OpenUCT :: Browsing by Author "Bray, Rachel"

Browsing by Author "Bray, Rachel"

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Open Access
'But where are our moral heroes?': An analysis of South African press reporting on children affected by HIV/AIDS
(2005) Meintjes, Helen; Bray, Rachel
Messages conveyed both explicitly and implicitly in the media play an important role in the shaping of public understanding of issues, as well as associated policy, programme and popular responses to these issues. This paper applies discourse analysis to a series of articles on children affected by HIV/AIDS published in 2002/2003 in the English-medium South African press. The analysis reveals layer upon layer of moral messaging present in the reporting, the cumulative effect of which is the communication of a series of moral judgements about who is and who is not performing appropriate roles in relation to children. Discourses of moral transgression specifically on the part of African parents and ‘families’ for failing in their moral responsibilities towards their children coalesce with discourses of anticipated moral decay amongst (previously innocent) children who lack their due care. The need for moral regeneration amongst South Africans generally (but implicitly black South Africans) is contrasted with an accolade of (usually white) middle class individuals who have gone beyond their moral duty to respond. The paper argues that in each instance, the particular moralism is questionable in the light of both empirical evidence and principles of human dignity underlying our constitution. Children – and particularly ‘AIDS orphans’ – are shown to be presented as either the quintessential innocent victims of the epidemic or as potential delinquents. While journalists intentions when representing children in these ways are likely to be positive, the paper argues that this approach is employed at a cost, both in the public’s knowledge and attitudes around the impact of AIDS, and more importantly, in the lives of children affected by the epidemic.
Metadata only
Childcare and poverty in South Africa: an ethnographic challenge to conventional interpretations
(Taylor & Francis, 2007) Bray, Rachel; Brandt, René
This article draws on ethnographic research with children and their caregivers to explore the interaction between poverty and the nature and quality of child care in a resource-poor urban community in South Africa. The authors attend to issues such as mobility and "family fragmentation," the role of the extended family and other networks, and children's contributions to their own and others' care, all matters that provoke particular concern in the context of HIV/AIDS. The research challenges some of the more conventional interpretations on these matters by pointing to the continuities children experience in what can appear a disrupted care setting as well as the positive aspects of children's involvement in care. It also supports the case for a closer look at men's participation in various child-care roles in a climate where they are often dismissed as absent or unemployed and therefore non-contributory. Future research and policy on child care would benefit from the conceptual approach adopted across this work, which employs a relational lens and encompasses the dynamic contexts in which care is experienced and performed.
Open Access
Conclusion: children as citizens
(Children's Institute, 2011) Jamieson, Lucy; Pendlebury, Shirley; Bray, Rachel
Open Access
Ethics and the everyday: reconsidering approaches to research involving children
(2005) Bray, Rachel; Gooskens, Imke
Guidelines on ethical practice in research with children tend to focus on ways to protect children from potential economic and emotional exploitation. While such concerns deserve attention, we argue that they represent only a portion of the moral framework in which researchers and participants operate. Through an analysis of children's engagement in a long term ethnographic study, where their participation involved both providing and gathering data, we show the interconnections between so-called 'research activities' and young people's everyday decision-making. Children's participation in research takes place within existing and emerging relationships. Decision-making based on values - on the part of both children and adults - is part and parcel of these relationships. This paper demonstrates the need to engage with children's moral worlds seriously while planning and conducting social research.
Open Access
Growing up in the new South Africa: childhood and adolescence in post-apartheid Cape Town
(2011) Bray, Rachel; Gooskens, Imke; Moses, Sue; Kahn, Lauren; Seekings, Jeremy
How has the end of apartheid affected the experiences of South African children and adolescents? This pioneering study provides a compelling account of the realities of everyday life for the first generation of children and adolescents growing up in a democratic South Africa. The authors examine the lives of young people across historically divided communities at home, in the neighbourhoods where they live, and at school. This resource can be used be anyone interested in developing their knowledge on the experiences of children in post-apartheid South Africa.
