Case studies of unemployed women in Acornhoek

M.Ed.Education is the key to success. Those who are educated have doors opened for them to better and well paying occupations. Those unemployed and uneducated are often isolated by their communities. There are still those people who believe that unemployment is the unemployed person's fault. This study is aimed at finding out the causes of unemployment and its effect on the lives of the black women in Acornhoek. The extent to which these causes affect their family lives is also investigated, as well as to find what these women recommend to facilitate change. Data was collected through multiple methods. These unemployed, illiterate and poverty-stricken women were interviewed. Observations through informal visits were made. A thorough review of literature was made to determine what other researchers found on the same phenomena. Multiple methods of collection were use to triangulate the data and to enhance the validity of the findings. These unemployed women need to be encouraged to transform. They are oppressed in the private and public spheres of their lives, through patriarchal hierarchies of relations, and through societal acceptance of their illiteracy and unemployment as natural. Through empowerment they could be transformed from objects to subjects who have a say in the political, social and economic aspects of their lives. The findings of the study show that these women need education to equip them with the skills to have a say in their domestic affairs. This information will help them to have control over production and reproduction. Literacy will help these women to give birth to fewer children, and help them to be knowledgeable about various diseases such as Anaemia, Kwashiorkor and Aids. Their awareness of these diseases will help both the State and these women. Literacy programs should be linked with income generating projects. Due to their situation of being marginalized and poverty stricken, literacy programs for these women should be linked with income generating projects. These projects will motivate the unemployed women to participate in literacy programs. Politically, economically and socially they will be equipped to take their rightful place on center-stage in the development of their communities and their country