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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:Rethinking Customary Law on Bridewealth
Authors:Burman, SandraISNI
Van der Werff, Nicolette
Year:1993
Periodical:Social Dynamics
Volume:19
Issue:2
Period:Summer
Pages:111-127
Language:English
Geographic term:South Africa
Subjects:alimony
bridewealth
divorce
Peoples of Africa (Ethnic Groups)
Women's Issues
Cultural Roles
Law, Legal Issues, and Human Rights
Marital Relations and Nuptiality
External link:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02533959308458554
Abstract:In 1991 an article by Sandra Burman sketched the significant changes taking place in the structure of South African families, in particular the very high proportion of female-headed households in which many women were forced to provide for children out of meagre resources. In the article Burman suggested that the considerable funds involved in bridewealth payments be used instead to pay for the expenses of the children of marriages which broke up after bridewealth had been paid. She also proposed a possible scheme for doing this. Nicolette Van der Werff made a small pilot survey of reactions to Burman's suggestion among African students at the University of Cape Town and among African teachers and social workers in the Durban Metropolitan Area of Natal. A provisional conclusion is that the younger generation is much readier to accept the scheme than the older respondents. Bibliogr., notes, ref.
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