1st Edition
Polygyny and Gender The Gendered Narratives of Adults Raised in Polygynous Families
Acknowledgements
Introduction
1 Theoretical Perspectives on Polygyny and Gender
2 Gender Role Socialisation and Gender Identity
3 Naming and the Construction of Gender Identity
4 Family Relations and Their Impact on Gender Identity
5 Negotiating Customary Law and Constitutional Rights
6 Economic Resources and Power Relations within the Family
7 The Impact of Religion on the Polygynous Family and Identity Formation
8 Emotional Relations and the Construction of Gendered Identity
Conclusion
Select Bibliography
Index
Biography
Zamambo Mkhize is 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.
‘With great skill, Zamambo Mkhize takes the reader through the intricate process of brokering individual autonomy and cultural expectations and demonstrates how this culminates in hybridised gender identities. The book’s uniqueness lies in underscoring how socially organising principles, such as seniority, naming and co-mothering, contribute to gender identity construction in polygynous families. The critical insights generated in this book will increase our understanding of gender dynamics in an African context.’
— Janet Muthuki, Senior Lecturer, Gender Studies Programme, University of KwaZulu-Natal
