African Women: An Examination of Collective Organizing Among Grassroots Women in Post Apartheid South Africa

This dissertation examines how poor black South African women in rural areas organize themselves to address their poverty situations and meet their practical needs – those that pertain to their responsibilities as grandmothers, mothers, and community members – and assesses their organizations’ effectiveness for meeting women’s goals. My research is based on two groups that are members of the South African Rural Women’s Movement. They are the Sisonke Women’s Club Group (SSWCG) and the Siyabonga Women’s Club Group (SBWCG). A majority of these women are illiterate and were de jure or de facto heads of households. Based on interviews and participant observation, I describe and analyze the strategies that these women employ in an attempt to alleviate poverty, better their lives, and assist in the survival of their families, each other, and the most vulnerable members of their community. Their strategies involve organizing in groups to support each other’s income-generating activities and to help each other in times of emergency. Their activities include making floor mats, beading, sewing, baking, and providing caregiving for members who are sick and for orphans. I conclude that, although their organizing helps meet practical needs based on their traditional roles as women, it has not contributed to meeting strategic needs – to their empowerment as citizens or as heads of households.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy

Level thesis:degree_level

doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Womens Studies

Grantor dc:publisher

The Ohio State University

Year dc:date

2012

Author dc:creator

• Mkhize, Gabisile Promise

Contributors dc:contributor

• Rakowski, Cathy A. Rakowski

• African American Studies
• African History
• African Studies
• Black Studies
• Gender Studies
• Political Science
• Sociology
• South African Studies
• Womens Studies
• "South Africa
• grassroots women
• women's organizing
• empowerment
• rural survival strategies
• government gender policy."

Statement dc:rights

• unrestricted
• This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws.

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1357308299

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:etd.ohiolink.edu:osu1357308299