Open Access
How do space and place matter? : the role of neighbourhood level factors on the everyday lives of children and young people living in a Cape Town community established under apartheid
(2005) Moses, Susan; Bray, Rachel
Includes bibliographical references.
Restricted
How does AIDS illness affect women's residential decisions? Findings from an ethnographic study in a Cape Town township
(2009) Bray, Rachel
This paper explores the nature and consequences of residential decision-making for women on treatment for AIDS illness in a poor urban settlement in South Africa. Drawing on ethnographic data collected over a two-year period, it points to the subtle shifts in ‘householding’ practices and kinship relationships prompted by women's individual experiences and understanding of their HIV status, illness and treatment. Women's decisions to move or to arrange that other family members move can be explained by pre-existing threats to individual wellbeing or family residential security. But an HIV diagnosis can intensify a mother's thoughts and actions in relation to residential and emotional security, in particular on behalf of her children. In a context where extended periods of childcare by rural relatives is common, mothers with AIDS illness may gather all their children in their home to offer direct care, achieve intimacy and facilitate disclosure. They are likely to avoid making frequent contact with, and demands on, their elderly parents. Siblings are favoured as co-residents and confidants in disclosure, but their long-term support is contingent on reciprocity. Partners, where present, are valued for economic, social and emotional security. Women attempt to balance their children's nurturing, in the short and long term, with care of the self. Their efforts do not always succeed and can incur high costs to their wellbeing and relationships with their children.
Restricted
How does AIDS illness affect women's residential decisions? Findings from an ethnographic study in a Cape Town township
(National Inquiry Services Centre (NISC), 2009) Bray, Rachel
This article explores the nature and consequences of residential decision-making for women on treatment for AIDS illness in a poor urban settlement in South Africa. Drawing on ethnographic data collected over a two-year period, it points to the subtle shifts in "householding" practices and kinship relationships prompted by women's individual experiences and understandings of their HIV status, illness and treatment. Women's decisions to move or to arrange that other family members move may be explained by pre-existing threats to individual well-being or family residential security. But an HIV diagnosis can intensify a mother's thoughts and actions in relation to residential and emotional security, in particular on behalf of her children. In a context where extended periods of childcare by rural relatives is common, mothers with AIDS illness may gather all their children to their home to offer direct care, achieve intimacy and facilitate disclosure. They are likely to avoid making frequent contact with, and demands on, their elderly parents. Siblings are favoured as co-residents and confidants in disclosure, but their long-term support is contingent on reciprocity. Partners, where present, are valued for economic, social and emotional security. Women attempt to balance their children's nurturing, in the short and long term, with care of the self. Their efforts do not always succeed and can incur high costs to their wellbeing and relationships with their children.
Restricted
The influences of AIDS-related morbidity and mortality on change in urban households: An ethnographic study
(2008) Bray, Rachel
Drawing on qualitative panel data collected in a poor township on the edge of Cape Town, this paper provides a fine-grained analysis of the residential decision-making of five HIV positive women and some of their children. HIV status and illness are found to add to the pressures exerted by income and asset poverty in ways that further incline women to seek residential security for themselves and their children. The presence of HIV intensifies the mental health implications of pre-existing socio-economic burdens and efforts to respond to these. Much of the resultant mobility cannot therefore be considered AIDS specific. At the same time, being HIV positive and unwell (or anticipating illhealth) prompts women to organise particular domestic arrangements for themselves and their children. Previously non-resident children are moved from distant relatives to join the urban household, incurring financial and social strain on the domestic group and on infected women in particular. Infected mothers want to live with all their children so that they can nurture them, have opportunity to disclose and familiarise their children with the everyday implications of being positive and on treatment, and to ensure they have the skills to survive on their own should they themselves die. Such moves can be made without raising suspicion of HIV within the family because there is a well established pattern of moving teenagers from the Eastern Cape to schools in Masiphumelele for reasons of improving education.
