Title

The Majority Legal Status Of Women In Southern Africa: Implications For Women And Families

Keywords

African families; African women; Legal rights; Poverty

Abstract

Women in many countries of southern Africa do not have majority status or have only recently gained this right. Majority status grants individuals adult legal status and the right to bring matters to court, own and administer property, have legal custody of children, and contract for marriage. This article summarizes the legal status of women in Botswana, Lesotho, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Lack of majority status contributes to the ongoing risk of poverty for women and makes them overly dependent on men. Compounding the situation in these countries is the presence of a dual legal system. Improving the situation of women and their families involves targeting changes in the legal system, influencing implementation of laws, educating women about their rights, and giving women needed support to seek their legal rights. The legal status of women must be viewed in the context of historical changes in the economic, educational, political, and cultural developments of society. © 1996 Human Sciences Press, Inc.

Publication Date

1-1-1996

Publication Title

Journal of Family and Economic Issues

Volume

17

Issue

2

Number of Pages

173-188

Document Type

Article

Personal Identifier

scopus

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02267045

Socpus ID

0030156022 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/0030156022

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