Browsing by Author "Button, Kirsty"

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    The impact of intergenerational negotiations and power dynamics on the burden of care experienced by low- income grandmothers
    (2017-04) Button, Kirsty
    Older women are key financial and practical caregivers in contemporary low- income, multi-generational households. A large volume of research has shown how this burden of care has been shaped by social and economic conditions, the nature of state support and feelings of kin obligation. Less is known about how intra-household dynamics shape the distribution of responsibility for caregiving within households. This working paper discusses the findings of a qualitative study that explored the intra-household dynamics of care provision in fourteen low-income multi-generational households that were headed by older women in Khayelitsha. In discussing the caregiving experiences of the older women, it is argued that their burden of care was, in part, shaped by intergenerational negotiations over the provision of financial and practical care by younger household members. Despite their headship status, seniority, economic resources and the socialisation of younger kin to recognise reciprocal obligations of kin support, the older women had trouble negotiating for and obtaining assistance from their younger household members. In contrast, many of their adult children and teenage grandchildren seemed able to resist the claims made on their unpaid labour and financial resources; often leaving the older women with greater responsibility for ensuring the maintenance of their households. Furthermore, it is argued that these experiences reflect shifting positions of power within households that add to the vulnerabilities experienced by older women in their roles as caregivers.
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    South Africa’s system of dispute resolution forums: The role of the family and the state in customary marriage dissolution
    (2014-07-23) Button, Kirsty
    In being a legal pluralist state, South Africa has a system of state and customary dispute resolution forums. This paper is concerned with this system of dispute resolution forums, particularly in how marital disputes relating to the dissolution of customary marriages are mediated and resolved. It is demonstrated, through drawing upon data collected for the purposes of a larger research project, that there are serious shortcomings which exist within this system. Such shortcomings include the operation of structural constraints which limit women in their ability to access state dispute resolution forums for support in marital breakdown and the availability of some customary dispute resolution forums which appear to be under-utilised by couples experiencing marital breakdown. Another possible shortcoming within the abovementioned system is the insufficient assistance that is offered by the state, to married couples experiencing marital conflict and breakdown. This paper argues that these shortcomings prevent equitable outcomes in marital conflict and breakdown from being reached. Consequently, such shortcomings contribute to women being rendered economically vulnerable upon the dissolution of their customary marriages as they are often left to deal with marital conflict and breakdown in the context of unequal power relations which exist between spouses. This paper concludes by discussing possible solutions that could be adopted to rectify the shortcomings and help ensure that gender equality is achieved upon the dissolution of customary marriages.