Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Current mainstream theories of intimacy were derived from studies with primarily White,
middle class participants living in developed countries. However, as social contexts shape
people’s definitions, meanings and behaviours, it cannot be assumed that mainstream
intimacy conceptualisations would apply to other populations. Studies of intimacy should be
located in its social and historical context. Previous South African studies of Black and
Coloured couples mainly emphasised HIV/Aids, interpartner violence and gender inequality,
and neglected to investigate positive aspects of intimate lives of poorer communities. A lack
of such context-specific data on how South African men and women construct and
experience intimate relationships hinders appropriate and effective interventions. This study
addressed this research gap by exploring intimacy experiences of long-term heterosexual
adult Coloured couples living in a low-income semi-rural community. The objective of this
qualitative study was to gain an understanding of how the participant couples expressed and
experienced intimacy. The participants were 15 couples (i.e. 30 participants), between the
ages of 23 and 66 years, who had been married or living together for a minimum period of
two years. Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted to explore: (i) how couples
understand intimacy, and (ii) how intimacy is expressed and experienced in committed adult
heterosexual relationships. Theoretically, this study was informed by social constructionism
and interviews were analysed using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis method. The
following themes were identified: (i) closeness means being together, (ii) sex and intimacy
(iii) closeness in talking (iv) expressions and experiences of intimacy/closeness through acts
of care, (v) alcohol disrupts closeness (vi) family of origin and the constructions of intimacy;
and (vii) community constructions and norms.
Although much of the international literature suggests that mutual self-disclosure is the
foundation for intimacy, self-disclosure did not feature prominently in the narratives of this
study’s narratives. Closeness was expressed through sharing in practical and tangible ways.
Gender was pertinent to these couples’ experiences and gender roles were fundamental to
their intimacy perceptions and behaviours. Despite some contestations of hegemonic
masculinity and femininity constructions, most of the participants did not demonstrate an active awareness or resistance regarding learned gender roles. They did not seem to consider
these gender roles as problematic, limited or limiting, nor did they indicate alternative gender
ideas. This was attributed partly to poverty and low education levels, which constrain
people’s access to alternative gender perspectives. Religion and community influences also
play an important role in their understanding of their role as partner. Although Christianity
endorses traditional gender ideas, the participants themselves felt that their religious beliefs
and practices facilitated intimate experiences, and prevented alcohol abuse and domestic
violence. In conclusion, implications for policy and practice in terms of gender inequality
and alcohol abuse are discussed, as are the limitations of the study. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Huidige hoofstroom teorieë van intimiteit is afgelei van studies met hoofsaaklik Wit,
middelklas-deelnemers. Aangesien sosiale konteks mense se definisies, betekenis en gedrag
met betrekking tot intimiteit vorm, kan dit egter nie aanvaar word dat die hoofstroom
konseptualisering van intimiteit ook van toepassing sal wees op ander bevolkingsgroepe nie.
Studies van intimiteit moet geleë wees in die sosiale en historiese konteks. 'n Gebrek aan
sodanige konteks-spesifieke data oor hoe verskillende groepe Suid-Afrikaanse mans en vroue
intieme verhoudings verstaan en beleef, kan toepaslike en effektiewe verhouding ingrypings
belemmer. Verder het vorige Suid Afrikaanse studies oor Swart en Kleurling paartjies
hoofsaaklik gefokus op HIV/VIGS, paartjie geweld en geslags ongelykhede en het nagelaat
om positiewe aspekte van die intieme lewe van paartjies in arm gemeenskappe te ondersoek.
Hierdie studiehet hierdie navorsing leemte aangespreek deur te verken hoe hoe langtermyn,
heteroseksuele, volwasse paartjies in 'n lae-inkomste semi-landelike gemeenskap intimiteit
verstaan, beleef en uitdruk.
Die deelnemers was 15 paartjies (d.w.s 30 deelnemers), tussen die ouderdomme van 23 en 66
jaar, wat getroud was of saamgewoon het vir 'n tydperk van ten minste twee jaar.
Kwalitatiewe semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude is gevoer om die volgende te verken: (i) hoe
paartjies intimiteit verstaan, en (ii) hoe intimiteit betoon en ervaar word in toegewyde
volwasse heteroseksuele verhoudings. Die studie is teoreties geskoei op sosiale
konstruktiwisme en onderhoude is ontleed met behulp Braun en Clarke se tematiese analise
metode. Die volgende temas is geïdentifiseer uit die onderhoude: (i) nabyheid beteken om
saam te wees, (ii) seks en intimiteit, (iii) nabyheid deur gesels (iv) uitdrukkings en ervarings
van intimiteit deur dade van sorg, (v) alkohol ontwrig saamwees, (vi) die invloed van die
familie van oorsprong op die konstruksie van intimiteit, (vii) gemeenskap konstruksies en
norme. Alhoewel die internasionale literatuur aandui dat wedersydse selfonthulling die grondslag vir
intimiteit vorm, het self-onthulling nie prominent in die deelnemers se vertellings
voorgekom nie. Nabyheid is eerder beleef en betoon deur praktiese en tasbare dade en gebare.
Geslagsrolle was fundamenteel in paartjies se belewing en uitvoering van intimiteit. Ten
spyte daarvan dat sommige individuele deelnemers hegemoniese geslagsrolle bevraagteken
het, het die meerderheid deelnemers nie ‘n aktiewe bewustheid of weerstand getoon rakende
geleerde geslagsrolle nie. Hulle het skynbaar nie hierdie geslagsrolle as problematies, of
beperkend gesien nie. Hulle het ook nie aangedui dat hulle alternatiewe geslagsrol idees het
nie. Dit word gedeeltelik toegeskryf aan armoede en lae vlakke van onderrig wat mense se
toegang tot alternatiewe geslagsrolle en perspektiewe beperk Godsdiens en gemeenskap
invloede speel ook 'n belangrike rol in hul begrip van hul rol as lewensmaat. Alhoewel
Christenskap tradisionele geslag idees onderskryf, het die deelnemers gevoel dat hulle
godsdienstige oortuigings en praktyke intieme ervarings fasiliteer, asook die misbruik van
alkohol en huishoudelike geweld verhoed. Dit impliseer dat godsdiens bydra by tot die
skepping en instandhouding van manlikheid en vroulikheid idees in hierdie gemeenskap. Ten
slotte, is implikasies vir beleid en praktyk in terme van geslagsongelykheid en
alkoholmisbruik bespreek, asook die beperkinge van die studie.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/95951 |
| Date | 12 1900 |
| Creators | Adams, Arlene |
| Contributors | Lesch, Elmien, Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Science. Department of Psychology. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | xvi, 264 p. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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