'n Antropologiese studie na die identiteit van vroue in Orania
Abstract
English: In this thesis, 'n description is given of the content of the cultural identity of a
selected group of women in Orania, as well as how women maintain and
promote their identity by means of their activities and viewpoints.
Orania is located next to the Orange River, in the arid, semi-desert area of the
Karoo (Northern Cape Province), with Kimberley (±160 km) and Bloemfontein
(±260 km) being the closest cities. After eighteen years, Orania is considered an
independent Afrikaner community with structures, in~titutions and associations.
Independence in Orania is especially concerned with the following: independent
management, economic self-maintenance; unique newly established schools
systems, supportive social structures; and the responsible ecological
management of the environment.
The study is an exploratory, descriptive investigation, in which a qualitative
research methodology is used. The empirical investigation was preceded by a
study of the literature, with a focus on the following: a Theoretical framework
involving identity (personal and social), gender and culture; and a chapter on the
history, vision, character and demographic information of Orania.
The following research techniques were utilised in the empirical investigation: focus group interviews, participative observation and in-depth interviews in the
form of life histories. The main research group consisted of nine women from
Orania from the age of 16 and older. The focus group interviews included three groups of men and three groups of women between the ages of 10-18, 18-35
and 40-70 years.
The empirical investigation included the following: The development of women in
their parental homes, the occupation, marriage, parenthood, social connection
and life views of the mature woman before moving to Orania, and the
involvement of women with life in the community of Orania, Via their life stories,
the researcher has attempted to indicate how the social and personal identity is
formed and promoted. In the particular context of Orania, attention is also given
to the convictions of the women concerning their Afrikanerhood and the ways in
which this Afrikanerhood is promoted and realised. Afrikaans: In hierdie verhandeling word In beskrywing gegee van die inhoud van die
kulturele identiteit van In geselekteerde groep vroue in Orania, asook hoe vroue
deur hul aktiwiteite en sieninge hul identiteit onderhou en bevorder.
Orania is geleë langs die Oranjerivier in die dorre, semi-woestynagtige gebied
van die Karoo (Noord-Kaap Provinsie), met Kimberley (±160 km) en
Bloemfontein (±260 km) as die naaste stede. Orania word na agtien jaar beskou
as In selfstandige Afrikanergemeenskap met gevestigde strukture, instellings en
verenigings. Selfstandigheid in Orania hou veral verband met die volgende:
onafhanklike bestuur; In duidelike identiteit en andersheid by inwoners;
lewendige kerklike lewe; ekonomiese selfversorging; unieke pasgemaakte
skolesteiseis; ondersteunende maatskaplike strukture; en In verantwoordelike
ekologiese bestuur van die omgewing.
Die studie is In verkennende, beskrywende ondersoek waarin In kwalitatiewe
navorsingsmetodologie gevolg is. Die empiriese ondersoek is voorafgegaan deur
In literatuurstudie wat op die volgende fokus: In Teoretiese verwysingsraamwerk
met betrekking tot identiteit (persoonlik en sosiaal), gender en kultuur; en In
hoofstuk oor die geskiedenis, visie, karakter en demografiese besonderhede van
Orania. Die volgende navorsingstegnieke is in die empiriese ondersoek benut:
fokusgroeponderhoude, deelnemende waarneming en in-diepte onderhoude in
die vorm van lewensgeskiedenisse. Die hoof ondersoekgroep het bestaan uit
nege vroue van Orania tussen die ouderdomme 16 jaar en ouer. Die
fokusgroeponderhoude het bestaan uit drie mans en drie vroue groepe tussen
die ouderdomme 10-18, 18-35 en 40-70 jaar.
Die empiriese ondersoek het die volgende betrek: Die vorming van vroue in hul
ouerhuis, die beroep, huwelik, ouerskap, sosiale skakeling en lewensbeskouing
van die volwasse vrou voor hul na Orania verhuis het, en die betrokkenheid van
vroue by die gemeenskapslewe van Orania. Deur middel van die lewensverhale
word gepoog om aan te dui hoe die sosiale en persoonlike identiteit gevorm en
bevorder word. In die besondere konteks van Orania word ook aandag gegee
aan die vroue se oortuiginge met betrekking tot hulle Afrikanerskap en op welke
wyse hulle hierdie Afrikanerskap bevorder en uitleef.