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

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African Women: an Examination of Collective Organizing Among Grassroots Women in Post Apartheid South Africa African Women: An Examination of Collective Organizing Among Grassroots Women in Post Apartheid South Africa Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Gabisile Mkhize Graduate Program in Women’s Studies The Ohio State University 2012 Dissertation Committee: Cathy A. Rakowski, Advisor Christine C. Keating Jill Bystydzienski Copyright by Gabisile Mkhize 2013 Abstract 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. ii Dedication This dissertation is dedicated to the memories of my dearest mother and grandmother, whose education and love sustain me to commit to hardwork, perservence, and hope, and to my son, Nkonzoenhle Zondi. Thanks for all the hard work, laughter, craziness (pulling out and eating keys from my keyboard), and for the wet kisses and hugs you gave to mama while she was writing her dissertation. Mama loves you very much. iii Acknowledgments My sincere heartfelt thanks go to the women of SSWCG and SBWCG for their time, voices, and invaluable information that allowed me to produce this dissertation – Ngiyabonga bomama besizwe: malibongwe! Many thanks also go to the RWM organization, especially the director, Sizani Ngubane, who kindly allowed me to work with this organization, introduced me to the women I studied, and even helped transporting me to and from fieldwork in times of need. To my committee members: Dr. Cathy Rakowski, Dr. Christine Keating, and Dr. Jill Bystydzienski thanks a million. Without your sincere support, guidance, and belief in me, this project would not been reached its conclusion. To my advisor, Dr. Cathy Rakowski, words cannot express my heartfelt appreciation and happiness of working with you. Thank you for empowering me to be a better scholar and thank you for helping me to get back my confidence and commitment to succeed! Dr. Jill, Dr. Cricket, and Dr. Shannon Winnubst, thank you so much for all the support you gave to me when I needed it the most. I also want to thank my former advisor, now retired, Dr. Claire Robertson. Thank you for advocating for me and all your support and encouragement prior to your retirement. iv I also want to thank the Departments of African American and African Studies and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies for the financial support you provided throughout my studies at the Ohio State University. My appreciation also goes to Dr. Mphande and Dr. Judy Rashid, Dean of Students at North Carolina A&T State University, for your recommendation and motivation for me to come and pursue my graduate studies in the U.S. I also must thank Dr. Paulette Pierce for her support and for caring for my son so that I could work with peace of mind. Many thanks to all my professors in WGSST and AAAS. And also to my professors at the University of Natal-Durban (now known as KwaZulu-Natal), especially Prof. Mpume Zondi, TC Khuzwayo, Prof. NN Mathonsi, and Prof. Ngubane for consistently checking on me and pushing me to never give up: your belief in me was inspiring. My sincere thanks also go to AAAS and WGSST staff for their support, especially Lexie Beer, Andi Cavins, Melinda Bogarty, and Sarah Twitty. I owe so much gratitude to many others who supported me along the way: my family, especially my brothers, aunts Lungi Xaba and Philile Cele, my sisters Zamambo and Samu; numerous friends, and my WGSST and AAAS colleagues and fellow students at The Ohio State University. These include Drs. Waither Karim-Sesay, Leonce Rushubirwa, Edwin Motari, Lea Popielinski, Christy Holmes, Karl Abass, Gie v Kethusegile, and Lucia Lwazi Ntuli who provided help and support despite their own schedules. Much appreciation also goes to The South African National Research Foundation and Elizabeth D. Gee Research Grant from the Department of WGSST for funding my research. vi Vita 1998................................................................B.A. University of Natal-Durban 2000................................................................B.A. Honors, African Languages, Literature, and Culture and Society, University of Natal-Durban 2000 to 2002 ..................................................Lecturer, IsiZulu, Language, and Culture, University of Natal-Durban 2002................................................................Lecturer, Communication, University of Natal-Durban 2004................................................................M.A. African American and African Studies, Ohio State University 2006................................................................M.A. Women’s Studies, Ohio State University 2010 to 2012 ..................................................Graduate Teaching Associate, Womens, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, Ohio State University 2004 to 2009, 2011 to 2012 ...........................Graduate Teaching Associate, African American and African Studies, Ohio State University vii Fields of Study Major Field: Women’s Studies African American and African Studies African Languages, Literature, Culture and Society viii Table of Contents Abstract ............................................................................................................................... ii Dedication .......................................................................................................................... iii Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................ iv Vita ...................................................................................................................................... v List of Tables ..................................................................................................................... ix List of Figures ..................................................................................................................... x Chapter 1: Introduction to the Research Problem ............................................................... 1 Chapter 2: Background and Conceptual Framework of the Study ................................... 13 Chapter 3: Methods of Study and Introduction to the Rurual Women’s Movement (RWM) .............................................................................................................................. 60 Chapter 4: Home-based Women’s Groups in the Area Studied: Part 1 ............................ 93 Chapter 5: Home-based Women’s Groups in the Area Studied: Part 2 .......................... 131 Chapter 6: Challenges and Barriers to Women’s Empowerment ................................... 153 Chapter 7: Conclusion..................................................................................................... 174 Bibliography ................................................................................................................... 191 ix Appendix A: Rural Women’s Movement Constitution .................................................. 210 Appendix B: Questionnaire............................................................................................. 221 Appendix C: Observation Guide ..................................................................................... 227 Appendix D: Consent Form ............................................................................................ 228 Appendix E: Interviewees and Other Research Participants ......................................... 230 x List of Tables Table 1: A Summary of Relevant Aspects of the WID/WAD/GAD Development Approaches ....................................................................................................................... 36 Table 2: Characteristics of Sample ................................................................................... 95 xi List of Figures Figure 1: RWM and Women’s Groups Activities ............................................................ 85 Figure 2: Hierarchical Structure of RWM ........................................................................ 86 Figure 3: RWM Organizational Relations ........................................................................ 87 xii Chapter 1: Introduction to the Research Problem This dissertation examines
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