Polygyny and Gender The Gendered Narratives of Adults Raised in Polygynous Families

by Mkhize, Zamambo V.

• ISBN13: 9781869144746
• ISBN10: 1869144740
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2021-10-01
• Publisher: University Of KwaZulu-Natal Press

Summary

African perspectives on concepts such as gender, feminism and the family are vastly different from their Western counterparts. Similarly, mechanisms of socialization such as religion, capitalism and the law require context-specific application to the notion of polygyny. This book interrogates the construction of gender identity in adults raised in Zulu polygynous families highlighting the complexities of gender identities as participants negotiate between modern, constitutional, individual freedoms and patriarchal, cultural, communal customs and traditions. . The South African Constitution guarantees gender equality and individual rights and freedoms for its citizens, yet customary law practices, such as polygyny, appear to contravene these principles. The book reveal that although women and men experience different influences, they cite similar prevalent factors that have a bearing on their gender identity construction, namely, gender role socialisation, naming practices and the principle of seniority.

Author Biography

Dr Zamambo Mkhize is a lecturer in Gender Studies at the African Gender Institute at the University of Cape Town. Her research focus includes modern polygyny, law, family, Zulu culture and African feminism.