TO DIVORCE OR NOT? YOUNG BLACK PEOPLE’S PERCEPTIONS OF DIVORCE IN THE 21ST CENTURY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25159/1812-6371/1788Keywords:
Divorce, financially dependent, Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory, perceptions, young black people,Abstract
 This article explores young black people’s perceptions of divorce in the post-apartheid South Africa, with specific focus on factors that may influence a partner to decide whether to divorce or not. A theory of Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is used to understand what is more valuable for young black people in terms of their needs in a marriage today. Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with eight black unmarried third year students (four males and four females between ages 21 and 23 years old) at the University of the Witwatersrand in the year 2013. Data was analysed using a thematic content analysis to identify the key themes that emerged from the data. The findings indicate that most young black people would divorce their partner regardless of being financially dependent on them, as they feel emotional fulfilment in marriage is important than financial security.
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Kalmijn, M., Vanassche, S., & Matthijs, K. (2011). Divorce and social class during the early stages of the divorce revolution: Evidence from Flanders and the Netherlands. Journal of Family History, 36(2), 159-172.
Kumar, N., & Quisumbing, A. R. (2012). Beyond “Death do us partâ€: The Long-term implications of divorce perceptions on women’s well-being and child schooling in rural Ethiopia. World Development, 40(12), 2478–2489.
Le Bouteillec, N., Bersbo, Z., & Festy, P. (2011). Freedom to divorce or protection of marriage? The divorce laws in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden in the early twentieth century. Journal of family history, 36(2), 191-209.
Louw, A., & Louw, D. (2007). Child and Adolescent development. University of the Free State.
Mamabolo, I. (2009). An exploratory study of black women in executive positions and their sense of balance between motherhood and career: Unpublished MA thesis: Wits University.
Moxnes, K. (2003). Risk Factors in Divorce Perceptions by the Children Involved. Childhood, 10(2), 131-146.
Neuman, L. (2006). Social research methods: qualitative and quantitative approaches. University of Michigan: Pearson.
Phakomova, E. (2010). Marriage and Divorce: What has changed in the perceptions of Russians? Russian Social Science Review, 51 (3), 4–15.
Terre Blanche, M., Durrheim, K,. & Painter, D. (2006). Research in practice: applied methods for the social science. Cape Town: Juta and Co.
Whelpton, F., &Voster, L. (2001). Dissolution of customary marriage, South African Journal of Ethnology, 24 (2), 56-61.
Yodanis, C. (2005). Divorce Culture and Marital Gender Equality A Cross-National Study. Gender & Society, 19(5), 644-659.
Zalenski, J., & Raspa, R. (2006). Maslow’s hierarchy of needs: A framework for achieving human potential in hospice. Journal of Palliative Medicine, 9(5), 1120-1127.
Zwang, J. (2004) “Perceptions and attitudes towards late marriage and premarital fertility in rural South Africaâ€.
Amoateng, A. Y. (2004). The South African family: continuity or change. HRSC ten years of democracy seminar series. Human Sciences Research Council of South Africa.
Andre, H., & Hummelsheim, D. (2009).When marriage ends: economic and social consequences of partnership dissolution. Cheltenham, UK; Northampton, MA: E. Elgar.
Arowolo, D. (2010). The effects of western civilisation and culture in Africa. Afro Asian Journal of Social Sciences, 1(1), 2229-5313.
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative research in psychology, 3(2), 77-101.
Coleman, M., & Ganong, L. (2004). Handbook of contemporary families: considering the past, contemplating the future. Thousand Oaks, California: Sage Publications.
Connell, R.W. (1995). Masculinities. Polity Press. Cambridge.
Connell, R.W. (2000). The men and the Boys. Polity Press. Cambridge.
Davies, N, & Eagle, G (2007). ‘Nowadays they say …’: adolescent peer counsellors’ appreciation of changes in the construction of masculinity. Psychology in Society, 35, 53-72.
Gerstel, N. (1987). Divorce and stigma. Social Problems, 34 (2), 172-186.
Heyleghen, J. (1992). A cognitive –systematic reconstruction of self-actualization. Behavioural Sciences. 37, 39-57.
Hughes, K. (2005). The adult children of divorce pure relationships and family values?. Journal of Sociology, 41(1), 69-86.
Kalmijn, M., Vanassche, S., & Matthijs, K. (2011). Divorce and social class during the early stages of the divorce revolution: Evidence from Flanders and the Netherlands. Journal of Family History, 36(2), 159-172.
Kumar, N., & Quisumbing, A. R. (2012). Beyond “Death do us partâ€: The Long-term implications of divorce perceptions on women’s well-being and child schooling in rural Ethiopia. World Development, 40(12), 2478–2489.
Le Bouteillec, N., Bersbo, Z., & Festy, P. (2011). Freedom to divorce or protection of marriage? The divorce laws in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden in the early twentieth century. Journal of family history, 36(2), 191-209.
Louw, A., & Louw, D. (2007). Child and Adolescent development. University of the Free State.
Mamabolo, I. (2009). An exploratory study of black women in executive positions and their sense of balance between motherhood and career: Unpublished MA thesis: Wits University.
Moxnes, K. (2003). Risk Factors in Divorce Perceptions by the Children Involved. Childhood, 10(2), 131-146.
Neuman, L. (2006). Social research methods: qualitative and quantitative approaches. University of Michigan: Pearson.
Phakomova, E. (2010). Marriage and Divorce: What has changed in the perceptions of Russians? Russian Social Science Review, 51 (3), 4–15.
Terre Blanche, M., Durrheim, K,. & Painter, D. (2006). Research in practice: applied methods for the social science. Cape Town: Juta and Co.
Whelpton, F., &Voster, L. (2001). Dissolution of customary marriage, South African Journal of Ethnology, 24 (2), 56-61.
Yodanis, C. (2005). Divorce Culture and Marital Gender Equality A Cross-National Study. Gender & Society, 19(5), 644-659.
Zalenski, J., & Raspa, R. (2006). Maslow’s hierarchy of needs: A framework for achieving human potential in hospice. Journal of Palliative Medicine, 9(5), 1120-1127.
Zwang, J. (2004) “Perceptions and attitudes towards late marriage and premarital fertility in rural South Africaâ€.
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Published
2016-10-25
How to Cite
Maubane, Boikhutso, and Malose Langa. 2016. “TO DIVORCE OR NOT? YOUNG BLACK PEOPLE’S PERCEPTIONS OF DIVORCE IN THE 21ST CENTURY”. New Voices in Psychology 11 (1):32-44. https://doi.org/10.25159/1812-6371/1788.
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