A South African Indian Muslim family narrative: Discussion

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Introduction

Although the notion of ‘context’ has featured from the outset in the field of family therapy, it referred mainly to the family context. In the same way that individual psychotherapy remained confined to the unique personality of the individual, family therapy directed its attention to the unique interactional patterns within the family. The advantage of this focus on the interior of the family is that it allowed for the evolution of a significantly progressive understanding of the family. Its main shortcoming however lies in its conceptualization of the family as enclosed and secluded (Falicov, 1983).

Context of the study

In order to explore the requisiteness and feasibility of this thesis, as well as to familiarise the reader with the backdrop against which the impetus for this study arose, it is necessary to first provide a brief account of the context in which it unfolds.

Local context

South Africa is undergoing or working towards large scale physical, social, economic, political, legislative, moral and ideological restructuring with its multi-cultural and religiously diverse population. The main thread in all these factors is the move towards undoing past injustices and creating a more egalitarian society, which has greater potential for more positive growth (Trevis, 1999). One of the main steps in this direction involves giving voice to those cultures that have not been heard. This resonates on some level with the aims of this study. It is thus hoped that this thesis can have the potential to contribute towards and to support the process of transformation in South Africa.

International context

On an international level, the context is also characterized by features which resonate with, act in support of, and have implications for the present study. The social sciences have become internationalized and development is a priority. Disciplines are no longer narrowly confined to operating exclusively on an internalised level, within their own boundaries. Information and ideas are being actively negotiated, exchanged and adopted across disciplinary boundaries and fertile links are being forged with ‘foreign’ networks. The aim is to broaden and deepen the exposure of each discipline to resources as well as the applicability of its products, thereby allowing for greater inclusivity, extended representation, and consequently, reinforced credibility. Thus, new and more progressive perspectives can be generated. Cultural considerations are naturally placed at the
forefront of this development.

Chapter 1 Contextualisation of the study
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Rationale
1.2.1 Context of the study
1.2.1.1 Local context
1.2.1.2 International context
1.3 Description of the study
1.4 Aims
Chapter 2 Literature review
2.1 Definition of culture
2.2 Culture in the field of family therapy
2.3 Culture-specific approache
2.3.1 Studies based on a culture specific-approach
2.3.2 Contrasting culture-specific characteristics
2.3.3 Culture-specific practices of families
2.3.4 Culture-specific approaches to therapy
2.3.5 Assessing the culture-specific approaches
2.4 The relativist, absolutist and universalist approaches
2.4.1 The relativist position
2.4.2 The absolutist position
2.4.2.1 Cultural encapsulation
2.4.3 The universalist position
2.4.4 Multiculturalism
2.5 Alternative perspectives
2.5.1 Cultural ignorance
2.5.2 Cultural sensitivity
2.5.3 Cultural skill
2.5.4 Anthropological approach
2.5.5 Strategic approach
2.5.6 Culture as co-constructed
2.5.7 Social constructionist and narrative approaches
2.6 A multidimensional framework
2.7 Conclusion
Chapter 3 Epistemological foundations of the study
3.1 Defining epistemology
3.2 The drawing of distinctions: The construction of reality
3.3 The self-referential and reflexive nature of distinctions
3.4 Punctuation
3.5 The social construction of reality
3.6 The broader relationship
3.7 Recursiveness
3.8 Epistemology and research
3.8.1 The postmodern approach
3.8.1.1 Describing the postmodern
3.8.1.2 Reflexivity
3.8.1.3 Critique of modernist research
3.8.2 Alternative paradigm research
3.8.3 Implications
3.9 Conclusion
Chapter 4 Methodology
4.1 Research method
4.2 Data collection
4.2.1 Participant observation
4.2.2 Personal experience
4.2.3 Ethnography
4.3 Research procedure
4.4 Access to participants
4.5 Research setting
4.6 Sampling
4.7 Utilisation of data
4.8 Research aims
4.9 Conclusion
Chapter 5 Discourses in schools of family therapy
5.1 Modernism
5.1.1 First-order cybernetics
5.1.2 General systems theory
5.1.2.1 Context
5.1.2.2 Systemic interdependence
5.1.2.3 The systemic metaphor
5.1.2.4 Feedback mechanisms
5.1.2.5 Critique of the general systems approach
5.2 Postmodernism
5.2.1 Second-order cybernetics
5.2.1.1 Observing systems
5.2.1.2 Objectivity and truth
5.2.1.3 Whole systems
5.2.2 Constructivism
5.2.2.1 Structure determinism
5.2.2.2 Objectivity and truth
5.2.2.3 Knowledge
5.2.2.4 Context
5.2.3 Social constructionism and the narrative approach
5.2.3.1 Constructivism and social constructionism
5.2.3.2 Truth
5.2.3.3 Truth and power
5.2.3.4 The social construction of reality
5.2.3.5 Language and the construction of reality
5.2.3.6 The narrative approach
5.2.3.6.1 Meaning
5.2.3.6.2 Culture and meaning
5.2.3.6.3 The concept of normality
5.2.3.6.4 Social constructionism and the systems view
5.2.3.6.5 Factors promoting the adoption of social constructionist perspective
5.3 Conclusion
Chapter 6 The South African Indian Muslim family: Observations
6.1 South Africa’s multicultural context
6.2 The South African Indian Muslim family
6.3 Outline of chapter
6.4 Structure of the family
6.5 Cohesion
6.6 Roles
6.7 Hierarchy
6.8 Communication
6.9 Life cycle
6.10 Conclusion
Chapter 7 A South African Indian Muslim family narrative: Discussion
7.1 Introduction
7.2 Organisation of the family
7.2.1 Structure of the family
7.2.2 Cohesion
7.2.3 Roles
7.2.4 Hierarchy
7.2.5 Communication
7.2.6 Life cycle
7.3 Marginalisation in the community
7.4 Effect of the author’s perspective
7.5 Conclusion
Chapter 8 Conclusion
8.1 Implications of findings for therapy
8.2 Impact on individual and larger group
8.3 Concluding remarks