Female agency in action: an examination of interactions in an online 'love and relationships' discussion forum
Date
2015-09-03
Authors
Cresswell, Catherine
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Abstract
This project examined the discursive and interactional processes by which female participants
present and discuss their romantic relationships in the ‘Love and Relationships’ MXit forum
on the South African Non-Governmental Organisation, HIVSA’s, hi4LIFE mobile phonebased
project. In doing so, it was possible to explore some of the norms and ‘taken-forgranted’
practices of romantic relationships that the participants describe, which offer insight
into present research into adolescent experiences of gender and romantic relationships, as
well as some new subjects for consideration during intervention or analysis. In particular, the
participants discussed a commitment-based conception of love, and linked it to partnerfidelity,
but also to his commitment of time and attention. A feelings-based conception of
love was mobilised to suggest why a participant may deviate from the norm of breaking up
with a partner who has been unfaithful. The question of children was contested in terms of
whether they should be part of a committed relationship, or a decision that a woman should
make separately from her romantic relationships. Taken together, it is suggested that because
conceptions of love and having children appear not to be foreclosed normative practices as
these participants debate and contest them, these could prove fertile points of intervention
with young women’s choices, agency, and ultimately, empowerment. Thus this study
recommends disseminating and increasing the scope of hi4LIFE and similar projects that
provide platforms for the production of female agency.
Description
It is submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for Masters in Clinical Psychology in the Faculty of Humanities, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2014.