Young Township People’s Sexual Cultures Explored in Doctoral Thesis

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A doctoral thesis by UKZN staff member Dr Sibonsile Zibande explored informal sexual cultures among young people in townships.

Through an ethnographic approach, the work aimed to establish ‘meaning and understanding of young people’s gendered and sexual identities in a township context’.

The study earned Zibande of the School of Social Sciences a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Education.

She did the research at her former high school and this was particularly significant because it gave her an opportunity to relive and reflect on what she had experienced while at the township institution during the apartheid era. 

‘The chats, the space and the times spent with my research participants were priceless, particularly when my research participants proclaimed to be reconnecting me with my township roots,’ said Zibande.

She says findings from her study are relevant in addressing societal concerns and emphasise the need to confront gender inequalities, sexual violence, teenage pregnancy and HIV and AIDS through facilitating transformative intervention programmes.

Additionally, the thesis gave insight on how young township people discover meaning about their sexual selves by analysing the spaces and places they inhabit.

‘In a setting where young people are viewed as either sexually innocent or sexually deviant and where teen sexual agency is viewed as dangerous and an impediment to academic progress; boys and girls construct their sexuality as both pleasure-seeking and dangerous,’ said Zibande. 

A holder of UKZN’s Competitive Research Grant and the Thuthuka National Research Foundation (NRF) Grant in previous years, Zibande has always excelled.  She attributes some of her success to the love and support she receives from her two sons, Langelihle (19) and Kamvelihle (11).

‘Without them, this journey would have been lonely and almost impossible. Their support reminded me that I am human because I belong.’

Her plans are to strengthen her research profile and develop a community outreach programme.

Words by: Ziphezinhle Silindile Biyela

Photograph by Rajesh Jantilal