In and out of polygyny: A case of black South African women's experiences of marriage

Abstract

abstract This focus piece presents an analysis of interviews, used as a methodology to investigate the experiences of 7 black South African women in polygynous marriages. Some of them had since opted out of these marriages, and were staying separately from their spouses. The women's understandings of safe and risky marriages are further explored, with analysis of qualitative interviews conducted within the context of liberal feminism. Gender inequality, biased religious and cultural beliefs, infidelity and ill-treatment were some of the forms of oppression that these married women suffered, where men were usually seen as perpetrators and women as victims. HIV/AIDS was a major risk arising from polygyny and infidelity, because married women in polygynous marriages could not negotiate condom use. The limitations of the sample are fully recognised. However, the analysis provides preliminary data on women in polygynous marriages and a foundation for further research. It was also found that there were other disconcerting voices among the women, suggesting that women continued to stay in unsafe marriages for unguaranteed financial security from men. Those who had moved out of polygynous marriages were seen as disobedient to their culture. The focus concludes that the decision to quit a risky marriage is long and hard to reach due to socially constructed discriminatory practices. It also shows that the decision to stay in a risky marriage is changing among women across marriage types.