Leiden University Student Repository

Holsteijn, Jasmijn van (2016)

Being white in a black society: A study on the social situation of persons with albinism in Malawi

Master thesis | African Studies (MA)

This study examines what the social position of persons with albinism is in Mchinji District, Malawi and how this relates to the situation described by Braathen who conducted research on attitudes and beliefs related to people with albinism in Malawi in 2005. At present research that engages with the social and cultural impact of albinism in Africa in general and Malawi in specific appears to be limited and this study contributes to a very limited body of knowledge in the field of albinism in Africa. The aims of this research are threefold: to learn about the views and knowledge of people with albinism and other actors in their social environment (family members, medical personnel, teachers, students and randomly chosen citizens); to explore the relationships persons affected by the condition have with other people; and to create a better understanding of how albinism is perceived in a Malawian context. Based on semi-structured interviews, observations, a newspaper analysis and a...Show moreThis study examines what the social position of persons with albinism is in Mchinji District, Malawi and how this relates to the situation described by Braathen who conducted research on attitudes and beliefs related to people with albinism in Malawi in 2005. At present research that engages with the social and cultural impact of albinism in Africa in general and Malawi in specific appears to be limited and this study contributes to a very limited body of knowledge in the field of albinism in Africa. The aims of this research are threefold: to learn about the views and knowledge of people with albinism and other actors in their social environment (family members, medical personnel, teachers, students and randomly chosen citizens); to explore the relationships persons affected by the condition have with other people; and to create a better understanding of how albinism is perceived in a Malawian context. Based on semi-structured interviews, observations, a newspaper analysis and a survey, this study found out that the social position of persons with albinism in Malawi can be characterised as challenging. Besides physical implications, such as high skin sensitivity and low vision, the condition also has social implications since persons with albinism often face stigma and discrimination from others in society. In addition to these implications that have already been identified in previous studies about albinism in Africa, including Braathen (2005), this research reveals that persons with albinism in Malawi are currently subjected to violence because of the belief that their body parts bring luck and prosperity when used in witchcraft practices. The current study concludes that the social position of persons with albinism has changed significantly during the last decade and that the quality of life of people with the condition is nowadays worse than that of the average Malawian.Show less

albinism

stigma and discrimination

violence

Malawi

Sub-Saharan Africa

Author

Holsteijn, Jasmijn van

Note

This thesis is the result of an internship at the Association of Persons with Albinism in Malawi (APAM).

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Specialisation

MA African Studies

Supervisors

Dietz, A.J.
Nyst, V.A.S.

ECTS Credits

15

Language

en