Open Access
Missing links?: an examination of the contributions made by Social Surveys to our understanding of child well-being in South Africa
(2002) Bray, Rachel
The aim of this paper is to examine the available data on children's lives in South Africa in order to see whether we have the necessary tools to trace changes in child poverty and well-being over time, and to link these changes to broader social, political and economic trends. The analysis offered in this paper is important not only in terms of understanding the factors that currently influence the lives of almost half of South Africa's population, but also in terms of gaining insight into the links between child poverty and adult poverty, and the opportunities that exist to break the poverty cycle. Before addressing these concerns, I set the scene by briefly describing the major developments in the social sciences and in social development policy with respect to the study of children and childhood.
Open Access
Monitoring the worst forms of child labour, trafficking and child commercial sexual exploitation
(HSRC Press, 2007) Cluver, Lucy; Bray, Rachel; Dawes, Andrew
Restricted
Predicting the social consequences of orphanhood in South Africa
(National Inquiry Services Centre, 2003) Bray, Rachel
This paper examines and questions the predictions found in the academic and policy literature of social breakdown in southern Africa in the wake of anticipated high rates of orphanhood caused by the AIDS epidemic. Analysis of the logic underlying these predictions reveals four causal relationships necessary to fulfil such dramatic and apocalyptic predictions: 1 High AIDS mortality rates will produce high numbers of orphans. 2 These orphans will become children who do not live in appropriate social environments to equip them for adult citizenship. 3 Poor socialisation will mean that children orphaned by AIDS will not live within society’s moral codes (becoming, for example, street children or juvenile delinquents). 4 Large numbers of such ‘asocial’ or ‘antisocial’ children will precipitate a breakdown in the social fabric. Evidence for each of these steps in the argument is scrutinised using available data from southern Africa and other regions that have moved further through the epidemic’s cycle. The paper finds strong evidence for the first step, although variable definitions of ‘orphan’ make it difficult to draw accurate comparisons over time and space. Evidence for the second step is found to be mixed in terms of outcomes of AIDS orphanhood for child well-being. Moreover the argument takes little account of the social and eco- nomic environments onto which AIDS is mapped, including the economic fragility of households and pervading socio-cultural patterns of child-rearing. Data to substantiate the third step are anecdotal at best and no research is able to demonstrate a link between the long term effects of AIDS orphanhood and rising rates of juvenile delinquency. Arguments made towards the fourth step are shown to be based heavily on notions of the ‘correct’ social and physical environments for children and on unsubstantiated fears of alternatives to these. There is no evidence from countries where numbers of AIDS orphans are already high to suggest that their presence is precipitating social breakdown. The paper argues — somewhat provocatively — that such apocalyptic predictions are unfounded and ill-considered. By misrepresenting the problems faced by children and their families, attention is distracted from the multiple layers of social, economic and psychological disadvantage that affect individual children, families and communities. Consequently, insufficient consideration is given to the multi-faceted supports necessary to assist children to cope with extremely difficult circumstances brought about over the long term by the HIV/AIDS epidemic
Open Access
Predicting the social consequences of orphanhood in South Africa
(2003) Bray, Rachel
This paper examines and questions the predictions found in the academic and policy literature of social breakdown in Southern Africa in the wake of anticipated high rates of orphanhood caused by the AIDS epidemic. Analysis of the logic underlying these predictions reveals four causal relationships necessary to fulfil such dramatic and apocalyptic predictions: 1. High AIDS mortality rates will produce high numbers of orphans. 2. These orphans will become children who do not live in appropriate social environments to equip them for adult citizenship. 3. Poor socialization will mean that children orphaned by AIDS will not live within society's moral codes (becoming, for example, street children or juvenile delinquents). 4. Large numbers of such 'asocial' children will precipitate a breakdown in the social fabric.
