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 Periodical article |
 Leiden University catalogue |
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| Title: | Ambiguities in Women History: The Case of Swaziland |
| Author: | Kanduza, Ackson M. |
| Year: | 1996 |
| Periodical: | Eastern Africa Social Science Research Review |
| Volume: | 12 |
| Issue: | 1 |
| Period: | January |
| Pages: | 35-45 |
| Language: | English |
| Notes: | biblio. refs. |
| Geographic terms: | Swaziland - Eswatini Southern Africa |
| Subjects: | women Women's Issues History and Exploration Peoples of Africa (Ethnic Groups) Law, Human Rights and Violence Historical/Biographical Cultural Roles Law, Legal Issues, and Human Rights Sex Roles sociology history Right of property |
| Abstract: | Swazi women are neither totally excluded from acquiring property nor prevented from occupying important social and ritual positions. Through 'liphakelo' and 'insulamnyembeti' (a gift of a cow for the mother of the bride, and for the bride after she has borne her first child) women are potentially able to build up a herd of cattle. Women have also been known to acquire land, despite apparent restrictions on female landownership. And it is women who determine the status of men. The Swazi constitution provides for a dual monarchy: two sovereigns, the son and his mother, must reign together over their people. Dual control is repeated at microlevel: the homestead is under the joint control of mother and son. The above notwithstanding, Swazi women are not social adults: their status as minors derives from the fact that when a woman reaches the age of marriage, her father's or brother's guardianship is replaced by that of her husband. The author concludes that the way forward in gender studies in Swaziland is to explore the contradictions and ambiguity surrounding the status of women in Swazi society. Bibliogr., sum. |
