- Title
- Grandmothers, mothers and daughters : transformations and coping strategies in Xhosa households in Grahamstown
- Creator
- Schwartz, Linda Mary
- ThesisAdvisor
- Wells, Julia C.
- Subject
- Women, Xhosa -- South Africa -- Grahamstown Poor women -- South Africa -- Grahamstown Women -- South Africa -- Social conditions Women -- South Africa -- Economic conditions Women -- South Africa -- Grahamstown -- Case studies
- Date
- 2007
- Type
- Thesis
- Type
- Masters
- Type
- MA
- Identifier
- vital:2585
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006190
- Description
- The aim of this oral history study is to explore the ways in which constructions of gender have brought women to the point where they now bear most of the burden of responsibility in their relationships with men and for the wellbeing of children. This study speaks into the gap of the undocumented history of women's lived experience as told by women themselves. It is a generational study which charts the transformations and coping strategies of women in Xhosa households since the 1940s. The study found that the familial burdens related to women's sexuality and fertility, raising of children and financial responsibilities in a time of HIV / AIDS have increased. Teenage pregnancies, the discipline of children, HIV / AIDS and the ever present aspects of poverty are major issues these women face. The stress of day to day demands on their lives precluded them the opportunity to reflect on the underlying causes and historical roots of their circumstances. Little understanding of the gendered order of their lives was expressed by the respondents. The use of feminist methodology authenticated the women's stories as they produced knowledge of their lived experience. The interview questions raised awareness of the gender bias underlying much of their struggles at home.
- Description
- KMBT_363
- Description
- Adobe Acrobat 9.54 Paper Capture Plug-in
- Format
- 154 leaves, pdf
- Publisher
- Rhodes University, Faculty of Humanities, History
- Language
- English
- Rights
- Schwartz, Linda Mary
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- Visitors: 791
- Downloads: 113
Collections
Gender Action Forum (GENACT)
RU Department of History
SDG 05. Gender Equality
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| View Details | SOURCEPDF | 17 MB | Adobe Acrobat PDF | View Details |