INTERRACIAL FAMILIES IN SOUTH AFRICA AN EXPLORATORY STUDY BY LESLEY MORRALL A DISSERTATION PRESENTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT OF THE DEGREE DOCTOR OF LITERATURE AND PHILOSOPHY IN PSYCHOLOGY IN THE FACULTY OF ARTS AT THE RAND AFRIKAANS UNIVERSITY PROMOTER:PROF.D.BEYERS JUNE 1994 This thesis is dedicated to my parents who have provided me with the best example of a successful marriage. They have always encouraged and supported me in every respect. (ii) SUMMARY Interracial marriage can be viewed as a barometer of social change. South Africa has historically been a country of racial tension with legislation seeking to keep the races apart. However, during April 1994 the country's first democratic elections took place, thus ending the reign of white minority rule. It is against this backdrop that the present study took place. The aim of the study is to seek a deeper understanding of the experiences of mixed:---i race families living in South Africa. Certain questions are raised, inter alia; the causes for interracial relationships and marriage, the reactions of the families of origin, the patterns of adjustment, the raising of the children with specific reference to identity development and, the reactions of the community. Theories on prejudice, discrimination and interpersonal attraction were studied as a basis for a possible understanding of the phenomenon of mixed marriage. A brief exposition of the history of South Africa detailing relevant legislation places the study in context. Statistics on the incidence of interracial marriage and divorce were tabulated. Research pertaining to mixed marriage and interracial children was reviewed emphasizing the issues as outlined in the questions posed. However, very few studies could be found which related to South Africa. As such, media coverage of interracial relationships as reported in South Africa between 1993 to 1994 was also covered. (iii) Seven interracial families living in South Africa formed the sample for the study. Each family had one parent from the white population group and one non-white parent. All families had children. The respondents were self-selected and a qualitative research methodology, primarily using face-to-face, semi-structured interviews was employed. The study was exploratory in nature and sought to investigate the experiences of interracial families. Despite the small sample size, a number of emergent themes could be identified. Findings were primarily positive with couples in the main reporting satisfying relationships. Identity development of children was vested in aspects other than race, specifically religion and nationality. Black/white interracial children tended to reject the coloured identity and preferred to define themselves in other terms. All families were exposed to prejudice and discrimination in some form. White South African extended families tended to react more negatively than their non­ white counterparts. Discrimination from the community ranged from insulting comments to physical assault, the white population group again being the primary proponents. Limitations of the study which include difficulties with duplication and the perceived lack of generality were discussed in the concluding chapter. Several issues were identified which will hopefUlly serve to stimulate future research. (iv) SAMEVATING Gemengde of veelrassege huwelike kan beskou word as 'n barometer van sosiale verandering. Daar was histories rassespanning in Suid-Afrika met wetgewing wat die rasse apart wou hou. Gedurende April 1994 het die land se eerste demokratiese verkiessing egter plaasgevind wat In einde gebring het aan blanke minderheidsregering. Dit is teen hierdie agtergrond wat die huidige studie plaasgevind het. Die doeI van die studie is om 'n dieper begrip te verkry van die ervaringe van gemengde gesinne wat in Suid-Afrika woon. Sekere vrae word gevra, onder andere die oorsaak van die gemengde verhoudings en huwelike, die reaksies van die gesinne van oorsprong, aanpassingpatrone, die grootmaak van kinders met spesifieke verwysing na identiteitsontwikkeling, en die reaksie van die gemeenskap. Teoriee oor vooroordeel, diskriminasie en interpersoonlike aantrekking is bestudeer as 'n grondslag om die verskynsel van gemende huwelike te probeer begryp. 