Women who are not married: fertility, ‘illegitimacy’, and the nature of households and domestic groups among single African women in Durban

Abstract

Abstract This paper considers the reasons for, and the repercussions of, the bearing and rearing of children outside marriage in certain sections of the black (African) community in South Africa. Family and domestic life based on what is loosely referred to as ‘non-marriage’ is occurring elsewhere in the world and it is noted that in some countries both welfare and legislative changes are underway to accommodate and destigmatize this phenomenon. The situation in South Africa has yet to recieve recognition in either the legal and welfare fields. Two points are made: first, that in a context where a high proportion of the population are born out of wedlock, the use of the prejudicial term ‘illegitimacy’ is inappropriate;second, that in contrast to the situation in much of the Western world where women (and for that matter men) are choosing to rear children outside marriage, many black South Africans have no choice in the matter. The strategies adopted by the women discussed in the paper are forced on them by poverty and socio-political circumstances beyond their immediate control. Finally, the discussion goes some way to providing a context within which to asses the fact that it is amongst black South African women that the highest fertility, as well as the highest rates of non-marriage, are reported. The situation of high fertility among relatively young African women and teenagers is considered, as well as the household and domestic structures, and the resulting domestic cycle, to which early births outside marriage give rise. The situation among older unmarried women and those whose marriages have failed but who also bear children outside wedlock. is also given attention as are the dynamics of the domestic arrangementswhich result.