The representation of father and son relationships in African fairy tales
Date
2023-08
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
Abstract
This research project examines the representation of father and son relationships in African fairy tales. The purpose of this research is firstly to analyse how father and son relationships are portrayed in African fairy tales. The second purpose of this research is to determine the types of father and son relationships portrayed in the African fairy tales and how those relationships expand, challenge or support the existing knowledge about what it means to be a father and a man. I used ten fairy tales to conduct this study. Three of the fairy tales are from Ethiopia, one fairy tale is from Kenya, four are from South Africa, one from Zimbabwe, and one from Ghana. I analysed the data for this study using a thematic content analysis method. My findings were that there are five types of father and son relationships: dysfunctional father and son relationships, detached father and son relationships, distanced father and son relationships, absent father and son relationships, and positive father and son relationships. There are five factors that determined the father and son relationships; these factors are hard work, wisdom and knowledge, obedience and disobedience, communication, and reckless behaviour. The types of father and son relationships portrayed in the African fairy tales affirm, contest and extend existing knowledge on fatherhood and masculinity in different ways.
Description
A research report submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Education (With specialisation in Languages, Literacies and Literatures) to the Faculty of Humanities, Wits School of Education, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023.
Keywords
African storybook, Fairy tales, Father and son relationships, Fatherhood, Masculinity, UCTD
Citation
Nkosi, Hlengiwe. (2023). The representation of father and son relationships in African fairy tales. [Master's dissertation, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg].