Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to explore gay men's relationship with their parents before and after
the revelation of their sexual orientation towards their parent(s).
Six men, who voluntarily offered to participate in the study, were interviewed by means of a
semi-structured interview. These interviews were initially tape recorded and there after
transcribed by the researcher.
To be included in the study the participants had to comply with the following criteria: i) they
had to be male; ii) 18 years or older; iii) have revealed their sexual orientation towards one or
both parents; vi) be English or Afrikaans speaking; v) reside within Paarl, Stellenbosch or
Cape Town; and vi) accept that no remuneration would be received for participation in this
research.
The process by which data was analysed mainly included : The organisation of data, the
generation of categories, themes and patterns, testing the emerging categories and patterns,
seeking alternative explanations, and writing the final report.
Findings from the research study include four main themes, with ten sub-themes identified.
Firstly, the nature of the relationship between the mother and the gay son before
disclosure of the sons' sexual orientation. The associated sub-themes were: i) Confirmation
that the revelation was usually first made towards the mother or siblings, ii) the stadium of
self-awareness and process of self-empowering of the son about his gay identity before
disclosure towards the mother, iii) mentioning that the mother was aware of the sons' sexual
preferences before disclosure, and iv) the relationship between mother and son and the
supporting role that she plays within the parental context after disclosure. Secondly, the nature
of the relationship between the father and the gay son before the revelation of the sons'
sexual orientation. The associated sub-themes were: i) mention of a patriarchal system that
existed within the parental relationship, which could be linked to the fathers' social perception,
including, amongst others, homophobia, and ii) the father/son relationship after disclosure of
the sons' sexual orientation. Thirdly, parental involvement regarding acceptance and
support after disclosure of the sons' sexual orientation. The associated sub-themes are:i) the avoidance of the gay subject by the parents during communication within the family
context, ii) the sensitivity and avoidance of discussions about lovers or companions within the
family relationship, and iii) the regularity of contact between the parent(s) and their gay son
after disclosure. Lastly, the nature of the relationship between the gay brother and his
siblings before the revelation of his sexual orientation. The associated sub-theme were: i)
the unconditional acceptance and support of the siblings. These themes are subsequently
discussed in terms of existing research literature in this field of study. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie studie was om die verhouding wat tussen gay mans en hul ouer(s) bestaan
het voor en na openbaarmaking van die seun se seksuele orientasie aan die ouer(s), te verken.
Ses mans wat vrywilliglik aangebied het tot deelname aan die ondersoek, is deur middel van 'n
semi-gestruktureerde onderhoud ondervra. Hierdie onderhoude is eers op band geneem en
daarna deur die navorser verbatim getranskribeer.
Die riglyne vir insluiting tot die studie was dat die deelnemers aan die volgende kriteria moes
voldoen: i) hulle moes manlik wees; ii) 18 jaar en ouer; iii) alreeds hul seksuele orientasie
teenoor een of beide ouers bekend gemaak het; iv) Engels of Afrikaanssprekend; v)
woonagtig in Paarl, Stellenbosch of Kaapstad; en vi) aanvaar het dat geen besoldiging vir
deelname aan die navorsing ontvang sal word nie.
Die proses van data-analise het hoofsaaklik ingesluit: Die organisering van data; die
generering van kategoriee, temas en patrone; die toetsing van sigbaarwordende temas; soeke na
alternatiewe verduidelikings en die skryf van die finale verslag.
Bevindinge uit die navorsingstudie sluit in vier hooftemas met tien subtemas wat gei'dentifiseer
is. Eerstens, die aard van die verhouding tussen moeder en gay seun voor die
openbaarmaking van die seun se seksuele orientasie. Die geassosieerde subtemas was:
i) die bevestiging dat die openbaarmaking meestal eerstens teenoor die moeder of sibbe sou
geskied, (ii) die selfbewustheidstadium en die selfbemagtigingsproses van die seun ten opsigte
van sy gay identiteit voor die openbaarmaking teenoor dikwels die moeder, (iii) die
vermelding dat die moeder bewus was van die seun se seksuele orientasie reeds voor
openbaarmaking, en (iv) die moeder-en-seun-verhouding en die ondersteunende rol wat sy
binne ouerverband inneem na bekendwording van die seun se seksuele orientasie. Tweedens,
die aard van die verhouding tussen vader en gay seun voor openbaarmaking van die seun
se seksuele orientasie. Die geassosieerde subtemas was: (i) die vermelding van 'n patriargale
sisteem wat binne gesinsverband bestaan het, en wat ook saamhang met die vader se sosiale
persepsies wat onder andere homofobie insluit, en (ii) die vader-en-seun-verhouding na die bekendwording van die seun se seksuele orientasie. Derdens, ouerbetrokkenheid in terme
van aanvaarding en ondersteuning na bekendwording van die seun se seksuele orientasie.
Die subtemas wat hieruit gevloei het, was: (i) die kommunikatiewe vermyding van die gay
onderwerp deur die ouer(s) binne gesinsverband, (ii) die sensitiwiteit en vermyding van
gesprekke oor minnaars of metgeselle binne ouerverband, en (iii) die gereeldheid van kontak
tussen ouer(s) en gay seun na bekendwording van die seun se seksuele orientasie. Laastens,
die aard van die verhouding tussen gay broer en sibbe voor openbaarmaking van die
broer se seksuele orientasie. Die geassosieerde subtema was: (i) die onvoorwaardelike
aanvaarding en ondersteuning deur die sibbe. Die temas is vervolgens bespreek in terme van
bestaande navorsingsliteratuur oor die onderwerp.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/20967 |
| Date | 03 1900 |
| Creators | Matthews, Hambly Randall |
| Contributors | Van der Westhuysen, T. W. Bodley, Potgieter, Cheryl-Ann, University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Psychology. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA, Afrikaans |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 99 p. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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