Mother–daughter communication on intimate relationships: narratives from Mangaung Township (Bloemfontein, South Africa)

[摘要] English: Good communication skills and conversations on intimate relationships betweenmothers and daughters have a positive influence on young people's intimaterelationships, sexual development and behaviour. This study explores conversations onintimate relationships between African mothers and their daughters in MangaungTownship, Bloemfontein, South Africa. The willingness, extent, content, and quality ofcommunication on intimate relationships between daughters and their mothers, are themain focus of this study. The responses of the research are juxtaposed and comparedto explore the respective angles, similar or divergent understandings and the barriersencountered in these conversations. This is important because research indicates thatwomen are more vulnerable to sexually risky behaviour with the potential for seriousconsequences such as unplanned pregnancies or HIV infection. In light of the highprevalence of sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV and AIDs and unplannedpregnancies it is essential to scrutinise the mother–daughter communication on intimate relationships.This qualitative study is guided by the interpretivist paradigm. Theoretical lensesfollowed in the study include, phenomenology, existential sociology and feministperspectives. Nine in-depth interviews were conducted with mothers and theirdaughters.These mother-daughter conversations take place in diverse domestic situations andfragile household compositions with the daughters' fathers mostly being absent. In spiteof the complex family dynamics, both mothers and their daughters consider theirconversations on sex and reproductive health important. However, both parties werereluctant to talk and conversation was often only initiated following a precursory event(e.g. pregnancy or television programmes). The conversations were characterised asdidactic, confrontational, and instructional and framed by cultural mores. The mothers'focus was to warn, threaten and discourage their daughters from sexual activities.Certain topics like HIV and AIDS, pregnancy, menstruation were emphasised at the expense of other topics. Pleasure and emotional aspects of relationships were rarelyconsidered. While the mother is the preferred primary source of information by bothmothers and daughters, the latter tend to talk more openly to their friends and felt theyreceived more information during sex education in schools.The study shows that the mothers often feel poorly equipped to conduct effectivediscussions on intimate relationships with their daughters because of embarrassment,lack of knowledge and socialisation of silence around sexual topics. Generally in theseconversations sex has been reduced to a void and dangerous act and lack aspectssuch as emotions, love, desire and pleasure and partner choices.

[发布机构] University of the Free State