RT Article
T1 Hazing in South African schools and school hostels: a media analysis
JF Acta criminologica
VO 30
IS 3
SP 149
OP 165
A1 Wet, Corene de
LA English
YR 2017
UL https://krimdok.uni-tuebingen.de/Record/1744301395
AB Despite the banning of hazing in 2002, it is still a fairly common practice in some South African schools and school hostels. This paper uses newspaper articles as a data source and draws on the theories of cognitive dissonance and dominance to study hazing. A qualitative content analysis of 41 newspaper articles provides insight into the nature of hazing; the education context in which hazing occurs; the views of parents, educators and learners on this illegal practice; as well as the reasons for the perpetuation thereof. The study concludes that hazing practices are effected through the advocacy of its so-called character and team-building qualities and the vilification of those who speak out against this ‘time-honoured tradition’. Adolescents’ need for acceptance and their fear of being scorned, result in their rationalising the practice and its consequent acceptance. It is recommended that schools develop and adopt anti-hazing policies.
K1 Cognitive dissonance theory
K1 Content analysis
K1 Dominance theory
K1 Hazing
K1 Initiation
K1 South Africa