The film entitled “Sarafina” is based on the struggles of the South African people during the Apartheid time. Black students engage in various protests demanding for the inequalities to end. The situation escalates when the Whites arrest one of their teachers, Mrs, Masembuko, and they directly confront with the Whites, and in the process, multiple of the students die. This paper will explore the sociological theories and concepts seen in the film “Sarafina.”
Conflict Theory
Conflict theory suggests the presence of inequalities in the society, which generates dispute and the need for social change (Jones, Bradbury, & LeBoutillier, 2011). Conflict is the most significant theme in the film ‘Sarafina.’ Initially, the blacks and the Whites engage in constant disputes. Basically, the apartheid system imposes economic and political discrimination on the blacks, as well as practicing segregation. The blacks are denied equal opportunities with the whites and most black people are manual workers. Besides, the blacks have inadequate housing, education, and receive poor public services. The White regime was also cruel and used force, such as torturing the blacks who resisted maintaining order (Maingard, 2013). In quest for justice, the students are mobilized by Sarafina who is the stirring in the film to engage in various protests demanding for their freedom and the release of their leader, Mandela who had been imprisoned. The students become more angry with the incarceration of their beloved teacher, Mrs Masembuko who was inspired them to rebel against the Whites. As a result, their protests become violent and the White soldiers retaliate by using guns to kill them. Throughout the film, the Whites have the power, which they use to oppress the blacks, who are in turn, ready to fight for what is theirs. The direct consequence of this is disputes. The Whites do not want to let go of the leadership as they are benefitting, while the Blacks continue being rebellious.
The movie ‘Sarafina’ also shows the conflict between the students and their parents. For instance, Sarafina’s mother does not approve of her daughter’s actions to protest against the White rule. She advices Sarafina to comply with what the Whites want as it is the only way that she will not get killed, but Sarafina is adamant about her quest for freedom (Maingard, 2013). On the other hand, Sarafina is not happy with her mother’s job; working as a maid in one of the apartheid leaders’ house. Eventually, Sarafina and her mother cut communications even though Sarafina finally asks her mother to forgive her for not being obedient.
Deviance
Deviance is the act of going against the social norms or cultural practices (Jones, Bradbury, & LeBoutillier, 2011). Sarafina is the epitome of deviance in the film. Sarafina defies the role of women not only in the black culture but also in the White culture. The society does not expect women to be rebellious or aggressive. What is more, fighting for freedom is a role that is mostly exhibited by men in the community. Sarafina is the leader in the student’s protests and she is the one who crafts all the ideas on how the others will rebel against the Whites (Maingard, 2013). It would seem normal if Sarafina was a man but since she is not, it is seen as a violation of the South African role of women. Moreover, Sarafina is deviant to her mother. In South Africa, and basically almost everywhere in the world, children are supposed to do what their mothers tell them but Sarafina does the opposite. She refuses to heed her mother’s advice not to participate in the student protests.
Another deviant character in the movie is known as Sabela, who is a black man. He betrays his fellow blacks by acting as a spy to know what the students were planning and reporting to the Whites. Sabela defies the norms of the South African community in the sense that he does not unite with them, to fight the oppressive White rule, which was the standard goal for the black people (Maingard, 2013). However, the students take the law into their hands, and they burn Sabella to death for being a traitor.
Gender Socialization
Gender socialization is the process by which people learn the social expectations and attitudes as women and as men (Jones, Bradbury, & LeBoutillier, 2011). Throughout the movie, the women, both Black and White engage in the simple tasks, such as doing the home chores, except for a few women. The White women stay at home and take care of the children while their husbands are leaders in the government as well as security guards. The Black women, on the other hand, are mostly employed as house helps, and their husbands take the hard tasks in the city. As such, the movies primarily depict women as subordinate to men, and that their role is at home. When Sarafina wanted to act as Mandela in a play, one of the boys asked why she wanted to take that role while it does not fit her (Maingard, 2013). That meant that the society did not expect a woman to be a leader even though Sarafina defied that.
References
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bL-vsdPEPWE
Jones, P., Bradbury, L., & LeBoutillier, S. (2011). Introducing social theory. Polity.
Maingard, J. (2013). South African national cinema. Routledge.
