Browsing by Author "Durr, Elna"

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    A qualitative, interpretive study exploring the well-being of slaughterers : a comparison between Jewish, Muslim and secular slaughterers
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University., 2020-03) Durr, Elna; Kafaar, Zuhayr; Hoffman, Louwrens C.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Psychology.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The first slaughterhouse appeared at the beginning of the 19th century in France and the French word “abattoir” was introduced, which refers to a place where livestock are slaughtered for human consumption. Slaughterers (stunners and bleeders) are important in society because they are the people whose task it is to convert livestock into meat. Approximately 56 billion animals are slaughtered worldwide, with 11 million animals slaughtered in South Africa annually for human consumption. Slaughtering animals for meat consumption is a contentious issue and is seen as dangerous work with many physical and psychological challenges. Research also suggests that slaughtering may be linked to violence and aggression amongst slaughterers working in the abattoir. The primary research question of this study is: How does slaughtering influence the well-being of slaughterers? Secondary research questions are: How do slaughterers experience their work? What are the occupational factors that influence the slaughterers’ well-being? Are there differences in the experiences and influence of slaughtering according to the different methods used (halaal, kosher and secular slaughtering)? How do slaughterers cope with their daily work challenges? Why do some slaughterers cope better than others? This is a qualitative, interpretive study and purposive sampling was used to access participants. The participants consist of 24 slaughterers, three of their family members and nine abattoir managers. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with participants and interview texts were analysed using interpretative thematic analysis, following Braun and Clarke (2006). The findings revealed that South Africa’s historical past of racial oppression was one of the main reasons why many secular slaughterers were working in these abattoirs. In contrast with this finding, the central reason why Muslim and Jewish participants were slaughterers was due to their religious purpose and many of them viewed their profession as a religious calling.While the halaal and secular slaughterers identified the many physical challenges involved in their work, in contrast, the kosher slaughterers did not mention any risk factors for injury and physical stress. All the slaughterers reported that they initially felt emotional when they began slaughtering but these emotions dissipated after a few days, weeks or months. They stated that over time they became accustomed to their work. This period is characterised by emotional desensitisation and can be associated with the hyper-masculine identity these men took on in the course of their work. Every slaughterer, irrespective of their religion, mentioned the importance of not bringing feelings into their work. There were only two halaal slaughterers and one secular slaughterer who briefly explored the psychological challenges of working in an abattoir. Management strategies, such as good communication, respect and job rotation were identified by the managers. Another key finding in the current study was that religious slaughterers viewed their work differently to secular slaughterers, and that prayer was an important coping strategy for religiously sanctioned slaughterers. Another central theme was fostering good relationships with family members, friends, and colleagues, which helped slaughterers maintain a positive outlook at work. The findings of the study revealed the physical, social, emotional and psychological challenges that slaughterers, working in the dirty area of an abattoir, may face. Although South Africa is known for its prevalence of violence, the current study did not find clear evidence of violent behaviour among slaughterers working in the dirty area of an abattoir, and thus stands in contrast to the studies by Fitzgerald, Kalof, and Dietz (2009) and Jacques (2015). Despite the violent nature of slaughtering and the fact that I have identified many physical and psychological challenges, it seems as if many of the slaughterers were resilient and well-adapted.
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    Resilience characteristics of families with children with severe or profound intellectual disability
    (Stellenbosch University, Department of Social Work, 2020) Durr, Elna; Greeff, Abraham
    The aim of this study was to explore family characteristics and resources that assisted families to adapt after their children had been diagnosed with severe or profound intellectual disability. A qualitative research approach with a cross-sectional design was used, as the study was focused on participants’ experiences. It was found that spiritual resources and reformulation of the crisis helped families to reframe their experiences with a more positive outlook. Social support from the family networks, friends and the community, and positive family characteristics, such as perseverance and humour, also contributed to family adaptation and well-being. Good planning regarding daily activities, as well as for their children's future, was also deemed important.
