• Login
    View Item 
    •   ResearchSpace Home
    • College of Humanities
    • School of Applied Human Sciences
    • Psychology
    • Masters Degrees (Psychology)
    • View Item
    •   ResearchSpace Home
    • College of Humanities
    • School of Applied Human Sciences
    • Psychology
    • Masters Degrees (Psychology)
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    Immigrant workers' experiences and perceptions of tensions, identity and social resources within the Port of Durban, South Africa.

    Thumbnail
    View/Open
    Thesis. (739.2Kb)
    Date
    2012
    Author
    Padayachee, Sarisha.
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Abstract
    It is argued that the tensions facing foreign workers in the South African labour market should be seen against the background of the recent history of migration in which it has been primarily workers with low educational and vocational qualifications that have arrived from neighbouring countries and who have been employed within the informal sector doing fairly dangerous and poorly paid work. Aim: In light of this, the purpose of this study was to explore immigrant worker’s experiences and perceptions of tension, identity and social resources within the Port of Durban, with an overall focus on the construction of a positive work identity. Methodology: The broad paradigm of this research study is located in the qualitative research field. The researcher specifically used an interpretative phenomenological approach (IPA) following the guidelines of Smith, Jarman and Osborne (1999). The IPA was used because the researcher was interested in identifying, describing and understanding the subjective experiences and cognitive interpretations of immigrant workers in respect of their subjective experiences and perceptions of tension; identity and social resources; and because the researcher intended to make sense of the participants’ worlds through a process of interpretative activity. Semi-structured interviews using a non-probability sampling technique were employed to purposively select 10 participants from within the container terminal division of the Port. The IPA as suggested by Smith et al. (1999) was then used to identify the connections and themes in respect of shared meanings and references and /or in respect of hierarchical relationships in each transcript. Themes that were found to be common were grouped together i.e. clustered by the researcher. The researcher then derived a master list of superordinate themes and sub-themes from the clusters of themes. Findings: The thematic analysis unearthed eight themes : (1) interpretation of what it means to be an immigrant; (2) causes of tension at work; (3) causes of tension outside of work; (4) mechanisms for managing tensions; (5) individuality versus belonging; (6) factors leading to a positive work life; (7) identifying social resources; and (8) overcoming tensions using social resources. The participants’ lived experiences of tension indicated that a number of barriers had impacted and were continuing to impact on their everyday work experience. Overall, tensions, such as disrespect, violence and inequality, made it difficult for immigrants to identify positively with their work and fellow South Africans. Notwithstanding the fact, participants additionally managed to identify key aspects and positive experiences, such as training and learning opportunities that served as potential social resources that workers could rely on in order to help them overcome some of the above mentioned tensions and attain a more positive immigrant work-related identity.
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/10413/9320
    Collections
    • Masters Degrees (Psychology) [696]

    Related items

    Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.

    • Strategic significance of concessioning the Durban container terminal in the port of Durban. 

      Lutchman, Vishaal. (2005)
      The study investigates, with an intension to establish, the strategic significance of concessioning of the Durban Container Terminal in the Port of Durban. A strategic perspective firstly considers the concessioning in ...
    • Local is lekker? : a study of the perceptions of contemporary South African popular music among Durban adolescents at five culturally diverse schools in the greater Durban area. 

      Ralfe, Sarah Isabel. (2005)
      Is local lekker? This study looks at the perceptions the youth in Durban hold towards local music. Through a study of the Grade 11 learners at Bonela Secondary, Gelofte Skool, Hillcrest High School, Thomas More College ...
    • Exploring current views and methods of recycling in Durban's CBD : a design proposal for a self-sustaining waste recycling system in Durban. 

      Lott, Derryn Richard. (2016)
      The management of urban waste streams is increasingly becoming an issue as modernisation and a new consumerist culture takes hold of cities globally, resulting in greater production of waste and an even greater need for ...

    DSpace software copyright © 2002-2013  Duraspace
    Contact Us | Send Feedback
    Theme by 
    @mire NV
     

     

    Browse

    All of ResearchSpaceCommunities & CollectionsBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsAdvisorsTypeThis CollectionBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsAdvisorsType

    My Account

    LoginRegister

    DSpace software copyright © 2002-2013  Duraspace
    Contact Us | Send Feedback
    Theme by 
    @mire NV