Abstract
Background: Partly because of the legacy of apartheid, and despite being a constitutional democracy, South Africa continues to be a deeply divided society, particularly along racial lines. In this context many people with albinism do not fit neatly into black and white categories and are likely to experience social discrimination and marginalisation.Objectives: The study endeavoured to explore the beliefs and practices regarding albinism within a South African university, and the availability of support services.Method: The research was located within an interpretive qualitative paradigm and was framed within the theories of stigma, discrimination and ‘othering’. Interviews were conducted with five students with albinism and 10 students without albinism.Results: Findings confirmed the existence of myths and stereotypes regarding albinism. Students with albinism tended to exclude themselves from the rest of the student community to avoid discrimination and stereotypes around their condition.Conclusion: People with albinism can teach us about social constructions of race, colour and relations between minority groups and the majority culture. Results have implications for schools, disability units at universities, and albinism societies in terms of opening up channels of communication between people with albinism and the general public and fostering knowledge and awareness thereof.
Highlights
The term albinism is derived from the Latin albus meaning white
Anecdotal evidence from Nasr (2010) indicates that when people see an individual with albinism, they often make comments like, ‘... the lightning struck his mother during pregnancy and this enables him to read people’s thoughts’
Results are presented in accordance with three areas of analysis highlighted by Herek (1990), namely, the subjective experience of persons with albinism, the knowledge and attitudes towards albinism of persons without albinism, and the interaction processes through which the two groups negotiate their respective roles in social interaction
Summary
The term albinism is derived from the Latin albus meaning white. According to Nasr (2010), albinism is a genetically inherited, autosomal recessive physical condition where there is a shortage or absence of the melanin pigment which affects the eyes, hair and skin. People living with albinism are vulnerable to skin cancer and a range of eye problems that can lead to blindness. Estimates of the prevalence of albinism in Africa range from one in 5000 to one in 15 000 with approximately one in 4000 individuals in South Africa This condition occurs more frequently amongst black people than amongst other population groups (Hong, Zeeb & Repacholi 2006). Because of the legacy of apartheid, and despite being a constitutional democracy, South Africa continues to be a deeply divided society, along racial lines In this context many people with albinism do not fit neatly into black and white categories and are likely to experience social discrimination and marginalisation. If you are married to an albino it is believed that you will be a very lucky man or woman
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