'n Kort samevatting van die geskiedenis van Suid-Afrika waarin die relevante wetgewing uiteengesit word, plaas die studie in konteks. Statistiek oor die voorkoms van gemende huwelike en egskeidings word in tabelvorm uiteengesit. Navorsing oor gemengde huwelike en kinders van gemengde afkoms is hersien en die kwessies soos in die vrae uiteengesit, is beklemtoon. Daar was egter baie min studies wat verband hou met Suid-Afrika. Berigte in die media oor gemengd verhoudings wat in 1993 tot 1994 in Suid-Afrika verskyn het, is dus ook gedek. (v) Sewe gemengde gesinne wat in Suid-Afrika woon het as die studie proefstuk deelgeneem. Elke gesin het een ouer uit die blanke bevolkingsgroep en een nie­ blanke ouer. AI die gesinne het kinders. Die respondente is self-geselekteerd en 'n kwalitatiewe navorsingsmetodologie, wat hoofsaaklik gebruik maak van aangesig·tot·aangesig, semi.gestruktureerde onderhoude, is gebruik. Die studie was ondersoekend van aard en het ten doel gehad am die ervaringe van gemengde gesinne te bestudeer. Ondanks die klein steekproefgrootte kon 'n aantal ontluikende temas geidentifiseer word. Bevindinge was hoofsaaklik positief en pare het hoofsaaklik bevredigende verhoudinge gerapporteer. Identiteitsontwikkeling van kinders is gesetel in ander aspekte as ras, spesifiek in godsdiens en nasionaliteit. Kinders van gemengde swart/wit afkoms is geneig am die "gekleurde" identiteit te verwerp en verkies am hulleself in ander terme te definieer. Aile gesinne is blootgestel aan vooroordeel en diskriminasie in een of ander vorm. Wit Suid-Afrikaanse uitgebreide gesinne is geneig om meer negatief te reageer as hul nie­ blanke ewekniee. Diskriminasie van die gemeenskap strek van beledigende kommentaar tot fisiese aanranding en weereens is dit hoofsaaklik uit die blanke bevolkingsgroep afkomstig. Beperkinge van die studie wat probleme met duplisering en die waargenome gebrek aan algemene toepaslikheid insluit, word in die slothoofstuk bespreek. Heelparty kwessies is geidentifiseer wat hopelik toekomstige navorsing sal stimuleer. (vi) TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS (i) SUMMARY (ENGLISH) (ii) SUMMARY (AFRIKAANS) (v) 1 OVERVIEW 1 1.1 Introduction 1 1.2 Marriage 2 1.3 Family 3 1.4 The Concept of Race 3 1.5 The Concept of Mixed-Race 10 1.6 The Present Study 12 1.6.1 Aims of the study 13 2 THEORIES : pREJUDICE, DISCRIMINATION AND INTER­ PERSONAL ATTRACTION 15 (vii) 2.1 Introduction 15 2.2 Prejudice and Discrimination Defined 15 2.3 The Origin of Prejudice 16 2.4 Theories of Prejudice 17 2.5 Combatting Prejudice 19 2.6 Interpersonal Attraction Defined 21 2.7 Proximity 21 2.8 Emotional State 22 2.9 Need for Affiliation 22 2.10 Physical Attractiveness 23 2.11 Similarity 24 2.12 Conclusion 24 3 HISTORICAL OVERVIEW OF SOUTH AFRICA AND THE LAW 25 3.1 Introduction 25 3.2 Historical Overview 25 (viii) 3.3 legislation 29 3.3.1 The Population Registration Act, Act 30 of 1950 29 3.3.2 The Group Areas Act, Act 41 of 1950 31 3.3.3 History of the Immorality Act and the Prohibition of Mixed Marriages Act 37 3.3.3.1 Media coverage 43 3.3.3.2 Repeal of the Acts 49 3.4 Conclusion 50 4 LITERATURE REVIEW: MIXED-RACE MARRIAGE 51 4.1 Introduction 51 4.2 Trends and Pattems of Mixed-Race Marriage 51 4.3 Spouse Selection 53 4.4 Adjustment 57 4.5 Divorce 60 4.6 PUblicAt!!!~de towards Mixed Marriage 62 4.7 Attitude of Family towards Mixed-Race Couples 64 4.8 Research Critique 65 4.9 Conclusions from the literature Review 65 (ix) 5 LITERATURE REVIEW: MIXED-RACE CHILDREN 67 5.1 Introduction 67 5.2 Theories: Biracial Children and their Identity 67 5.3 Studies of Biracial Children 73 5.3.1 Intellectual development: Birth to four years 73 5.3.2 Racial awareness: Early childhood 74 5.3.3 Self-concept: Scholars 76 5.3.4 Racial identity: Adolescents 80 5.3.5 Mixed-race heritage: Adults 84 5.4 Raising Biracial Children 85 5.5 Conclusions from the Literature Review 90 6 INCIDENCE OF MIXED-RACE MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE 92 6. 1 Introduction 92 6.2 Incidence in the United States of America 92 6.3 Incidence of Mixed-Race Marriage in South Africa 93 - Table 1 Mixed and Homogeneous Marriages by Population Group for 1987 (x) - Table 2 Mixed Marriages for 1987 95 - Table 3 Mixed and Homogeneous Marriages by Population Group for 1988 95 - Table 4 Mixed Marriages for 1988 96 - Table 5 Mixed and Homogeneous Marriages by Population Group for 1989 96 - Table 6 Mixed Marriages for 1989 97 - Table 7 Mixed and Homogeneous Marriages by Population Group for 1990 97 - Table 8 Mixed Marriages for 1990 98 6.3 Incidence of Mixed-Race Divorce in South Africa 99 - Table 9 Mixed and Homogeneous Divorces by Population Group for 1987 99 - Table 10 Marriage and Divorce Statistics for 1987 100 - Table 11 Mixed and Homogeneous Divorces by Population Group for 1988 100 - Table 12 Marriage and Divorce Statistics for 1988 101 (xi) - Table 13 Mixed and Homogeneous Divorces by Population Group for 1989 101 - Table 14 Marriage and Divorce Statistics for 1989 102 - Table 15 Mixed and Homogeneous Divorces by Population Group for 1990 102 - Table 16 Marriage and Divorce Statistics for 1990 103 - Table 17 Mixed and Homogenous Divorces by Population Group for 1991 103 7 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 105 7. 1 Introduction 105 7.2 Questions 105 7.3 Qualitative Research 106 7.4 The Study