Narratives on challenges of female black postgraduate students

Transcription

1 Narratives on challenges of female black postgraduate students Dr Meahabo Dinah Magano

2 Introduction Postgraduate studies characterized by myths and misconceptions Various reasons why people pursue studies at postgraduate level (Mouton, 2001) career prospects academic development increasing ones expertise

3 Postgraduate supervision requires quality research guidance South African Master s and Doctoral graduates is still less than 20% of the enrolment figures (Mouton, 2007) The NRF move in promoting women in research (black women) through Thuthuka

4 Aim To portray the experiences of female black postgraduate students in South Africa To come up with recommendations which may be of help to black females in pursuing their studies

5 Research question What are the experiences and challenges of female black students at postgraduate level?

6 Method Narrative inquiry was used in a nonstandardized way of interviewing Six participants were from disadvantaged communities Four participants-teachers at high school one-university lecturer one-dept of Education (curriculum specialist)

7 Four participants were registered for Master s degrees Two were registered for Doctoral studies Purposive sampling was used Interviews took place in a natural setting venues were determined by participants, all preferred their homes

8 Data Analysis Listening Guide-emergent method (Gilligan,Spencer,Weinberg & Bertsch in Hesser-Bibber and Leavy 2006:255) Steps :Listening for the plot I poems listening for contrapuntal voices composing an analysis

9 FINDINGS 1.Duration of study Fikile upset Master s degree FOUR years the only problem was that he was supervising me at the same time learning my mother tongue Reneilwe upset -Doctoral degree from 1993 to date I collected data and my supervisor used that at conferences and my name did not appear

10 2. Social problems Mapula, single, widow,-master s student attacked by criminals at 2am and friend shot dead while they were studying together-trauma Letsoba, Master s student son dropped out from university got depression and cancelled Gugu, Master s student-husband wanted to kill her divorce, labelled in township

11 3. Work related problems Dandi, Doctoral student-deputy principal, stress from work due to redeployment Reneilwe, Doctoral student-workload, stress ridicule from colleagues and oppression Mapula, Masters student discrimination from colleagues

12 4.Relationship between supervisor and student Dandi-discouraged by supervisor s words- Look here Mrs Dandi I am meticulous don t send me work of mediocrity Reneilwe I am being rediculed that my English is poor Julle moet haar oorlaai met die werk Gugu my supervisor would use Afrikaans knowing very well that I did not understand her. Fikile I am not proud of what I have researched on, this was not my passion but my supervisor s

13 Fikile- He published some of my findings I was scared to confront. One day I asked him Prof do you think I am dull or incompetent? Mapula- I honour that professor to me she was a mentor, mother and teacher I will never forget her, May God bless her bountifully

14 recommendations Support and mentoring from supervisors Postgraduate studies need intrinsic motivation and intrinsic reward (value, satisfaction of learning) Power relations should be relaxed-students should be allowed to do research following their passion Freedom of expression within boundaries of respect Cultural differences-all South Africans should work on mind shift. Black students be assertive

15 Conclusion Relationships play a major role in postgraduate studies Wellness of the supervisor is also crucialthe number of students per supervisor should be taken into consideration THANK YOU