Abstract
Young Zimbabweans’ views represent the key interest of this thesis. The views young people hold about homosexuality, and how they reflect on the experiences and rights of gays and lesbians, offer a lens into the prospect for change and improved lived realities in countries such as Zimbabwe and South Africa. South Africa and Zimbabwe, although in very close proximity, have contrasting legislatures and political histories. While South Africa’s post-liberation state entrenched sexual rights in the constitution, Zimbabwe’s post-independent state has strongly opposed homosexuality and has denigrated and rejected same-sex relationships. Gays and lesbians have had to navigate extreme difficulties and find coping mechanisms to survive repression and surveillance in Zimbabwe, often fleeing to South Africa to enjoy greater freedom.
This thesis is a qualitative study of the views of 23 young Zimbabweans, both heterosexual and homosexual. Their experiences and views are varied – with some choosing to remain in Zimbabwe and others migrating to South Africa. The thesis sought to grapple with the key question: ‘How do young Zimbabweans living in different societal environments view homosexuality, and how do their social networks play a role in influencing these views?” While a number of broad themes are elicited and discussed, the findings about social networks are critical. Social networks appear to be a huge ‘influencer’ of thinking and attitudes about sex and gender roles, same-sex relationships, marriage, and reproduction (amongst other gendered issues).
For homosexual youth, networks have the potential to be supportive and enabling – whether family, friends or church-based – but they often increase pressures, making it difficult for the young gay person to live a free and non-prejudiced life. In the current study, networks are contradictory – some are constraining and debilitating (as in the case of family, religion, friendships) but, at the same time, some of the young people reach out to them because under the circumstances they are of the greatest help. Learning to understand how to draw on their strengths is vital for survival. Understanding the dynamics of patriarchy is also useful to know why gay men are strongly disfavoured in Zimbabwe whilst lesbian women are tolerated. The voices of young Zimbabweans suggest that, apart from drawing on the support of networks such as family and churches, building a sense of self-acceptance is vital to lay the basis for a better future.
Keywords: homosexuality, LGBT, attitudes, Zimbabwe, perceptions, youth, consensual same-sex relationships, criminalisation and decriminalisation of homosexuality.