Exploring the salience of intergenerational trauma among children and grandchildren of victims of apartheid-era gross human rights violations
SOURCE: The Indo-Pacific Journal of Phenomenology
OUTPUT TYPE: Journal Article
PUBLICATION YEAR: 2016
TITLE AUTHOR(S): C.K.Adonis
KEYWORDS: CHILDREN, HUMAN RIGHTS, RACIAL SEGREGATION, TRAUMA
DEPARTMENT: Impact Centre (IC), Impact Centre (PRESS), Impact Centre (CC)
Print: HSRC Library: shelf number 9429
HANDLE: 20.500.11910/10235
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11910/10235
OUTPUT TYPE: Journal Article
PUBLICATION YEAR: 2016
TITLE AUTHOR(S): C.K.Adonis
KEYWORDS: CHILDREN, HUMAN RIGHTS, RACIAL SEGREGATION, TRAUMA
DEPARTMENT: Impact Centre (IC), Impact Centre (PRESS), Impact Centre (CC)
Print: HSRC Library: shelf number 9429
HANDLE: 20.500.11910/10235
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11910/10235
If you would like to obtain a copy of this Research Output, please contact Hanlie Baudin at researchoutputs@hsrc.ac.za.
Abstract
Apartheid, as a systemised and institutionalised process of race-based discrimination, exploitation and oppression, left in its wake a deeply traumatised society. Many feel that this collective trauma has not been sufficiently addressed and that this has rendered the peace achieved after Apartheid's demise increasingly fragile. In addition to this, we are reminded that traumatic memories affect not only those who have personally experienced conflict and violence, but also future generations through what is known as intergenerational transmission of trauma. This paper explores the salience of intergenerational trauma in South Africa. At a conceptual level, it is framed by the life course perspective and historical trauma theory. Methodologically, a hermeneutic phenomenological approach was utilised. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 20 children and grandchildren (females = 10, males = 10) of victims of Apartheid-era gross human rights violations. The interview data was subjected to an interpretative analytical process that yielded a number of themes which provide support for the salience of intergenerational trauma amongst descendants of victims of Apartheid-era gross human rights violations. These themes 'secondary traumatisation, socio- economic and material impact, and sense of powerlessness and helplessness' are discussed along with their possible implications, and foci for further research pointed to.-
Related Research Outputs:
- Apartheid victim group scores symbolic victory against multinationals
- Reparations for apartheid-era human rights abuses: the ongoing struggle of Khulumani support group
- Nelson Mandela Children's Fund's perspective: "Giving voice" to children's perspectives of their reality and their dreams
- Generational victimhood in post-apartheid South Africa: perspectives of descendants of victims of apartheid era gross human violations
- Towards emancipatory research methodologies with children in the African context: practical possibilities and overcoming challenges
- The contribution of theories of personhood in the revaluation of children in African societies
- Time for the next steps
- Impacts and interventions: the HIV/AIDS epidemic and the children of South Africa
- Impacts and interventions: the HIV/AIDS epidemic and the children of South Africa
- Sickness, death and poverty - our bequest to orphans
- Religion, globalisation, and human rights
- Human rights
- Globalisation and the world of work
- Whose right it is anyway? equality, culture and conflicts of rights in South Africa
- From racial liberalism to corporate authoritarianism: the Shell affair and the assault on academic freedom in South Africa
- Violence, sex, nudity and strong language in SABC TV broadcasts: TV viewers' reactions to control measures (Volume 2: Focus group report)
- Violence, sex, nudity and strong language in SABC TV broadcasts: TV viewers' reactions to control measures (Volume 1: Main report)
- Rooting out sexual abuse in our schools
- Slipping through the safety net
- Socio-economic rights in the South African constitution: theory and practice