Gender Performativity and Addiction within the Family: Focus on the Hookah

Abstract

Gender performativity, substance use and dependency are bed rocked within the family system. Since hookah pipe smoking, worldwide, has become a family past time, people’s knowledge, use and perceptions of the hookah are now ripe for analysis. This study investigated the gendered perceptions of substance use, the hookah pipe being the primary substance under investigation. The study was undertaken with 837 rural and urban families in Belhar and Worcester in the Western Cape, South Africa. This paper aims to answer the research question: “what are the gender differences in hookah and other substance use within the family”? This project used a quantitative research framework within a crosssectional and descriptive survey design. Data was analysed using the Statistical Program for Social Science (SPSS). Coherent with Social Learning Theory, results infer that children model parental addictive behaviours. Results indicate that the hookah pipe is a gateway drug, as participants appear to use the hookah pipe with other substances like marijuana and alcohol. This research could provide information for prevention and intervention programmes with families in  South Africa.

Keywords: Gender, Hookah Pipe, Family, Gateway Drug, Addiction, Smoking,
Parents, South Africa, Social Learning Theory