The lived experiences of women in backyard dwellings: a Cape Town case study

Abrahams, Hayley

The lived experiences of women in backyard dwellings: a Cape Town case study

Thesis / Dissertation

2026

Publisher

University of Cape Town

Department

Environmental Humanities

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Abstract

Backyarding has grown rapidly in South Africa, and it remains poorly understood. This study explores the embodied experiences of women residing in informal backyard dwellings, and how their infrastructural conditions shape their citizenship rights. This study makes use of the example of the Wesbank community in Kuilsriver, Cape Town. Through semi-structured interviews, focus groups discussions and non-participant observations, this study reveals how women struggle to practise their citizenship rights through everyday negotiations within their landlords, and makes visible how emotions are a fundamental component of the intricate ways in which individuals acquire and utilise resources that are vital to their basic life. By revealing these experiences, the work adds to a more thorough knowledge of the lived reality of these women and provides insights into the gendered dynamics of informal backyard dwelling.