How does AIDS illness affect women's residential decisions? Findings from an ethnographic study in a Cape Town township

dc.contributor.authorBray, Rachel
dc.date.accessioned2016-05-24T09:45:27Z
dc.date.available2016-05-24T09:45:27Z
dc.date.issued2009
dc.date.updated2016-05-24T07:46:13Z
dc.description.abstractThis article explores the nature and consequences of residential decision-making for women on treatment for AIDS illness in a poor urban settlement in South Africa. Drawing on ethnographic data collected over a two-year period, it points to the subtle shifts in "householding" practices and kinship relationships prompted by women's individual experiences and understandings of their HIV status, illness and treatment. Women's decisions to move or to arrange that other family members move may be explained by pre-existing threats to individual well-being or family residential security. But an HIV diagnosis can intensify a mother's thoughts and actions in relation to residential and emotional security, in particular on behalf of her children. In a context where extended periods of childcare by rural relatives is common, mothers with AIDS illness may gather all their children to their home to offer direct care, achieve intimacy and facilitate disclosure. They are likely to avoid making frequent contact with, and demands on, their elderly parents. Siblings are favoured as co-residents and confidants in disclosure, but their long-term support is contingent on reciprocity. Partners, where present, are valued for economic, social and emotional security. Women attempt to balance their children's nurturing, in the short and long term, with care of the self. Their efforts do not always succeed and can incur high costs to their wellbeing and relationships with their children.en_ZA
dc.identifierhttp://dx.doi.org/10.2989/AJAR.2009.8.2.5.857
dc.identifier.apacitationBray, R. (2009). How does AIDS illness affect women's residential decisions? Findings from an ethnographic study in a Cape Town township. <i>African Journal of AIDS Research</i>, http://hdl.handle.net/11427/19829en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationBray, Rachel "How does AIDS illness affect women's residential decisions? Findings from an ethnographic study in a Cape Town township." <i>African Journal of AIDS Research</i> (2009) http://hdl.handle.net/11427/19829en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationBray, R. (2009). How does AIDS illness affect women's residential decisions? Findings from an ethnographic study in a Cape Town township. African Journal of AIDS Research, 8(2), 167-179.en_ZA
dc.identifier.issn1608-5906en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Journal Article AU - Bray, Rachel AB - This article explores the nature and consequences of residential decision-making for women on treatment for AIDS illness in a poor urban settlement in South Africa. Drawing on ethnographic data collected over a two-year period, it points to the subtle shifts in "householding" practices and kinship relationships prompted by women's individual experiences and understandings of their HIV status, illness and treatment. Women's decisions to move or to arrange that other family members move may be explained by pre-existing threats to individual well-being or family residential security. But an HIV diagnosis can intensify a mother's thoughts and actions in relation to residential and emotional security, in particular on behalf of her children. In a context where extended periods of childcare by rural relatives is common, mothers with AIDS illness may gather all their children to their home to offer direct care, achieve intimacy and facilitate disclosure. They are likely to avoid making frequent contact with, and demands on, their elderly parents. Siblings are favoured as co-residents and confidants in disclosure, but their long-term support is contingent on reciprocity. Partners, where present, are valued for economic, social and emotional security. Women attempt to balance their children's nurturing, in the short and long term, with care of the self. Their efforts do not always succeed and can incur high costs to their wellbeing and relationships with their children. DA - 2009 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town J1 - African Journal of AIDS Research LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2009 SM - 1608-5906 T1 - How does AIDS illness affect women's residential decisions? Findings from an ethnographic study in a Cape Town township TI - How does AIDS illness affect women's residential decisions? Findings from an ethnographic study in a Cape Town township UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/19829 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/19829
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationBray R. How does AIDS illness affect women's residential decisions? Findings from an ethnographic study in a Cape Town township. African Journal of AIDS Research. 2009; http://hdl.handle.net/11427/19829.en_ZA
dc.languageengen_ZA
dc.publisherNational Inquiry Services Centre (NISC)en_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentCentre for Social Science Research(CSSR)en_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Humanitiesen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.sourceAfrican Journal of AIDS Researchen_ZA
dc.source.urihttp://www.nisc.co.za/products/1/journals/african-journal-of-aids-research
dc.subject.othercare
dc.subject.otherHIV/AIDS
dc.subject.otherhouseholds
dc.subject.otherkinship
dc.subject.othermotherhood
dc.subject.othermoving house
dc.titleHow does AIDS illness affect women's residential decisions? Findings from an ethnographic study in a Cape Town townshipen_ZA
dc.typeJournal Articleen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceArticleen_ZA
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Bray_How_does_AIDS_illness_affect_2009.pdf
Size:
340.28 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.72 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description:
Collections