Widows, Widowhood, and Society in Africa

Fasanmi, Abidemi; Ayivor, Sandra

doi:10.1007/978-3-030-28099-4_33

The Palgrave Handbook of African Women's Studies 2021

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-28099-4_33

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Widows, Widowhood, and Society in Africa

Abidemi Fasanmi¹,

Sandra Ayivor²

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2024

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Cited by 2 publications

References 34 publications

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Standing Their Ground While Seated: Narratives of Widowhood Activism Against the Ritual of Widow Dispossession in South Africa

Ndlovu

2024

Omega (Westport)

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Widows in Africa are mostly perceived as helpless victims of harmful widowhood practices. The article offers new insights into the understanding of widowhood and the status of widows in the context of these practices. Integrating feminist research and narrative theory, the paper examines widows’ responses to the ritual of the ‘sitting and its associated practice of widow dispossession. I examine how widows challenge the customary ritual of ‘sitting’ from a place where enforced silences and widow dispossession are ritualized to where widowhood activism is born. The article draws from a feminist theory of activism, highlighting that widows counter silencing and dispossession through speaking out, speaking through objects, delegating someone to act on their behalf, disobedience and non-cooperation. In summary, the article concludes that the practice of ‘sitting’ is a politically charged space that is both a site of widow dispossession and resistance.

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Standing Their Ground While Seated: Narratives of Widowhood Activism Against the Ritual of Widow Dispossession in South Africa

Ndlovu

2024

Omega (Westport)

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Beyond the Veil: Voices of Young Widows in South Africa

Shoko,

Matlabe-Danke

2024

Social Sciences

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This article outlines the experiences of young widows in southern Africa and the impact of widowhood on their livelihoods. Despite numerous human rights frameworks addressing women’s issues, widowhood has not received adequate attention in the Global South. Widows often endure terrible and abusive treatment during widowhood. This study focuses on women’s perspectives by examining the impact of widowhood issues through case studies. The data were obtained from interviews conducted in a larger study on widowhood issues in South Africa. It explores the experiences and challenges five young widows face, analyses societal perceptions of widowhood, and examines the familial imperatives surrounding widowhood. Intersectionality theory was adopted in this article. The results show that young widows face serious inheritance challenges and abuse at the hands of their in-laws. Because the young widows viewed widowhood rites as part of their culture, they were not opposed to them.

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Widows, Widowhood, and Society in Africa

Cited by 2 publications

References 34 publications

Standing Their Ground While Seated: Narratives of Widowhood Activism Against the Ritual of Widow Dispossession in South Africa

Standing Their Ground While Seated: Narratives of Widowhood Activism Against the Ritual of Widow Dispossession in South Africa

Beyond the Veil: Voices of Young Widows in South Africa

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