Faculty of Humanities
School of Basic Social Sciences
Department of Sociology
Selected Highlights from Research Findings
The pre-1996 anti-homosexuality laws have been repealed and today South Africa’s constitution recognises and protects the rights of all people regardless of their sexual orientation. This research focussed specifically on the lives of South African lesbians. Despite equality in terms of the law, there is still a large amount of stigmatisation of same-sex sexuality or any relationship that does not conform to heterosexuality. The dominant heteronormative narrative of relationships, has led to an ‘othering’ of same-sex couples and families. Lesbian relationships are therefore assumed to be inferior to heterosexual relationships and are plagued by stereotypes and misconceptions. Additionally, given the context of violence in South Africa, adopting a non-heterosexual identity could prove to be dangerous. In response to these homophobic conceptions which are dominant in society, the research participants had revealed particular ways of representing themselves and their same-sex relationships. The tendency to side with heterosexist discourse allowed the respondents the opportunity to frame their own lesbianism as more natural or normal. Their reflections on their own identity demonstrated an awareness of being different in the eyes of society, but also the need to normalise themselves in the face of a heterosexist and homophobic environment. This particular study formed part of a larger research project which investigated the dynamics of conflict in lesbian intimate unions.
Contact person: Ms A Ochse.
This research project by professors Andries Bezuidenhout (UP Department of Sociology) and Søren Jeppesen (Copenhagen Business School) attempts to explore conditions under which labour codes of conduct in the southern African garment industry contribute to strengthening the inspection functions of departments of labour, rather than forming weaker alternatives to state regulation. Labour codes of conduct were introduced by companies in response to allegations by Northern consumer movements and labour rights activists that they were exploiting cheap labour in the global South, specifically in industries such as garment and footwear manufacturing. Such codes are now criticised for drawing attention away from the state’s responsibility to ensure decent labour standards. The study compares three countries, Lesotho, Swaziland and South Africa, in the case of the latter the area around Ladysmith in KwaZulu-Natal specifically. The study involves interviews with managers, employees, and government officials in all three sites, as well as factory visits.
Contact person: Prof AJ Bezuidenhout.
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