scholarly journals When is a choice not a choice?: Experiences of individual agency and autonomy by South African female breadwinners

Image & Text ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bianca Parry
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Gender Roles ◽  
Gender Equality ◽  
South African ◽  
African Women ◽  
Women's Voices ◽  
Individual Agency ◽  
Using Data ◽  
The Individual ◽  
South African Women

ABSTRACT As part of a larger Master's study, this paper focuses on the individual experiences of agency and autonomy communicated by a group of South African women who have overcome traditional notions of gender through their role as primary financial provider for their families. Using data collected from in-depth, unstructured interviews, and reading these through a phenomenological feminist perspective, I shed some light on the perceptions of ten female breadwinners (FBW) in this paper. It is the aim of this research to represent these women's voices in order to understand how they make meaning of and negotiate their spaces and roles as breadwinners. In the course of the interviews and analyses, the realities faced by these FBW stemming from the Mpumalanga and Gauteng provinces expose the hegemonic and heteronormative prescriptions of gender that still exist within our society, often concealed behind constructions of reform advocating gender equality. Keywords: Female Breadwinner, South Africa, Gender Roles, Feminism, Psychology, Phenomenology.

scholarly journals #Choose to challenge - the value of women

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jabulile Ntuli
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Gender Roles ◽  
South African ◽  
African Women ◽  
South Africans ◽  
Societal Issues ◽  
South African Women ◽  
Male Superiority

I choose to challenge the value of women in a South Africa based on gender roles and socialisation, leading to female inferiority and male superiority. Some South Africans display their gender roles based on cultural, societal and psychological behaviours of being a man or a woman. Keeping this in mind may help understand specific societal issues that South African women face. This essay investigates some prominent features that societal organisation has placed on gender that may lead to more significant problems if unattended.

The Predicament of Women in a Postmodern World

Matatu ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 182-200
Author(s):  
Dele Bamidele ◽  
Blessing Abuh
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Gender Roles ◽  
South African ◽  
African Women ◽  
Mutual Understanding ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Patriarchal Culture ◽  
The Family ◽  
South African Women ◽  
Difficult Situations

Feminism has no unanimous acceptance in Africa, so women who are associated with it are regarded as deviants or radicals who have chosen to kick against the norms and traditions of traditional Africa. This study explores the plight of suppression and exploitation experienced by women and also revealed the dangerous and difficult situations that often reduce women to mental wrecks. Njabulo Ndebele’s The Cry of Winnie Mandela is the focus of this essay, as the novel accounts for the entrapment and subjugation of women caused by traditional laws and customs, as well as their determined effort to survive in a patriarchal culture. Njabulo examined the lives of five South African women in post-apartheid South Africa, who had to wait indefinitely for their absent husbands. This essay attempts to create awareness of the need for societal reforms in order to improve the lot of women in patriarchal societies and encourage cooperation between women in order to stand up to the challenges of life and assert their individual worth and value, as espoused in the novel. This study concludes that the subjugation of women by patriarchal societies is to the detriment of the family and society at large. Thus, there is a need to re-evaluate and redefine gender roles in African societies in order to establish mutual understanding and relationships between the genders.

THE SINS OF THE FATHER: GENDER- BASED VIOLENCE IN POST-APARTHEID SOUTH AFRICA

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 57-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lyn Snodgrass
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Black Women ◽  
South African ◽  
African Women ◽  
Gender Based Violence ◽  
Political Issues ◽  
Race And Gender ◽  
Gender Based ◽  
And Gender ◽  
South African Women

This article explores the complexities of gender-based violence in post-apartheid South Africa and interrogates the socio-political issues at the intersection of class, ‘race’ and gender, which impact South African women. Gender equality is up against a powerful enemy in societies with strong patriarchal traditions such as South Africa, where women of all ‘races’ and cultures have been oppressed, exploited and kept in positions of subservience for generations. In South Africa, where sexism and racism intersect, black women as a group have suffered the major brunt of this discrimination and are at the receiving end of extreme violence. South Africa’s gender-based violence is fuelled historically by the ideologies of apartheid (racism) and patriarchy (sexism), which are symbiotically premised on systemic humiliation that devalues and debases whole groups of people and renders them inferior. It is further argued that the current neo-patriarchal backlash in South Africa foments and sustains the subjugation of women and casts them as both victims and perpetuators of pervasive patriarchal values.

