Thesis (MPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The aim of the study is to investigate the. lifestyles and and romantic relationships of adolescent girls in the Bishop Lavis community. The study also explores the 'taxi-queen' phenomenon as a particular form of relationship. The study employed a qualitative methodology. Data were collected by means of a combination of two methods: firstly, two focus groups each consisting of seven high school learners between the ages of 16 and 18 years and secondly, in-depth interviews conducted with three adolescent girls between the ages of 16 and 20 years who were identified as'taxi-queens'. Regarding lifestyles of the young girls special attention was afforded to leisure activities, the role of the consumer market, domestic circumstances and future expectations. In the case of romantic relationships the study focused on the type of relationship the girls are involved in, reasons for their involvement, the nature and functions of romantic emotions, adolescent dating patterns, sexual behaviour and sexual violence. Regarding lifestyles findings indicate that leisure activities as well as the consumer market playa central role in the lives of these young girls. Leisure activities not only provide pleasure but also function as an escape mechanism from parental supervision, rules and interference. Young girls tend to experience romantic relationships as particularly positive and within these relationships sexuality represents a central component. Sexual activities appear to cornmense during earlier stages of the dating process. Furthermore, such activities are kept secret from parents due to fear of negative reactions and sex-related topics are seldom discussed with parents. Sexual violence often forms a component of romantic relationships between adolescent girls and boys. In conclusion the 'taxi-queen' relationship as a relatively unique form of romantic relationship is demonstrated with reference to the experiences of three young girls involved in such relationships. Recommendations for future research are made on the basis of the findings of this study. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie studie is om ondersoek in te stel na die lewenstyle en romantiese verhoudings van 'n groep adolessente meisies in die Bishop Lavis gemeenskap. Die studie skenk ook aandag aan die 'taxi-queen' verskynsel as 'n besonderse vorm van romantiese verhouding. 'n Kwalitatiewe metodologiese benadering is gevolg. Data insameling het 'n kombinasie van twee metodes behels: eerstens, twee fokusgroepe bestaande uit sewe hoerskoolmeisies elk tussen die ouderdomme van 16 en 18 jaar en tweedens, in-diepte onderhoude met drie adolessente meisies tussen die ouderdom van 16 en 20 jaar wat as 'taxi queens' geidentifiseer is. Wat lewenstyle vanjong meisies betrefis daar veral gefokus op vryetydsbesteding, die rol van die verbruikersmark, huishoudelike omstandighede en toekomsverwagtinge van die groep meisies. Met betrekking tot romantiese verhoudings is daar hoofsaaklik op die volgende aspekte gefokus: die tipe verboudings waarin die meisies betrokke is, die redes vir hul betrokkenheid, die aard en funksies van romantiese emosies; adolessente hofmakery, die voorkoms van seksuele gedrag, seksuele geweld en dwang. Die studie bevind dat vryetydbesteding en die verbruikermark 'n sentrale rol in die lewe van hierdie meisies speeL Benewens die plesier wat daaruit geput word, funksioneer vryetydbesteding as 'n ontsnappingsmeganisme van ouerlike toesig, reels en inmenging van die kant van ouers. Die studie bevind verder dat jong meisies romantiese verhoudings as besonder positief beleef. Binne sodanige verhoudings verteenwoordig seksualiteit 'n sentrale komponent en seksuele aktiwiteite neem in aanvang tydens 'n vroee stadium in die proses van hofinakery. Betrokkenheid by seksuele aktiwiteite word vir ouers geheim gehou uit vrees vir negatiewe evaluering en jong meisies kommunikeer selde met hul ouers oor sekverwante onderwerpe. Verder is bevind dat seksuele geweld dikwels 'n komponent vorm van romantiese verhoudings tussen adolessente meisies en seuns. Ten slotte word die besonderse aard van die sogenaamde 'taxi-queen' verhouding beklemtoon aan die hand van die ervaringe van drie jong meisies betrokke by sodanige verhoudings. Op grond van die studie word daar aanbevelings vir verdere navorsing gemaak.