Compassionate citizenship through storytelling – an analysis of stereotypical views among ladies' residence students in Huis ten Bosch on Stellenbosch Campus

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Stellenbosch University, and its campus residences, can be considered a place at which a very diverse group of students now need to share the space. However, transformation towards being a place where everyone feels welcome and included is still in progress (Task Team on a Welcoming Culture at Stellenbosch University 2013:3). Although the university has implemented structures such as a new placement policy that increases diversity in campus residences in order to prepare students for the South African and international reality and to create spaces where diverse students can learn from one another, stereotyping practice is a current stumbling block in the case for valuing diversity. South Africa, with its history of Apartheid and colonialism, the University of Stellenbosch and it's role as a perpetuator of colonial discourse, and the context of the Huis ten Bosch ladies' residence were the main contextual aspects informing this study.The purpose of this research was to negotiate the research question: To what extent does engaging with a fellow student's life story, through the art of drawing, influence one's view of one's fellow student? In negotiating this research question, the study was aimed at revealing stereotypes prevalent in the Huis ten Bosch ladies' residence and exploring ways in which art and storytelling can be implemented to break down these stereotypes and to create compassion among students living together in this residence.The research design took the form of a case study as qualitative research. Inductive content analysis was used, whereby collected data were organised into themes that emerged throughout the research. Residents of Huis ten Bosch read anonymous life stories of individual fellow residents. Afterwards, they drew portraits of how they imagined their storytellers to look. This was followed by showing photographs of the storytellers to participants, which led to reflection on stereotyping practice.In this study it was found that the most prevalent stereotypes in Huis ten Bosch ladies' residence were socioeconomic and racial. These are consequences of colonial and apartheid discourse as well as stereotypes imparted generationally. It was also found that art and storytelling are very effective means for learning and investigation as it engages one's imagination, one's senses and one's emotions.Implications of this study are that platforms for storytelling and safe spaces in which stereotypes can be revealed and reflected on should be created in the Huis ten Bosch residence so as to work towards compassionate citizenship in the South African reality.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University