INFORMATION TO USERS This manuscript has been reproduced from the microfilm master. UMl films the text directly from the original or copy submitted. Thus, some thesis and dissertation copies are in typewriter face, while others may be from any type of computer printer. The qualify of this reproduction is dependent upon the qualify of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleedthrough, substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely affect reproduction. In the unlikely event that the author did not send UMl a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if unauthorized copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. Oversize materials (e.g., maps, drawings, charts) are reproduced by sectioning the original, beginning at the upper left-hand comer and continuing from left to right in equal sections with small overlaps. Photographs included in the original manuscript have been reproduced xerographicaify in this copy. Higher quality 6‘ x 9* black and white photographic prints are available for any photographs or illustrations appearing in this copy for an additional charge. Contact UMl directly to order. ProQuest Information and Learning 300 North Zeeb Road. Ann Arbor. Ml 48106-1346 USA 800-521-0600 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. NATION BUILDING IN POST-APARTHEID SOUTH AFRICA: TRANSFORMING GENDER AND RACE RELATIONS THROUGH SPORTS DISSERTATION Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology By Cynthia Fabrizio Pelak. M.A. ***** The Ohio State University 2002 Dissertation Committee: Approved by: Professor Verta A. Taylor. Adviser Professor Timothy J. Curry Adviser Professor Townsand Price-Spratlen Department>f o Sociology f So£i&logy Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. UMl Number 3049101 Copyright 2002 by Pelak, Cynthia Fabrizio All rights reserved. UMT UMl Microform 3049101 Copyright 2002 by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. Ail rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17. United States Code. ProQuest Information and Learning Company 300 North Zeeb Road P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 46106-1346 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Copyright by Cynthia Fabrizio Pelak 2002 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT South Africans experienced dramatic changes in the political and social orders of their nation during the 1990s. The long history of white minority rule officially ended in 1994 with the first democratic, all-race elections. During the political transition, a broad- based women's movement emerged and gender equality became an autonomous aspect of democratization in South Africa. Most of the scholarship on South Africa's political transition focuses onchanging race and class relations and ignores shifting gender relations. In this dissertation, I take up the question of shifting gender relations in post­ apartheid South Africa by examining grassroots efforts of women athletes to transform gender and race relations through sports. South African sport is of particular interest because the new government is using sport as a unifying mechanism in the nation- building process. To understand women athletes' contributions to transforming gender and race relations, I conduct a case comparison analysis of women's competitive netball and soccer using both qualitative and quantitative data and methodologies. I base the analysis on 48 semi-structured interviews, 381self-administered surveys, archival evidence, and participant observations. 1 draw from collective identity theory, as articulated in the social movement literature, and feminist theories of the interlocking systems of race, gender, and class inequalities. 1 bridge these two theoretical perspectives to expand our understanding of the ways structural inequalities both facilitate and impede ti Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. the construction of collective identity among diverse groups. This analysis demonstrates that through the construction o f new collective identities, women netball participants are actively challenging dominant racial hierarchies and inequalities and women soccer participants are challenging dominant gender hierarchies and categories. This research contributes to current debates among South African scholars and activists about the sustainability of a racial diverse women's movement and the development of theories on the dialectics of race, gender, and class. This study vividly illustrates that South African women are not a unified, homogenous group who shares common interests. Sisterhood, or a collective consciousness or identity, among South African women can only be forged through concrete historical practices. Finally, this analysis adds to the literature on gender and social movements by demonstrating the role of movement actors in transforming racial and gender categories and hierarchies. in Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Dedicated to my mother and sister Marie Fabrizio Pelak and Dr. Victoria Pelak iv Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS As with most research projects, this dissertation was completed with the assistance of many individuals and groups. Although only my name appears on the title page, I recognize that my individual efforts were deeply connected to and informed by my relationships with others. I would tike to thank some of those individuals and groups here and thus acknowledge the collective nature of this endeavor. First, I would like tothank the Department of Sociology, the Department of Women's Studies and the Elizabeth D. Gee Dissertation Fund, and the Office of International Studies at the Ohio State University for the financial support of this dissertation. Next, I would like to thank my committee members—Verta Taylor. Timothy Curry and Townsand Price-Spratlen— who supported me and my research throughout my graduate career. It was a privilege to have shared this research and the graduate school experience with them. I especially thank my adviser. Verta Taylor, for her unwavering support o f my work and for maintaining high expectations of me. From her I learned not only a great deal of sociology but also the art of negotiating academic environments that can be hostile to feminist perspectives. I thank Timothy Curry for encouraging my interest in the sociology of sport and his guidance in developing a feminist appreciation of the social dynamics of sport. I also sincerelythank Townsand Price-Spraden for his enthusiasm of this project and for manyanimated discussions about my research agenda. His friendship and intellectual support were central to my completion o f this dissertation. v Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. For daily support, consultation, and encouragement I thank Jessica Price, my dissertation buddy. It is without a doubt that Jessica's intellectual curiosities, passions, and perseverance were essential to sustain my own focus to see this project to completion. Her commitment to critical, social-relevant, and non-oppressive social science research has been and continues to be an inspiration. Jessica's friendship and intellectual support have greatly enriched this dissertation as well as my life. I would also like to recognize numerous faculty members at the Ohio State University who nurtured me in various ways during my graduate school journey. I offer my sincere thanks to Mary Margaret Fonow, Paul Lavrakas, Richard Lundman. Elizabeth Menaghan, Kay Meyer, Lupenga Mphande, Toby Parcel, Barbara Reskin, and Laurel Richardson. To the many colleagues — Irenee Beattie, Carla Corroto. Kim Davies, Patricia Drentea, Ann Marie Flores, Anne Haas, Betsy Kaminski. N’ton Kitapini. Laura LaChance, Ken Litwin, Gail McGuire. Matt Moffitt. Helen Rizzo. Jenn Rosen. Steve Scanlan. and Nella Van Dyke— who supported me by reading drafts, editing chapters, listening to my ideas and concerns, and offering me their friendship I am greatly appreciative. I also must recognize several staff members at the Ohio State University, Michele BlackweU, Donna Crossman, Angela Henderson, Mary Moffa, and Karyl Shirkey of the Department of Sociology, who kept me laughing during the long days and nights in the office. This dissertation could not have been completed without the unselfish assistance from many South Africans. First and foremost, I thank the netball and soccer athletes and sport administrators who took their time and energy to assist me with this research. Specifically, I thank Cora Burnett Louw, Lynette Ferreira, Fran Hilton-Smith. Denise vi Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Jones., Nazi! Khan, Kelly Mkhonto, Ntombi Ravele, and Kedi Tshoma. Their willingness to welcome me into their netball and soccer worlds were essential to this project. Their courage and dedication