Seychellois Creole family 113 Racial issues 114 Depending on the state 122 Gender issues 126 The sexual division of labour in the home 130 ‘Inside chores’ and ‘outside chores’ 133 When boys are excused from household chores 136 Responsibilities 141 The care of children 141 The care of the elderly and the sick 145 The negotiation of obligations 149 viii Conclusion 154 Chapter Six: Analysis – Doing family in the Seychelles Introduction 156 Family practices 157 Sunday – family day! 157 Family visits 158 Seeing family members daily 160 Seeing family members regularly 162 Providing support 165 The flow of support between parents and children 169 Help from parents to adult children 175 Financial help 176 Help to pregnant daughter 177 Help with childcare 180 Help is given because it is a question of faith 182 Family rituals 185 Conclusion 193 Chapter Seven: Findings – Commitment and the care of the elderly Introduction 195 The development of commitment – being reciprocal 197 ix The display of commitment – taking care of the elderly 200 Children should be the ones caring for the elderly 202 The gendered division of care 210 When the state gets involved in the care of the elderly 216 Intergenerational solidarity 219 Ambivalence 222 When care creates conflict 224 Conclusion 230 Chapter Eight – Conclusion Introduction 232 Family responsibilities, duties and obligations in post-colonial Seychellois families 233 Obligations within family relationships 241 The development and display of commitment 245 Policy implications 248 Considerations for further research in this field 249 Bibliography 251 x Appendices 278 1) Vignettes 280 2) List of Tables 281 Table 1 282 Table 2 289 Table 3 293 Table 4 295 Table 5 297 Table 6 300 Table 7 304 Table 8 306 3) Pen Portraits 309 4) Ethical Approval Form 330 5) Ethics summary document 332 6) Information sheet 337 7) Consent Form 340 8) Interview Guide 342 9) Facebook Post 345 10) Information letter for principals 347 xi List of Acronyms DIY Do It Yourself GBV Gender Based Violence MSACDS Ministry of Social Affairs, Community Development and Sports NGOs Non-Governmental

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