If a man is a head of the household what is a woman? The impact of rural women's engagement in the textile industries of Lesotho on gendered relations in their households: a case study in Mafeteng, Lesotho
Date
2009-09-18T11:34:31Z
Authors
Mohono-Nyabela, Mosebatho
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Abstract
ABSTRACT__________________________________________________________
This study examines the gender aspects of household dynamics in rural households in
Mafeteng, Lesotho. It was inspired by the impact of changes resulting from the major
retrenchment of Basotho men from South African mines which has coincides with the
employment of a large number of women in relatively newly established textile
industry. Snowball sampling was used to elicit data from ten women employed in the
textile industries. Moreover, in order to establish the significance of employment on
gendered household dynamics, purposive sampling was used to elicit data from ten
unemployed women. This study reveals how decision-making is done in rural
households of employed women. Among things that influence decision-making is
economic status. Furthermore, it exposes the gender aspects of household labour
within the employed women’s households. It also reveals the influence that women’s
employment has on marital conflict between spouses.