Nineteenth International Conference on Diversity in Organizations, Communities & Nations

Abstract

South Africa is a country with diverse cultures. Traditional values and beliefs are strong in within these diverse cultures. Culture shapes and influences the meanings of illnesses. Culture influences the value placed by society on different disorders, the presentation of the symptoms, the way individuals and their families manage the disorder, the way the community responds to the disorder, the degree of acceptance, support, stigma, and discrimination. Some culture contexts determine whether gender variation is seen as a disorder needing treatment or an understood and tolerated variation. What is seen in one culture as problematic may not be seen in the same way by another culture? The aim of this study is to explore and describe the experiences of adolescent boys who are diagnosed with disorders of sex development. A case study design was used in the study. Data was collected through in-depth interviews and drawings. The analysis of drawings were done by a registered psychometrist and thematic analysis was utilised for the in-depth interviews. The analysis of data provided a picture of emotional turmoil and social exclusion. The results show there is a need for equity, tolerance, and support for these adolescent boys living with disorders of sex development.