Abstract
M.A.
Using the concept of resilience, this study investigates mechanisms and
strategies used by young men in Zola, Soweto to cope in adverse
circumstances. The study breaks with the preoccupation of social science
research with 'youth as trouble' issues and resonates with the United Nations'
objective to drive forward notions of human development which aim at
sustaining support and collaboration in assisting people to develop their full
potential. In specific, the study asks the question “What are the mechanisms
and strategies that young men in Soweto use to cope in adverse
circumstances?” The study, contrary to most resilience studies worldwide,
employed a qualitative methodology and relies strongly on data collected in
2007 through in-depth interviews and participant observation among young men
of 18-24 years of age in Zola, Soweto, just outside of Johannesburg. The
findings highlight how notions of masculinity contribute to the legitimisation of
crime and the high uptake of criminal responses to adversity in a context of
poverty and inequality – a process I discuss in light of Michael Ungar's notion of
'hidden resilience'.
The project's contributions to research are threefold: Firstly, the study
contributes to the international body of resilience literature by providing a
context-specific account of risk and adaptation among young men in an urban
township environment in South Africa. Secondly, it adds to recent discussions
on the appropriateness of different methods in studying resilience by reflecting
on some of the most common approaches to researching resilience among
children and youths. Lastly, the project takes a glance at potential fields of
interest for policy and programme development that emanate from the study's
innovative perspective on 'youth at risk' in Zola.