Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Domestic violence in South Africa is increasingly becoming a major social problem.
Domestic violence disrupts family life and the functioning of family members. However,
domestic violence is still narrowly defined and viewed as affecting women who are usually
the victims/survivors of such violence. The impact of domestic violence on children is
largely underestimated and ignored. Most research and intervention programmes have
focused on the problem as it affects women thus treating the impact of violence on children
as of secondary importance. The aim of this study is to examine domestic violence from the
perspective of black teenagers who either witness or experience such violence themselves. In
an attempt to understand and make sense of Black teenagers' experiences and views of
violence in their homes and intimate relationships, insights from different theoretical
perspectives are used. These are Trauma theory, Social learning theory and the Funnel of
Violence theory.
Using a qualitative methodology, the study explores black teenagers experiences of
domestic violence in their home of origin and their perceptions of violence in intimate
relationships. Focus group interviews were conducted with 22 black male and female
teenagers between the ages of 14 and 21 to obtain data. The study was conducted in
Kayamandi, a township situated in the Stellenbosch area.
The findings revealed that the teenagers have been exposed to constant conflict
between their parents, the causes of which include alcohol abuse and infidelity. The
exposure to violence at home has been traumatic and has affected teenagers on an emotional,
psychological and sometimes physical level. The conflict at home has also affected their
ability to cope and adopt in their social and school environment. Some have also been direct
victims of violence since they have suffered abuse at the hands of both their parents. As a
result, their relationship with their parents has been strained. In addition, they seem to have
adopted distorted views on how to deal with problems within relationships. They tend to
view violence as a means to resolve conflict in intimate relationships and some of these
teenagers have come to believe that violence is acceptable since it is an indication of love.
They also believe that violent behaviour is a consequence of provocation and is carried out
unwittingly to punish and discipline the victim. In most cases the victims of violence are
women. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Gesinsgeweld word toenemend as 'n sosiale probleem binne die Suid-Afrikaanse
samelewing geïdentifiseer. Gesinsgeweld word gesien as dat dit die gesinslewe en die
gesonde funksionering van gesinslede ontwrig. Gesinsgeweld word egter grootliks
gedefinieer as dat dit slegs volwasse vroue affekteer. Die impak van gesinsgeweld op kinders
word grootliks onderskat en selfs geïgnoreer. Navorsing oor gesinsgeweld en
intervensieprogramme is dus hoofsaaklik gerig op die impak daarvan op vroue as slagoffers.
Die doel van hierdie studie is om die impak van gesinsgeweld op kinders in die gesin te
ondersoek. Ten einde swart tienderjariges se blootstelling aan gesinsgeweld en die wyse
waarop hulle geweld binne intieme verhoudings konseptualiseer te interpreteer, is insigte uit
verskillende teoretiese perspektiewe aangewend. Die belangrikste perspektiewe is Trauma
teorie, Sosiale Leerteorie en die sg. 'Funnel of violence' teorie.
Die studie is kwalitatief van aard en eksploreer swart tienderjariges se sienings van
geweld binne hul gesin van oorsprong asook hul siening van die rol van geweld binne
intieme verhoudings. Fokusgroeponderhoude is gevoer met 22 swart manlike en vroulike
tienderjariges tussen die ouderdom van 14 en 21 jaar woonagtig in Kayamandi, Stellenbosch.
Van die belangrikste bevindings is dat swart tienderjariges alkoholmisbruik en
huweliksontrouheid as die belangrikste aanleidende oorsake van geweld in die gesin
identifiseer. Tienderjariges ervaar gesinsgeweld as traumaties en geweld beïnvloed hulle op
emosionele en sielkundige vlak. Blootstelling aan geweld het ook 'n invloed op hul vermoë
om suksesvol binne hul sosiale- en skoolomgewing te funksioneer. Terwyl die meeste
deelnemers nie self slagoffers van gesinsgeweld was nie, was enkeles wel. Dit het stremming
tussen ouers en kinders tot gevolg gehad. Blootstelling aan geweld beïnvloed tienderjariges
se vermoë om konflik binne intieme verhoudings suksesvol te hanteer. Sommige definieer
geweld as 'n indikator van liefde. Sommige interpreteer geweld as grootliks onbedoeld en 'n
wyse om 'n persoon (gewoonlik 'n vrou) te straf en te dissiplineer. In die meeste situasies is
vroue die slagoffers van geweld.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/53714 |
| Date | 04 1900 |
| Creators | Kubeka, Alvina Makhosazana |
| Contributors | Kritzinger, Andrienetta, Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Sociology and Social Anthropology. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 132 pages : illustrations |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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