SEARCHING IN AN "EMPTY CLOSET"? A HISTORY OF HOMOSEXUALITY IN SOUTH AFRICA

Abstract

Die "leë kas sindroom"? : Die historiese bestudering van homoseksualiteit in Suid-Afrika Hierdie artikel belig ontwikkelinge in historiese studies oor homoseksualiteit in Suid-Afrika. Die geskiedenis van affeksie, seks, emosies en intimiteit in pre-koloniale gemeenskappe is problematies. Relatief min geskrewe bronne, wat 'n duidelike beeld kan gee van intimiteit, is gegenereer of het behoue gebly. Beskikbare bronne moet egter met omsigtigheid bejeën word, indien die veroordelende aard wat dikwels bespeurbaar is, in ag geneem word. Hierdie tema val binne die kader van die geskiedenis van die liggaam. Metodologieë, konseptualisering en teoretisering oor seksualiteit bly problematies. Terme soos homoseksueel, heteroseksueel, gay en lesbies kan nie sonder meer transhistories of transkultureel toegepas word nie. 'n Interdissiplinêre werkswyse kan die multi-dimensionaliteit van menslike seksuele interaksie belig. Die mens het seksuele omgang vir beide plesier en voonplanting; in beide gevalle onverbonde aan 'n paringstyd. Die uitgangspunt word hier gehuldig dat sosialisering en die maatskappy van mense mans of vrouens maak. Seksuele aktiwiteite is dus grootliks kultuurgebonde, aangesien mense se biologiese potensiaal deur sosialisering gerig word. Die geskiedenis van seks sal dus neerkom op die geskiedenis van sosiale interaksie.

This article deals with the history of homosexuality in South Africa. The history of affection, sex, emotions, and intimacy in precolonial South African societies is problematic. Written sources are not readily available. Historical studies of (homo)sexuality fall within the sphere of history of the human body. Methodologies and theorization on sexuality are still fraught with difficulties. This becomes apparent when the meaning of terms such as homosexual, heterosexual, gay and lesbian are considered. These terms cannot be applied transhistorically or transculturally. An interdisciplinary approach highlights the multidimensional nature of human sexual interaction. Humans have sex for both pleasure and procreation; in neither case is the frequency or timing of such acts predictable. Society uses people's reproductive potential to determine whether they are men or women (gender). A person's sexual orientation is determined by the gender of his / her sexual partner. The manifestation of sexual acts is thus determined to a large extent by society. Consequently, the history of sex translates into the history of social interaction.