'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.