Single mothers and family formation in Suurbraak: a mixed methods study

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2017.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Mothers from the coloured population in South Africa are often single, raising children without the assistance of a spouse or partner, yet research on their family structures is scarce despite the financial and other challenges such single mother families often face. This thesis aims to explore the single mother family in the village of Suurbraak, South Africa. Two main themes associated with single motherhood are explored: the household structures Suurbraak single mothers occupy and what the origin of single motherhood within the village could be. A mixed methods research design is utilised, implementing both qualitative and quantitative research strategies to explore the stated aims. More specifically, an exploratory sequential design comprising three stages is implemented: participant observation, followed by in-depth semi-structured interviews and finally administering a survey. The findings emphasise that single mothers across all marital statuses and ages typically occupy various forms of the extended household structure and very rarely reside in a household with only their children. They often form part of female-headed and multi-generational households, often comprising multiple family units per household. The origin of single motherhood is mostly due to a disconnection between the perceptions of mothers (particularly prerequisites for marriage), and the options available within their environment. Two broad antecedents of single motherhood are identified: a lack of opportunities to fulfil their prerequisites for marriage or cohabitation appear to exist with singlehood often being represented as more ideal than marriage or cohabitation; and circumstances independent of their ideals which could further inhibit marriage or cohabitation. While the study yields insights into the manifestation of single motherhood and single mothers‟ household formation amongst coloured women in a rural community, Suurbraak, there is a need to study it also in other contexts in order to develop a more generalized understanding.AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: 'n Groot aantal moeders uit die bruingemeenskap is enkellopend en sorg vir hul kinders sonder die hulp van 'n eggenoot of lewensmaat. Tog bestaan daar 'n gebrek aan navorsing oor hierdie onderwerp, ten spyte van die groot finansiële en ander uitdagings wat hierdie moeders ervaar. Hierdie tesis bestudeer die voorkoms van enkelmoedergesinne in die landelike nedersetting, Suurbraak, Suid-Afrika. Twee temas wat verband hou met enkelmoederskap word ondersoek: die aard van die huishoudingstrukture waarin enkelmoeders woonagtig is en die redes vir enkelouerskap. Die studie maak gebruik van 'n gemengde-metodesbenadering waarin beide kwalitatiewe en kwantitatiewe navorsingstrategieë gebruik word. 'n Verkennende-opeenvolgende ontwerp wat drie fases insluit, is gebruik: deelnemende waarneming, gevolg deur in-diepte semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude en 'n opname. Die bevindinge beklemtoon dat enkelmoeders oor huwelikstatus en ouderdomsgroepe heen in verskeie tipes uitgebreide huishoudingstrukture woon en selde uitsluitlik met hul kinders 'n huishouding vorm. Hulle vorm dikwels deel van multi-generasie huishoudings met vroue aan die hoof wat uit meervoudige gesins-eenhede bestaan. Die kontradiksie tussen die persepsies van moeders (spesifiek rondom hul vereistes vir huwelik- of lewensmaats) en die opsies beskikbaar aan hulle binne hul omgewing word geïdentifiseer as hoofoorsaak van enkelmoedergesinseenhede. Twee breë redes vir enkelmoederskap is geïdentifiseer: eerstens word 'n gebrek aan geleenthede om voorvereistes vir huwelik- of lewensmaats te vervul ervaar - met die gevolg dat enkelskap as meer ideaal as die huwelik of kohabitasie beskou word; en tweedens bestaan daar omstandighede onafhanklik van hul ideale wat huwelik of kohabitasie verder kan inhibeer. Terwyl die studie insigte verskaf oor die manifestering van enkelmoederskap en enkelmoeders se huishoudingstrukture in ʼn landelike lae-inkomste gemeenskap, is dit noodsaaklik om verdere navorsing in ander kontekste te doen ten einde ʼn meer veralgemeenbare begrip van die enkelmoedergesin te ontwikkel