Restricted
Predicting the social consequences of orphanhood in South Africa
(Taylor & Francis, 2003) Bray, Rachel
This paper examines and questions the predictions found in the academic and policy literature of social breakdown in southern Africa in the wake of anticipated high rates of orphanhood caused by the AIDS epidemic. Analysis of the logic underlying these predictions reveals four causal relationships necessary to fulfil such dramatic and apocalyptic predictions: 1 High AIDS mortality rates will produce high numbers of orphans. 2 These orphans will become children who do not live in appropriate social environments to equip them for adult citizenship. 3 Poor socialisation will mean that children orphaned by AIDS will not live within society’s moral codes (becoming, for example, street children or juvenile delinquents). 4 Large numbers of such ‘asocial’ or ‘antisocial’ children will precipitate a breakdown in the social fabric. Evidence for each of these steps in the argument is scrutinised using available data from southern Africa and other regions that have moved further through the epidemic’s cycle. The paper finds strong evidence for the first step, although variable definitions of ‘orphan’ make it difficult to draw accurate comparisons over time and space. Evidence for the second step is found to be mixed in terms of outcomes of AIDS orphanhood for child well-being. Moreover the argument takes little account of the social and eco- nomic environments onto which AIDS is mapped, including the economic fragility of households and pervading socio-cultural patterns of child-rearing. Data to substantiate the third step are anecdotal at best and no research is able to demonstrate a link between the long term effects of AIDS orphanhood and rising rates of juvenile delinquency. Arguments made towards the fourth step are shown to be based heavily on notions of the ‘correct’ social and physical environments for children and on unsubstantiated fears of alternatives to these. There is no evidence from countries where numbers of AIDS orphans are already high to suggest that their presence is precipitating social breakdown. The paper argues — somewhat provocatively — that such apocalyptic predictions are unfounded and ill-considered. By misrepresenting the problems faced by children and their families, attention is distracted from the multiple layers of social, economic and psychological disadvantage that affect individual children, families and communities. Consequently, insufficient consideration is given to the multi-faceted supports necessary to assist children to cope with extremely difficult circumstances brought about over the long term by the HIV/AIDS epidemic
Restricted
Predicting the social consequences of orphanhood in South Africa
(Taylor & Francis, 2003) Bray, Rachel
This paper examines and questions the predictions found in the academic and policy literature of social breakdown in southern Africa in the wake of anticipated high rates of orphanhood caused by the AIDS epidemic. Analysis of the logic underlying these predictions reveals four causal relationships necessary to fulfil such dramatic and apocalyptic predictions: 1 High AIDS mortality rates will produce high numbers of orphans. 2 These orphans will become children who do not live in appropriate social environments to equip them for adult citizenship. 3 Poor socialisation will mean that children orphaned by AIDS will not live within society’s moral codes (becoming, for example, street children or juvenile delinquents). 4 Large numbers of such ‘asocial’ or ‘antisocial’ children will precipitate a breakdown in the social fabric. Evidence for each of these steps in the argument is scrutinised using available data from southern Africa and other regions that have moved further through the epidemic’s cycle. The paper finds strong evidence for the first step, although variable definitions of ‘orphan’ make it difficult to draw accurate comparisons over time and space. Evidence for the second step is found to be mixed in terms of outcomes of AIDS orphanhood for child well-being. Moreover the argument takes little account of the social and eco- nomic environments onto which AIDS is mapped, including the economic fragility of households and pervading socio-cultural patterns of child-rearing. Data to substantiate the third step are anecdotal at best and no research is able to demonstrate a link between the long term effects of AIDS orphanhood and rising rates of juvenile delinquency. Arguments made towards the fourth step are shown to be based heavily on notions of the ‘correct’ social and physical environments for children and on unsubstantiated fears of alternatives to these. There is no evidence from countries where numbers of AIDS orphans are already high to suggest that their presence is precipitating social breakdown. The paper argues — somewhat provocatively — that such apocalyptic predictions are unfounded and ill-considered. By misrepresenting the problems faced by children and their families, attention is distracted from the multiple layers of social, economic and psychological disadvantage that affect individual children, families and communities. Consequently, insufficient consideration is given to the multi-faceted supports necessary to assist children to cope with extremely difficult circumstances brought about over the long term by the HIV/AIDS epidemic
