- Title
- The intersection of culture and gender in constructions of ukuzila’ (spousal mourning) among AmaXhosa in the Eastern Cape:
- Creator
- Ngqangweni, Hlonelwa
- Creator
- Macleod, Catriona I
- Date Issued
- 2015
- Date
- 2015
- Type
- text
- Type
- article
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/10962/143615
- Identifier
- vital:38267
- Identifier
- https://ischp.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/ischp_2015_abstract_booklet.pdf
- Description
- Mourning is a universal and culturally specific practice following the death of a significant other. The Xhosa equivalent of the mourning process is ukuzila. Very little has been written on the subject of ukuzila in spite of the detrimental effects of the practice on the widows’ health and safety, as well as the discriminatory nature of the practice. This paper presents the findings of a discourse analytic qualitative study conducted among isiXhosa speaking men and women in South Africa. The study revealed ukuzila as a practice put in place to show respect to the deceased. However, the showing of respect revealed a historically gendered cultural practice, imbued with power relations and centred on ‘visibility’. In light of this finding, the authors propose further research which includes exploring people’s willingness to change to a non-gendered practice of ukuzila, and alternate expressions of ukuzila that suit women rather than ‘culture’ and society.
- Format
- Language
- English
- Relation
- International Society of Critical Health Psychology (ISCHP)
- Relation
- Macleod, C and Ngqangweni, H, 2015. The intersection of culture and gender in constructions of ukuzila’ (spousal mourning) among AmaXhosa in the Eastern Cape. International Society of Critical Health Psychology (ISCHP). 9th Biennial Conference, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa
- Relation
- International Society of Critical Health Psychology (ISCHP) volume 2015 number 0 2015
- Rights
- Publisher
- Rights
- Use of this resource is governed by the terms and conditions of the Rhodes University Proatia Statement (https://www.ru.ac.za//governance/proatia/)
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Collections
Gender Action Forum (GENACT)
Macleod, Catriona Ida (Distinguished Professor)
SDG 05. Gender Equality
RU Department of Psychology
RU DST/NRF SARChI for Critical Studies in Sexualities and Reproductions Research (CSSR) Programme
SDG 10. Reduced Inequalities
SDG 03. Good Health and Well-Being
| Thumbnail | File | Description | Size | Format | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| View Details Download | SOURCE1 | 2015 International Society of Critical Health Psychology (ISCHP).pdf | 765 KB | Adobe Acrobat PDF | View Details Download |