What's in a name? Exploring the sexual identity of Black Women-Loving-Women in Soweto

The material conditions within which the Black Women-Loving-Women (WLW) exist as a sexual identity are dominated by homophobic violence, particularly in South African townships contexts. This Briefing will draw from a research study which used Q methodology to capture expressions of the Black WLW�...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Agenda (Durban) 2013-06, Vol.27 (2), p.117-127
Main Author: Pakade, Nomancotsho
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Black Women-Loving-Women
BRIEFING
Females
Gender relations
Homophobia
homophobic violence
Homosexuality
Lesbianism
Politics
Same-sex marriage
Sex Roles
Sexual behaviour
Sexual identity
Sexuality
Slang
South Africa
Violence
Vulnerability
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Summary:The material conditions within which the Black Women-Loving-Women (WLW) exist as a sexual identity are dominated by homophobic violence, particularly in South African townships contexts. This Briefing will draw from a research study which used Q methodology to capture expressions of the Black WLW's sexual identity. The sample size of the research was 50 Black WLW who lived in various sections of Soweto. This Briefing aims to explore terms Black WLW use to express their sexual identity and also what terms in their respective neighbourhoods are used to identify WLW. In unpacking the politics of naming, it will highlight the overlap of different terms used to self-identify and used by others to label such women. While terms such as 'isitabane' (township slang for non-gender conforming) and 'lesbians' were commonly used, the meanings attached to them complicate how they are negotiated and expressed. Furthermore, terms such as 'ngqingili' (township slang for non-gender conforming) and 'queer' were rejected in the Sowetan context. This Briefing will discuss how and why such terms were dismissed. The discussion will also show that more than one term was used by Black WLW to self-identify. As a result, issues relating to subcultures, gender expressions and roles within relationships, and self-acceptance as part of owning one's sexual identity were evoked. Self-identifying terms and how others identified WLW in Soweto makes non-gender conforming and/or same-sex practicing women vulnerable to homophobic violence. What is in a name becomes a continuous struggle for existence and visibility with oneself, the lesbian and gay community, and within the broader communities.
ISSN:1013-0950
2158-978X
DOI:10.1080/10130950.2013.809928