Rob Pattman

Rob Pattman teaches Sociology at UKZN. Research interests include identities, gender, 'race', sexuality, youth, HIV/AIDS and education. He loves the sun, sand and friendliness but not the segregation and inequality in Durban. He has a burning ambition to be the next Vice Chancellor of UKZN.

In their chapter, Invoking ‘culture’ and sexuality: Black girls in mixed ‘race’ schools in Durban, Rob and Deevia Bhana focus on the ways young people construct their identities. They note the significance accorded by African boys and girls to notions of ‘modernity’ and ‘tradition’, and how they negotiate identities along this axis. They find that young black women are often criticised for identifying as ‘modern’, which is seen as a cultural violation. Their article draws on interviews with 16-17 year old black girls at a formerly Indian school about ‘being young people of their age’. The girls spoke about culture, ‘race’ and sexuality animated ways, signalling the importance of these in their lives. Many girls feel marginalised at school and due to racism from pupils and teachers. But they often invoke ‘culture’ as powerful resources of self-esteem in contexts where they feel subordinated ‘racially’. However, ‘culture’ was also associated negatively as a form of parental policing and control of their sexuality. The article examines how these girls resist this.

In their chapter, Loving and Hating Jacob Zuma, Rob and Wangari Muthuki discuss how ‘culture’ was invoked by Zuma (former Deputy President of South Africa), in his 2006 rape trial. They argue that he has become a symbol of dis/identification in powerful and conflicting ways—by males & females, and all races, ethnicities, and statuses. Wangari also reflects on her participation in a women’s rights group monitoring the Zuma trial in support of the complainant. She examines conversations with students at UKZN who supported Zuma, assessing their accounts of the rape trial.

And in his chapter, The Significance Students Attach to ‘Race’ at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Rob argues that the university is not a ‘melting pot’. Students tend to congregate and identify with racialised groups. He reports on a project his students conducted on student identities at Howard College, in which ‘race’ emerged as a key group marker. The student researchers also attached much significance to ‘race’ as displayed in their choice of students to work with in teams as well as their choice of subjects to interview. Usually, they were the same 'race'. Rob focuses on the problems his students encountered researching student ‘racial’ identities. Even though the student groups they identified were racialised, the researchers were reluctant to question them about ‘race’ lest they be seen as racist. Referring to some of his students’ positive experiences in working in ‘racially’ mixed teams, Rob argues for pedagogic approaches that encourage students from different ‘races’ to work together.

References:
Pattman, Rob, and Bhana, Deevia. 'Invoking ‘culture’ and sexuality: Black girls in mixed ‘race’ schools in Durban', in Rob Pattman and Sultan Khan (Eds.), Undressing Durban (Durban: Madiba Press, 2007), pp. 343-361.

Muthuki, Wangari, and Pattman, Rob. 'Loving and Hating Jacob Zuma', in Rob Pattman and Sultan Khan (Eds.), Undressing Durban (Durban: Madiba Press, 2007), pp. 362-369.

Pattman, Rob. 'The Significance Students Attach to ‘Race’ at the University of KwaZulu-Natal', in Rob Pattman and Sultan Khan (Eds.), Undressing Durban (Durban: Madiba Press, 2007), pp. 390-404.