3. Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) - All submissions
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Item Male ballet dancers' gender identity construction : sexuality and body.(2012-09-03) Reeves, Megan MoyaMale ballet dancers are often constructed as being feminine or homosexual (Bailey & Obershneider, 1997; Phillips, 2008), attributes that do not conform to the broader social ideas of what it means to be a masculine male in South Africa. Therefore, the space occupied by male ballet dancers in South Africa is one that contradicts the patriarchal ideas of masculinity and provides further insights into constructions of masculinity that do not conform to essentialist understandings. Therefore, the aim of this research report was to investigate the ways in which male ballet dancers construct their gender identities, sexualities and bodies within this contradictory space. A purposeful sample of four classically trained male ballet dancers over the age of 18 from Johannesburg, South Africa, was invited to participate in the study by means of snowball sampling. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and were examined using narrative analysis. It was found that male ballet dancers construct their gender identities through their bodies by virtue of their performances. They believe that by linking ballet to other masculine activities, such as sport, they can better negotiate their gender identities in a context where their profession is viewed as inferior, feminine and homosexual. The findings of this research have contributed to a better understanding of gender in an alternative domain, where the ways in which male ballet dancers construct their gender identities are challenged.Item Exploring the lived experiences and meanings of the body during depression.(2009-09-03T09:23:27Z) Sherry, AltheaDepression is predicted to be one of the largest global health burdens in the future. As such, it is important to expand the current understanding of this disorder, so as to develop more effective treatments. While somatic symptoms are being increasingly recognised as important, one area that has received little attention, is that of the lived somatic experiences in depression and the psychological meanings behind these. This study aimed to contribute to this by utilising a qualitative approach. Interviews were conducted with individuals who had recovered from depression. These interviews focused on experiences at the time of depression, with an emphasis on day-to-day physical aspects. Thematic content analysis of participants' narratives revealed central themes of disconnection from the body, and a sense of lack and deprivation in relation to the body. These themes were evident in both emotional and physical experiences of depression, indicating a link between these two aspects of self. The psychological meanings behind physical experiences were explored utilising psychodynamic etiological theories of depression. These theories included Freud's theory of object loss, the theory of unmet oral dependency needs, as well as Winnicott's understanding of psyche-soma indwelling. Finally, the possibility of the body as symbolic of etiological processes in depression, was discussed in relation to existing psychodynamic literature on the mind-body relationship. The results of this research imply that there may be a relevant relationship between the experiences of the mind and the body in depression, and that physical experiences during depression may potentially be understood as symbolic of underlying etiological processes.