The social context of widowhood rites and women's human rights in Cameroon
SOURCE: Cogent Social Sciences
OUTPUT TYPE: Journal Article
PUBLICATION YEAR: 2016
TITLE AUTHOR(S): N.V.Pemunta, M.F.Alubafi
KEYWORDS: CAMEROON, HUMAN RIGHTS, WOMEN
Print: HSRC Library: shelf number 9191
HANDLE: 20.500.11910/9656
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11910/9656
OUTPUT TYPE: Journal Article
PUBLICATION YEAR: 2016
TITLE AUTHOR(S): N.V.Pemunta, M.F.Alubafi
KEYWORDS: CAMEROON, HUMAN RIGHTS, WOMEN
Print: HSRC Library: shelf number 9191
HANDLE: 20.500.11910/9656
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11910/9656
If you would like to obtain a copy of this Research Output, please contact Hanlie Baudin at researchoutputs@hsrc.ac.za.
Abstract
Since the United Nations Decade for Women (1975-1985) gender-based violence (GBV) has increasingly received global attention and eventuated in the earmarking of 23 June 2011 as the first-ever International Widow's Day. This case study examines the social logic of superstitious beliefs and associated fears sustaining the dehumanizing practice of widowhood rites and practices (WRP) with its negative consequences on women's well-being among the Balengou of Western Cameroon. It argues that WRP should be understood through the double process of disavowal and projection, 'false consciousness' and as a 'patriarchal bargain'. It argues for the strengthening of women's rights through gender-neutral marriage, succession and inheritance legislation based on notions of equality and social justice between the sexes, the harmonization and humanization of WRP, and an intersectionalist approach to GBV and development.-
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