- Title
- The social construction of a racial identity on social media sites: a narrative inquiry
- Creator
- van Vught, Chandré
- Subject
- Construction of Racial Identity
- Subject
- Colored people (South Africa) -- Psychological aspects Internet users -- Psychology Cyberspace -- Psychological aspects Social psychology
- Date Issued
- 2019
- Date
- 2019
- Type
- Thesis
- Type
- Masters
- Type
- MA
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/10948/44169
- Identifier
- vital:37122
- Description
- The present study aimed to enhance the understanding of the social construction of Coloured identity on social media sites from the perspective of individuals who identify themselves as Coloured. Furthermore, the study explored how the participants’ engagement on social media sites influenced the construction of their online identities. A qualitative research approach was utilised with narrative inquiry as the research design to explore the perceptions that the participants held about identity, and in particular about Coloured identity. The aim of the study was achieved as six participants were recruited through purposive and snowball sampling. The data collection method was individual semi-structured interviews, with the exception of one interview conducted with two participants. The findings were conceptualised according to credible literature sources and theories. Through the process of thematic analysis, the research yielded valuable findings. The study found that there was strong objection by one participant and ambivalence by other participants about the use of the term Coloured, and its association with identity due to the derogatory associations which stems from its origin. It was found that social media users who identify themselves as Coloured construct their online identities in such a way that it is consistent with their narration of their offline identities. Moreover, minimal importance was placed on racial identity online, as well as offline. However, the participants acknowledged that Coloured identity had predominantly been portrayed in accordance with negative stereotypes. The negative portrayals of Coloured identity were challenged, as these portrayals were not truthful to how the participants were socialised. Furthermore, there was a consensus among the participants that dominant narratives about Coloured identity must be de-constructed and re-constructed. As a social justice study, the present study challenged dominant constructs about Coloured identity in South Africa and is thus able to contribute towards heritage studies in vi South Africa. The significance of heritage studies in South Africa is paramount, as identity and heritage are interlinked. The study created meaning about the participants’ online identities, and thus created meaning of who they are on their social media platforms.
- Format
- viii, 145 leaves
- Format
- Publisher
- Nelson Mandela University
- Publisher
- Faculty of Health Sciences
- Language
- English
- Rights
- Nelson Mandela University
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| Thumbnail | File | Description | Size | Format | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| View Details Download | SOURCE1 | C van Vught Treatise 217202195 - Final SUB.pdf | 1 MB | Adobe Acrobat PDF | View Details Download |