An emerging black identity in contemporary South Africa A degree submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the School of Psychology in the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg. By Xoliswa Antionette Mtose Supervisor: Professor Kevin Durrheim November 2008 TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT .......................................................................................................................................... 6 Tables and Figures ................................................................................................................................ 8 INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW OF THE THESIS ....................................................... 9 1.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 9 1.2 Background to the problem................................................................................................. 9 1.3 Focus of the study ............................................................................................................. 13 1.4 Statement of purpose ........................................................................................................ 13 1.5 Significance of the study................................................................................................... 14 1.6 Definition of key terms used in the study ......................................................................... 14 1.7 Overview of the thesis ...................................................................................................... 15 1.8 Summary ........................................................................................................................... 19 CHAPTER TWO ................................................................................................................................ 20 OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE ON THE PYSCHOLOGY OF BLACK IDENTITY ........ 20 2.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 20 2.2 Conceptualisation of the psychological impact on black identity .................................... 20 2.2.1 Self-hate paradigm ......................................................................................................... 21 2.2.2 The Nigrescence paradigm ............................................................................................ 23 2.2.3.1 Parham‟s model .......................................................................................................... 26 2.2.3.2. Helms‟s People of Color Racial Identity Model ........................................................ 28 2.2.3.3 Bulhan‟s three-stage model ........................................................................................ 32 2.2.4 Manganyi‟s theory of Being-black-in-the-world ........................................................... 34 2.2.4.1 The body ..................................................................................................................... 35 2.2.4.2 Individual in society.................................................................................................... 36 3.2.4.3 Being-in-the-world-with-objects/things...................................................................... 36 2.2.5 Lambley‟s concept of internalised racism ..................................................................... 37 2.3 Summary ....................................................................................................................................... 39 CHAPTER THREE ................................................................................................................ 41 POSTCOLONIAL THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK ........................................................... 41 3.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 41 1 3.2 The postcolonial perspective ............................................................................................ 42 3.2.1 Orientalism and „Otherness‟ .......................................................................................... 43 3.2.2 Ambivalence of cultural hybrid identities ..................................................................... 46 3.2.3 Hybridity and authenticity ............................................................................................. 48 3.3 Postcolonial and cultural studies‟ conception of identity ................................................. 50 3.3.1 Postcolonial and cultural studies theory ........................................................................ 51 3.4 Summary ........................................................................................................................... 61 CHAPTER FOUR................................................................................................................... 64 THE RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY ......................................................... 64 4.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 64 4.2 Research paradigm ............................................................................................................ 65 4.2.1 Social construction and identity construction ................................................................ 65 4.2.2 Positioning theory ...................................................................................................................... 68 4.2.3. McAdams‟ autobiographical method ........................................................................................ 71 4.3 Social constructionism and discourse analysis .............................................................................. 73 4.3.1The meaning of discourse ........................................................................................................... 74 4.3.2 The social constructionist approach to discourse analysis ......................................................... 75 4.4.1 Methodology .............................................................................................................................. 77 4.4.2 Approval processes .................................................................................................................... 77 4.4.3 Selecting of respondents............................................................................................................. 77 4.4.4 Data collection techniques ......................................................................................................... 80 4.4.5 Autobiographical interview process ........................................................................................... 80 4.4.6 Interviewing setting .................................................................................................................... 81 4.4.7 Discussion of interviews ............................................................................................................ 82 4.4.8 Transcribing the interviews ........................................................................................................ 84 4.4.9 Organising the interview data .................................................................................................... 85 4.5 Data analysis ................................................................................................................................. 86 4.5.1 Steps taken in analysis................................................................................................................ 86 4.6 Reflexivity ..................................................................................................................................... 91 4.7 Ethics ............................................................................................................................................. 93 4.7.1 Autonomy and respect for the dignity for persons ........................................................ 94 4.7.2 Nonmaleficence ............................................................................................................. 94 2 4.7.3 Beneficence .................................................................................................................... 97 4.7.4 Justice............................................................................................................................. 98 4.8 Trustworthiness, credibility, transferability, dependability and confirmability and authenticity.............................................................................................................................. 99 4.8.1 Trustworthiness .............................................................................................................. 99 4.8.2 Credibility .................................................................................................................... 100 4.8.3 Transferability .............................................................................................................. 102 4.8.4 Dependability ............................................................................................................... 102 4.8.5 Confirmability .............................................................................................................. 103 4.8.6 Authenticity ................................................................................................................