Identity constructions of black South African female students A research report submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Community-based Counselling Psychology in the Faculty of Humanities, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg By: Bonolo Onkgapile Mophosho 0711648J Supervisor: Prof. Garth Stevens May 2013 Declaration I declare that this research project is my own, unaided work. It has not been submitted before for any other degree or examination at this or any other university. Word Count: 31 832 Signed: ______________________________ Date: _________________________ Bonolo O. Mophosho i Table of Contents Declaration ....................................................................................................................................... i Abstract ........................................................................................................................................... v Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................ vi Chapter 1: Introduction ................................................................................................................... 1 1. Background ............................................................................................................................. 1 2. Research Rationale.................................................................................................................. 4 3. Research Aim .......................................................................................................................... 6 3.1 Research Objectives .......................................................................................................... 6 3.2 Research Questions ........................................................................................................... 6 4. Chapter Organisation .............................................................................................................. 7 Chapter 2: Literature Review .......................................................................................................... 8 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 8 2. Conceptual Framework ........................................................................................................... 8 2.1 Social Constructionism ..................................................................................................... 9 2.2 Black Feminism .............................................................................................................. 12 3. Theoretical Tenets of the Study ............................................................................................ 16 3.1 Intersectionality in Identity ............................................................................................. 16 3.2 Subject-positions & Subjectivity .................................................................................... 19 4. The „Triple Jeopardy‟ Identity .............................................................................................. 23 5. Discourses of the HWU Context........................................................................................... 27 6. Education, Social Mobility and Identity ............................................................................... 30 7. Cultural Capital ..................................................................................................................... 34 8. Conclusion ............................................................................................................................ 38 Chapter 3: Research Design and Method...................................................................................... 40 1. Research Aim ........................................................................................................................ 40 1.1 Research Objectives ........................................................................................................ 40 1.2 Research Questions ......................................................................................................... 41 2. Research Design.................................................................................................................... 41 3. Data Collection ..................................................................................................................... 42 4. Participants ............................................................................................................................ 44 5. Procedure .............................................................................................................................. 46 6. Data Analysis ........................................................................................................................ 47 ii 7. Trustworthiness of Qualitative Research .............................................................................. 49 8. Issues of Reflexivity ............................................................................................................. 51 Chapter 4: The Report ................................................................................................................... 54 1. Positive and Negative Experiences in the HWU .................................................................. 54 1.1 Capital Allowing a Sense of Ease in the HWU .............................................................. 55 1.2 Conforming to the HWU Requirements ......................................................................... 56 2. The „Triple Jeopardy‟ Identity .............................................................................................. 58 2.1. The Black Female Voice Silenced ................................................................................. 58 2.2 Facing „Black Girl‟ Stereotypes...................................................................................... 61 2.3 The Notion of “Black Tax” ............................................................................................. 63 3. Differences in Social Capital and Cultural Capital ............................................................... 65 3.1 The Sense of Feeling Inferior ......................................................................................... 65 3.2 Social Capital as Beneficial to Educational Success ...................................................... 68 3.3 Cultural Capital and Conforming to Expectations .......................................................... 70 4. The Tensions in Social Mobility ........................................................................................... 73 4.1 Trapped in the “Previously Disadvantaged” ................................................................... 73 4.2 The „Race less Persona‟ .................................................................................................. 75 4.3. The Responsibilities to Others ....................................................................................... 75 4.4 The Liberation Responsibility......................................................................................... 77 5. Democracy vs. The struggle Continues ................................................................................ 79 5.1 “The Burden of History” ................................................................................................. 79 5.2 The “Man Up” Discourse................................................................................................ 82 5.3 The Empowerment Value of Education .......................................................................... 84 7. Conclusion ............................................................................................................................ 88 Chapter 5: Conclusion................................................................................................................... 89 5.1 Summary of Findings, Limitations and recommendations ..................................................... 89 5.1.1 Summary of findings........................................................................................................ 89 5.1.2 Limitations and Recommendations.................................................................................. 92 5.2 Conclusion .............................................................................................................................. 93 References ..................................................................................................................................... 95 Appendix A: Invitation to participate ......................................................................................... 106 Appendix B: Participation Consent ............................................................................................ 107 Appendix C: Recording Consent ................................................................................................ 108 Appendix D: Focus-group interview guideline........................................................................... 109 iii Appendix E: Ethics Clearance Certificate .................................................................................. 111 iv Abstract A viewpoint of the intersectional and complex nature of identity is seen to be integral