Gendered Lending Practices: Enabling South African Women Entrepreneurs to Access Start-Up Capital

2014 ◽  
Vol 22 (03) ◽  
pp. 313-330 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evelyn Derera ◽  
Pepukayi Chitakunye ◽  
Charles O'Neill ◽  
Amandeep Tarkhar-Lail
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Women Entrepreneurs ◽  
Financial Institution ◽  
African Women ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Snowball Sampling ◽  
Start Up ◽  
South African Women ◽  
Depth Interviews

This study explores gendered lending and marketing practices of start-up capital to women entrepreneurs in South Africa. A multi-method research design, comprising of 6 in-depth interviews with experts, and a survey of 50 women entrepreneurs was adopted using convenience and snowball sampling techniques, respectively. The findings revealed that women entrepreneurs are experiencing gendered discriminatory practices embedded in lending practices used by financial institutions, thereby discouraging them to venture into non-traditional industries. Whilst financial providers may know their products well, many emerging women entrepreneurs in South Africa may find it difficult and costly to obtain information on the thousands of financial products available. Hence, women entrepreneurs resort to taking greater risks than necessary in order to get their businesses off the ground. Educating women on financial matters is extremely important if South Africa is to benefit fully from the untapped entrepreneurial talent that women possess. The study adds voice to the discriminatory lending practices faced by women entrepreneurs in developing countries. Future research could explore the feasibility of establishing a financial institution which caters specifically for the needs of women.

scholarly journals Health system experiences of breast cancer survivors in urban South Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
pp. 174550652094941
Author(s):  
Madeleine Lambert ◽  
Emily Mendenhall ◽  
Andrew Wooyoung Kim ◽  
Herbert Cubasch ◽  
Maureen Joffe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Black Women ◽  
Health System ◽  
South African ◽  
Breast Cancer Survivors ◽  
Radiation Treatment ◽  
African Women ◽  
Total Mastectomy ◽  
South African Women

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer globally and among South African women. Women from socioeconomically disadvantaged South African communities more often present later and receive total mastectomy compared to those from more affluent communities who have more breast conserving surgery (which is less invasive but requires mandatory radiation treatment post-operatively). Standard chemotherapy and total mastectomy treatments are known to cause traumatizing side effects and emotional suffering among South African women; moreover, many women face limited communication with physicians and psychological support. Objective: This article investigates the experiences of women seeking breast cancer treatment at the largest public hospital in South Africa. Methods We interviewed 50 Black women enrolled in the South African Breast Cancer Study to learn more about their health system experiences with detection, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up care for breast cancer. Each interview was between 2–3 hours, addressing perceptions, experiences, and concerns associated with breast cancer and comorbidities such as HIV and hypertension. Results: We found most women feared diagnosis, in part, because of the experience of chemotherapy and physical mutilation related to mastectomy. The importance of social support from family, religion, and clinical staff was fundamental for women coping with their condition and adhering to treatment and medication. Conclusions: These findings exemplify how interventions might promote early detection of breast cancer and better adherence to treatment. Addressing community perceptions of breast cancer, patient needs and desires for treatment, structural barriers to intensive therapies, and the burden of invasive treatments are imperative next steps for delivering better breast cancer care in Soweto and other resource-constrained settings.

Living single: A phenomenological study of a group of South African single women

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 390-408 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elmien Lesch ◽  
Alberta SJ van der Watt
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Romantic Relationship ◽  
Developmental Psychology ◽  
Phenomenological Study ◽  
Psychological Theory ◽  
African Women ◽  
Developmental Task ◽  
Phenomenological Perspective ◽  
The Individual ◽  
South African Women

Worldwide, societies continue to privilege the ideology of couplehood to the detriment of other relationship states, like singlehood, that are steadily increasing in number. Furthermore, according to developmental psychology theory, the formation of a committed romantic relationship is viewed as an important psychosocial developmental task in adulthood. It is therefore not surprising that women’s experience of being single has generally been neglected by psychological theory and research. Situated in a feminist-phenomenological perspective, this study explored the experiences of tertiary-educated, child-free, never-married, White, South African women between the ages of 30 and 40. Giorgi’s descriptive-phenomenological method was used to analyse the individual interview data. In this article, we discuss four of the prominent themes that best reflect the collective views and multi-faceted experiences of the participants: singlehood brings both freedom and loneliness; career as both fulfilment and singlehood coping mechanism; committed partners as sources of both restriction and connection; and hoping for a committed relationship. We highlight how the notion of a committed sexual relationship as the ultimate relationship that provides effortless connectedness and companionship underpins all of these themes. We argue that alternative discourses and mechanisms of connection that accommodate people who live as single adults, should be fostered.

