Women’s experiences, challenges and coping strategies of widowhood in Mopani District, Limpopo Province

Abstract

Background of the study: Widows in an African context are a vulnerable group of people exposed to face challenges resulting from different kinds of oppression and exclusion from social, economic and political activities. Limited research is documented on these women’s experiences, challenges and coping strategies with regards to their widowhood. Aim: The aim of this investigation was to explore and describe the experiences, challenges and coping strategies of widowhood among women of Mavalani village in the Mopani District of the Limpopo Province and to proffer suggestions for social work practice in rendering services regarding their widowhood to women in Mavalani village. Methods: The research was conducted by means of applying a qualitative research approach employing phenomenological, explorative, descriptive and contextual research designs. The study was guided by two theories, namely the strength-based perspective and the theory of social justice. A sample of 13 widows was recruited through purposive and snowball sampling. The data were collected by conducting face-to-face semi-structured interviews facilitated by an interview guide with open ended questions. The interviews were conducted for 45 minutes to an hour, using an audio recorder and transcribed with the permission from the participants. An independent coder was appointed to codify the data. Data collected were analysed using the eight steps of qualitative data analysis of Tesch (cited in Creswell 2014:196). Data verification was done according to the model of Lincoln and Guba (in Lietz & Zayas 2010:190) addressing the aspects of credibility, transferability, dependability and confirmability to ensure the trustworthiness of the study. The ethical approval for undertaking the study was obtained from the Scientific Review Committee of the Department of Social Work at the University of South Africa. Relevant research ethical principles upheld throughout the study were confidentiality, anonymity, privacy, informed consent, beneficence, debriefing and management if information. Results: The widows who are the research population of this study experienced multiple losses because of their widowhood. This include the loss of their status as a married woman; finacial losses; changes in their relationships with their family-in-laws and with regard to their friendships in the community; the experiences of social support structures from the family, significant others and from religious groups; and experiences of having to perform certain traditional rituals. The widows’ challenges regarding widowhood included negative perceptions towards widowhood by the community, widows struggling for financial independence, maintaining relationships especially regarding the discipline of their children and engaging in new romantic relationships after the death of the husbands. Coping strategies utilized by the widows included religion and spirituality as coping strategies, counselling, support from families and others, self-motivation and keeping themselves occupied. Widow’s accounts on advice to other widows with regards to dealing with the challenges of widowhood were to accept their loss, how to enter into and manage relationships with other male partners and how to deal with their children. The widows made several suggestions directed at social work practice with regards to widowhood. These included suggestions that social workers should provide counselling, support and debriefing sessions to widows, suggestion for community education regarding widowhood and the rights of women and suggestions that social workers/goverment should provide financial support to unemployed widows without income.