Articulating cultures: socio-cultural experiences of black female immigrant students in South African schools1

Abstract

Contests of space and place in South African „schoolscapes‟² are now not so much about „race‟ as it is about nationalism and territoriality. While the politics of belonging unfolds and overtly manifests itself, a more covert, insidious and worrisome issue is that of the erosion of the social and cultural mores of Black³ immigrant students. Utilising social constructivism, case study approach and narrative inquiry, this study sets out to explore the socio-cultural experiences of Black female immigrant students in South African schools. It was found that the socio-cultural context of South African „schoolscapes‟ represented a site of contamination and shame; was marred by conflict and contained elements that worked towards the erosion of cultural and social mores of Black female immigrant students.

Keywords: Immigrant students; socio-cultural; migration; xenophobia; schoolscape