Constructions of Ukuyalwa and marriage satisfaction: experiences of Xhosa couples in the Eastern Cape

Bikwe, Siphuxolo

Title: Constructions of Ukuyalwa and marriage satisfaction: experiences of Xhosa couples in the Eastern Cape
Creator: Bikwe, Siphuxolo
ThesisAdvisor: Campbell, Megan
ThesisAdvisor: Msomi, Nqobile
Subject: Xhosa (African people) South Africa Eastern Cape
Subject: Xhosa (African people) Marriage customs and rites
Subject: Black psychology
Subject: Couples therapy
Subject: Interpersonal relations and culture
Subject: Communication in marriage
Subject: Satisfaction
Subject: Foucauldian discourse analysis
Date: 2023-03-30
Type: Academic theses
Type: Master's theses
Type: text
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/408805
Identifier: vital:70527
Description: Marital satisfaction may be described as the extent to which one’s expectations, desires and needs are being satisfied in their marriage. Studies that concern marital satisfaction provide us with crucial insights into factors that support or compromise the longevity of long-term, committed relationships. Little work has been done in understanding the role of cultural practices in marital satisfaction particularly in Africa, and South Africa more specifically. Ukuyalwa is a Xhosa ritual that takes place during a Xhosa traditional wedding, whereby the bride is introduced to the (traditional) guiding practices of her new home by the women of the family together with her sisters-in-law. This study informs the practice of African psychology as formulated by Ratele (2017b).Critical African psychology as a framework recognizes the construction of culture alongside political, socioeconomic, and historical matrices. These are acknowledged as an important element in psychological theories, methods, and explanations. This research project aimed to identify the discourses that circulate around ukuyalwa as a Xhosa cultural practice and consider the implications for the marital satisfaction of amaXhosa couples. The study interviewed 3 Xhosa couples of varying ages who had been married for different durations to develop an understanding of their experiences of ukuyalwa and marital satisfaction. Data was analyzed using a Foucauldian Discourse Analysis (FDA) which allowed for the identifications of the discourses that the couples used to construct ukuyalwa and marital satisfaction. The couples discursively constructed marriage as ‘divine unity’, ‘unification of families’ and ‘partnership’. Ukuyalwa was constructed as a ‘gendered process’, ideas of tradition and modernity, and a ‘foundation’ also became apparent. Satisfaction was constructed as ‘open communication’ and ‘work’. The couples’ positions shifted in their conversations, where in some instances they were 'learners’, ‘initiates’, and/or ‘passive’, and in other instances, they were ‘in charge’, ‘knowledgeable’, and ‘experts’. The discourses of culture, religion, and partnership circulated prominently in relation to marriage, ukuyalwa, and marital satisfaction. The findings of the study speak to how the couples’ constructions of marriage and cultural customs such as ukuyalwa are valuable as they often inform how couples behave in their marriage relationships and what they regard as satisfactory to them when it comes to marriage. These insights into what informs the couples’ ideas on marriage and satisfaction can be utilised in informing couples therapy interventions.
Description: Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Psychology, 2023
Format: computer, online resource, application/pdf, 1 online resource (117 pages), pdf
Publisher: Rhodes University, Humanities, Psychology
Language: English
Rights: Bikwe, Siphuxolo
Rights: Use of this resource is governed by the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons "Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike" License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/)

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