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    Veerkragtigheidskenmerke van gesinne met ʼn kind met ʼn ernstige of uiterste intellektuele gestremdheid
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2015-12) Durr, Elna; Greeff, A. P.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Department of Psychology.
    AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING : Intellektuele gestremdheid word operasioneel gedefinieer as ʼn gestremdheid wat gekenmerk word deur beduidende beperkings in beide intellektuele funksionering (intelligensie) en in aangepaste gedrag (konsepsionele, sosiale en praktiese vaardighede). Vir ʼn diagnose van intellektuele gestremdheid moet die gestremdheid voor die ouderdom van 18 jaar ontstaan. Vier vlakke van intellektuele gestremdheid kan onderskei word, naamlik ligte, matige, ernstige en uiterste intellektuele gestremdheid. Die versorging van ʼn kind met ʼn ernstige of uiterste intellektuele gestremdheid is ʼn lewenslange proses en lei tot stres wat alle lede van ʼn gesin fisies, emosioneel, kognitief en sosiaal beïnvloed. Die hoofdoel van hierdie studie was om vas te stel watter eienskappe en hulpbronne van gesinne hulle gehelp het om aan te pas nadat hulle kind met ʼn ernstige of ʼn uiterste intellektuele gestremdheid gediagnoseer is. Die studie is beplan en gedoen vanuit ʼn gesinsveerkragtigheidsperspektief. Veerkragtigheid verwys onder andere na die vermoë om terug te bons vanaf beduidende teenspoed; suksesvolle aanpassing gedurende stresvolle lewensgebeure; en positiewe uitkomste ten spyte van stresvolle omstandighede. ʼn Enkelvoudige dwarssnee navorsingsontwerp en ʼn kwalitatiewe navorsingsmetode is gebruik ten einde veerkragtigheidskenmerke by gesinne met ʼn kind met ʼn ernstige of uiterste intellektuele gestremdheid te identifiseer. Ten einde data te bekom, is in-diepte semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude met 11 ouerpare gevoer. Deur die gebruik van Braun en Clarke (2006) se tema-ontledingstegniek het vier hooftemas sowel as ʼn aantal sub-temas na vore gekom. Hierdie temas verteenwoordig strategieë wat volgens die deelnemende gesinne aan hierdie studie gehelp het om aan te pas by hulle omstandighede. Daar is bevind dat spirituele hulpbronne soos gebed, ʼn sterk geloof, geestelike ondersteuning en herformulering van ʼn krisis die deelnemende gesinne gehelp het om ʼn meer positiewe siening van hulle situasie te kry. Die sosiale ondersteuning van binne die gesin, vanaf die groter familienetwerk, van vriende en van die gemeenskap het ook ʼn belangrike rol gespeel ten einde die aanpassingsproses vir gesinne te vergemaklik. Vir een gesin het ondersteuning via die internet ook ʼn positiewe bydrae gelewer tot beter aanpassing in hulle gesin. Positiewe gesinseienskappe soos deursettingsvermoë, onderlinge liefde, geduld en humor het ook in sommige gesinne bygedra tot beter aanpassing. ʼn Vaste roetine in die huis is ook deur sommige gesinne aangedui as belangrik vir goeie aanpassing, maar terselfdertyd moet die gesin ook buigbaar wees en aanpassings in die roetines kan maak ten einde die lewe vir almal in die huis makliker te maak. Laastens is bevind dat goeie beplanning in verband met alledaagse aktiwiteite, sowel as beplanning in verband met die kind se toekoms, belangrik is vir beter gesinsaanpassing. Die bevindinge van hierdie studie word ondersteun deur veerkragtigheidsteorieë en kan dus gesien word as nuttige hulpbronne vir gesinne met ʼn kind met ʼn ernstige of uiterste intellektuele gestremdheid se aanpassing. Die bevindinge van die studie lewer ʼn bydrae tot bestaande kennis oor gesinsielkunde en veral oor gesinsveerkragtigheid in die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks.