This dissertation explores controversial themes in the youth literature of Barrie Hough. The novels under discussion are My kat word herfs (1986), Droomwa (1990), Vlerkdans (1992) and Skilpoppe (1998). My kat word herfs was translated as My cat turns Autumn, Droomwa as Dream Chariot and Vlerkdans as In full Flight. Afrikaans youth novels historically centered around naive themes such as the idyllic life on the farm or at boarding school. However, young people found it increasingly difficult to identify with these naive storylines and during the nineteen eighties and nineties the Afrikaans youth novel experienced a renewal. Barrie Hough was one of the pioneers, writing about controversial issues like aids, homosexuality, teenage sex, suicide, drug abuse, divorce and single parenthood. The aim of this dissertation is to explore the liberation of Afrikaans youth literature and the role that controversial themes play in this regard. These themes enable the reader to identify with the story and serve as an allurement to draw the reader into the world of the text. Furthermore, the writer is given the opportunity to experience a sense of liberation while he narratively confronts events of his past. This liberation process allows the writer to deal and come to terms with his own past. At the end of each novel both the reader and writer go through a process of purification and liberation, facilitated by the therapeutic process of writing or reading a story. / Dr. M.P. Beukes

In this dissertation it is indicated that gender is a social construct, while sex is biologically determined. The concept of gender refers to that which is understood within a certain society to define masculinity and femininity, the power struggle between the two sexes, as well as the social limitations which are placed on people's behaviour as a result of gender. Children's and young adult's literature exert a great influence on the youth's idea of gender roles. The social and cultural history of South African society is used in this study to explore stereotypical gender roles in Afrikaans youth literature. The role of a patriarchal society, homosexuality, and changing perceptions of gender roles are investigated. It is indicated that in both English and Afrikaans children's and young adult's literature the portrayal of gender roles is often unrealistic, stereotypical, and contains sexist language. Two novels namely, Gooi horn in die slool (1971) and Skilpoppe (1998), are analysed using the following categories: male or female author, representation of gender roles, and use of sexist language. The teaching implications of the findings for the second language learner are then articulated. OPSOMMING In hierdie skripsie is aangetoon dat geslaglelikheid ("gender"), anders as geslag wat biologies bepaal is, 'n sosiale konstruk is. Geslagtelikheid hou verband met wat in 'n bepaalde samelewing onder manlikheid en vroulikheid verstaan word, asook met magsverhoudings tussen die twee geslagte en sosiale beperkings wat op grond van geslagtelikheid op mense se gedrag geplaas word. Jeugliteratuur oefen 'n groot invloed uit op jeugdiges se siening van geslagtelikheid. Die sosiale en kultuur-historiese agtergrond in die Suid-Afrikaanse samelewing word in die studie gebruik om die uitbeelding van geslagtelikheid in die Afrikaanse jeugliteratuur te problematiseer. Die rol van 'n patriargale samelewing, homoseksualiteit en veranderde sienings oor geslagtelikheidsrolle word onder andere uitgelig. Daar word aangetoon dat die uitbeelding van geslagtelikheid in sowel Engelse as Afrikaanse jeugliteratuur dikwels baie onrealisties is en wemel van stereotiperings en seksistiese taalgebruik. Twee jeugverhale, naamlik Gooi ham in die slool (1971) en Skilpoppe (1998), word aan die hand van 'n aantal kategoriee, naamlik outeur, uitbeelding van geslagtelikheid en seksistiese taalgebruik geanaliseer, voordat onderrigimplikasies vir die tweedetaalklaskamer aangedui word. / Thesis (M.A.) - University of Natal, Durban, 2001.