Open Access
Predicting the social consequences of orphanhood in southern Africa
(2003) Bray, Rachel
This paper examines and questions the predictions found in the academic and policy literature of social breakdown in southern Africa in the wake of anticipated high rates of orphanhood caused by the AIDS epidemic. Analysis of the logic underlying these predictions reveals four causal relationships necessary to fulfil such dramatic and apocalyptic predictions: High AIDS mortality rates will produce high numbers of orphans. These orphans will become children who do not live in appropriate social environments to equip them for adult citizenship. Poor socialisation will mean that children orphaned by AIDS will not live within society's moral codes (becoming, for example, street children or juvenile delinquents). Large numbers of such ‘asocial’ or ‘antisocial’ children will precipitate a breakdown in the social fabric. Evidence for each of these steps in the argument is scrutinised using available data from southern Africa and other regions that have moved further through the epidemic's cycle. The paper finds strong evidence for the first step, although variable definitions of ‘orphan’ make it difficult to draw accurate comparisons over time and space. Evidence for the second step is found to be mixed in terms of outcomes of AIDS orphanhood for child well-being. Moreover the argument takes little account of the social and economic environments onto which AIDS is mapped, including the economic fragility of households and pervading socio-cultural patterns of child-rearing. Data to substantiate the third step are anecdotal at best and no research is able to demonstrate a link between the long term effects of AIDS orphanhood and rising rates of juvenile delinquency. Arguments made towards the fourth step are shown to be based heavily on notions of the ‘correct’ social and physical environments for children and on unsubstantiated fears of alternatives to these. There is no evidence from countries where numbers of AIDS orphans are already high to suggest that their presence is precipitating social breakdown. The paper argues—somewhat provocatively—that such apocalyptic predictions are unfounded and ill-considered. By misrepresenting the problems faced by children and their families, attention is distracted from the multiple layers of social, economic and psychological disadvantage that affect individual children, families and communities. Consequently, insufficient consideration is given to the multi-faceted supports necessary to assist children to cope with extremely difficult circumstances brought about over the long term by the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
Open Access
Reporting on children in the context of HIV/AIDS: a journalist's resource
(Children's Institute, 2005) Bird, William; Bray, Rachel; Harries, Gemma; Meintjes, Helen; Monson, Jo; Ridgard, Natalie
Restricted
A rights-based approach to monitoring the well-being of children in South Africa
(HSRC Press, 2007) Bray, Rachel; Dawes, Andrew
Open Access
South African Child Gauge 2010/2011
(2011) Jamieson, Lucy; Bray, Rachel; Viviers, Andre; Lake, Lori; Pendlebury, Sheila; Smith, Charmaine
The South African Child Gauge is a special book about children in South Africa, produced anually to monitor government and civil society's progress towards realising children's rights. This collection of papers focuses on 'the meaning of children’s right to social services,' specifically dealing with children and the legal system, children as citizens, and key numeric indicators on the state of children's socioeconomic rigjts. This resource can be used for independent study/research or for integration into child development curriculum.
Open Access
What is childcare really about? An ethnographic analysis of care relationships in a resource-poor community
(2005) Bray, Rachel; Brandt, René
The main aim of this paper is to examine critically the nature of childcare, including ideals and practices, in a resource-poor community through close ethnographic analysis of three sets of data generated over the course of two years. We argue that childcare in Masiphumelele should be conceptualised as having an emotional component that operates in parallel with, and is as important as, material provision and practical action. Further, the analysis reveals the extent to which childcare is shaped by poverty and must be thought about in relation to broader physical and social mobility, and the continuities within such movement. We also show that HIV can further shape childcare by challenging existing cultural practices, such as those pertaining to communication between children and adults regarding death. Future work on childcare would benefit from the conceptual approach adopted across this work, one which views children and their carers in a series of interrelated and dynamic contexts that include both kin and non-kin, and extend from the household to the broader family and friendship networks which support these multiple individuals.