Women's narratives of everyday precarity in the Mangaung township (Bloemfontein, South Africa)

[摘要] English: Twenty years into South Africa's new dispensation, poverty and unemploymentremain a reality. Perpetuated by poor service delivery, the limited economicopportunities continue to disproportionately affect and marginalise the lower socioeconomicclasses and those areas where they reside. 'Black African women, inparticular those with minimal schooling (unskilled and semi-skilled), suffer most fromthese social illsand yet many are able to survive under precarious living conditions.The majority of 'Black African women are characterised by oppression,discrimination and exploitation, especially those who are unskilled and semi-skilledand who also had limited educational opportunities. In addition, these women inheritthe weakened family structures created and caused to a great extent by years ofapartheid rule where the presence and contributions of male members were slowlyeroded by the migrant labour system and the creation of artificial areas where'Black Africans had to reside and where a variety of laws undermined thedevelopment of the 'Black African population. Up until today, most 'Black Africanwomen are completely unemployed and many are dependent on social grants andinformal employment or hand-outs to secure a living. Most of these women findthemselves fulfilling multiple roles of both the 'breadwinner and 'managers of theirhouseholds given the absence of their children's fathers in their lives.Using a narrative inquiry, this research report delves into the precarious life-worlds ofAfrican women from the Mangaung township in Bloemfontein. It explores how thesewomensurvive with their limited and erratic sources of income which is often notsufficient to sustain all the dependents. It further demonstrates how these womencope and manage the sometimes strenuous and challenging execution of multipleroles.Through their narratives of everyday life experiences, the philosophy ofUbuntu/Botho, and its value and importance is brought to the fore. Their ability tocope and survive in their unpredictable and insecure reality is through the reciprocalhelp from individuals who form part of their social support. Hope and faith resonate inthe lives of these women as they continue to aspire and dream of their escape andthat of their children from this precarious reality. Similarly doubt and fear of theunknown lingers on. Death and deprivation are constant realities of this precariousliving.

[发布机构] University of the Free State