Abstract
This study explored the economic and psychosocial experiences of widowed mothers in Postmasburg, Northern Cape. Statistics show that single-parent motherhood is a worldwide phenomenon which continues to rise. Women around the world continue to suffer exclusion from the economy, which predisposes them to poverty, gender-based and domestic violence as well as other forms of abuse. After the death of their husbands, widows are faced with a plethora of challenges which impact their economic and psychosocial well-being. It is the mandate of the social work profession to ensure that these vulnerable women are empowered through opportunities to gain a livelihood and through support to ensure their psychosocial well-being. In South Africa, widows face not only the persistent social and economic challenges bedevilling the country but they must also grapple with the legacy of colonialism and apartheid, which continues to be felt to this day. Against this backdrop, there is an urgent need to investigate the plight of single widowed mothers in South Africa. Using a sustainable livelihoods approach, this study conducted individual, semi-structured interviews with eight widows who were selected through purposive sampling. The interviews were subsequently analysed through thematic content analysis. The findings show that widows change roles immediately after the death of their husbands, acting as both mother and ‘father’ to their children. Inherent in these changes is a nexus of complex economic and psychosocial challenges which the women have to contend with to ensure the well-being of their children. Among the recommendations of this study is the need for social workers to be more visible, relevant and at the forefront of providing psychosocial services to widows and linking them with economic livelihood opportunities.
M.A. (Social Work)