(University of the Free State, 2006) Marchetti-Mercer, Maria
English: The search for a place we can call “home” and where we feel we can truly belong is a
common human experience. This article explores the different meanings attached to
the concept of home and how these influence our experience of belonging. These will
be discussed in the context of individual as well as family and cultural experiences,
with special emphasis on the contributions of family therapy towards this understanding.
The article will also explore how finding a “home” is particularly relevant in present-day
post-apartheid South African society. In conclusion it will be argued that “home” may
be a fluid concept which requires mobility and flexibility in order to accommodate
the complexities of a postmodern world.