scholarly journals An investigation into the financial barriers facing women entrepreneurs operating in SMMEs in Tshwane, South Africa

2013 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 347-358 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evelyn Chiloane-Tsoka
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Small Business ◽  
South African ◽  
Women Entrepreneurs ◽  
African Women ◽  
Small Enterprise ◽  
Policy Statement ◽  
Financial Barriers ◽  
And Gender ◽  
South African Women

The South African women emancipation policy statement and gender equality are critical tools established by government to eradicate poverty among entrepreneurs operating in small business. Khula was established to act as a financial wholesaler to emerging entrepreneurs who needed finance to start and grow businesses. The Small Enterprise Development Agency was established to provide training needs to small business operators. Lack of finance is a major stumbling block to women entrepreneurs reaching their full economic potential in South Africa. Financial collaterals are barriers for women operating in SMMEs in Tshwane. The objective of the study was to investigate the financial barriers facing women entrepreneurs in Tshwane when starting or growing businesses. In order to achieve the results a structured questionnaire and interviews were used as method of collecting data. A sample of 300 women operating SMMEs in six townships of the Tshwane metropolitan area was analysed per a quota of 50 businesses per township. The results indicate that women entrepreneurs lack the financial collateral that is demanded by financial institutions when applying for finance to start or grow their business.

scholarly journals Knowledge and Screening Practices of Breast and Cervical Cancer in Rural and Urban South Africa

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement 2) ◽  
pp. 46s-46s
Author(s):  
A. LaVigne ◽  
S. Grover ◽  
S. Rayne
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Cervical Cancer ◽  
South African ◽  
Rural Women ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
African Women ◽  
Screening Methods ◽  
Breast And Cervical Cancer ◽  
South African Women

Background: The South African government has recently released cancer policies for breast and cervical cancer—the most common types and causes of cancer-related death in South African women. Increased mortality rates and advanced disease at presentation in comparison with developed countries suggests a need for greater awareness of risk factors, screening and preventative methods individualized for the population at risk. Aim: To characterize and compare the knowledge base and perceptions of women in urban and rural settings, we assessed these factors in two different cohorts in South Africa. Methods: A cross-sectional sample was taken in South Africa of women invited to participate in a survey regarding breast and cervical cancer knowledge, and awareness of risk factors, prevention and screening. Participants were approached in shopping malls and health facilities in urban Johannesburg in 2015 (“urban”) and semirural Bushbuckridge, 450 km northeast of Johannesburg (“rural”) in 2016. Results: 600 total women were surveyed, with 300 from each cohort. 83% of the urban cohort completed matriculation or higher, versus 60% of rural participants for whom high school was their highest level of education. Both groups demonstrated comparable levels of cancer awareness, and > 70% felt that cervical cancer is preventable. While the urban cohort was more knowledgeable about Pap smears (76% vs. 66%, P = 0.004), > 75% of both cohorts were willing to get one. Although both groups were largely unfamiliar with the role of HPV in cervical cancer, rural women were more aware of HIV (38% vs. 59%, P < 0.0001), smoking (43% vs. 62%, P < 0.0001) and parity (39% vs. 54%, P = 0.00019) as risk factors. Nevertheless, urban participants were more knowledgeable about breast self exams (71% vs. 59%, P = 0.001) and mammograms (62% vs. 42%, P < 0.0001), and more likely to undergo one (79% vs. 66%, P = 0.0002). Both groups identified family history and genetics as risk factors, but rural women appeared more aware of the roles of diet (30.67% vs. 39.93%, P = .011), oral contraceptives (17.33% vs. 34.77%, P < .0001), alcohol (26.67% vs. 52.15%, P < .0001) and lack of exercise (8.67% vs. 55.12%, P < .0001). Conclusion: Overall knowledge of breast and cervical cancer did not differ between both groups, despite varying levels of education and geographic setting. Women in the rural cohort demonstrated more awareness of several oncologic risk factors. Yet, the greater familiarity with and uptake of screening methods, especially for breast cancer, among women in the urban cohort may point to the benefits of proximity to health care infrastructure, such as tertiary care centers. This data supports a need for further implementation and distribution of cancer care services within cancer policies, to capitalize on increasingly sufficient levels of awareness among South African women.

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