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Stories from within A narrative study focusing on females’ experiences, actions, choices and understandings of child marriage in Zimbabwe

Eissa, Juliette LU (2019) SIMV08 20191
Graduate School
Department of Political Science
Master of Science in Global Studies
Abstract
The female child marriage research landscape in Zimbabwe concludes reasons,
consequences, and solutions as a means to bring awareness. However, there is an
absence in the current literature of an individual perspective focusing on rural
females experiences of child marriage and a theoretical contribution that
highlights their actions, choices, and understandings before, during and after the
marriage in Manicaland. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine how
females in Manicaland experience child marriage. Furthermore, how their actions,
choices, and understandings can be understood via Social practice theory, Coping
strategies and Sense of coherence. The methodology is a narrative-and fieldwork
approach and the data was... (More)
The female child marriage research landscape in Zimbabwe concludes reasons,
consequences, and solutions as a means to bring awareness. However, there is an
absence in the current literature of an individual perspective focusing on rural
females experiences of child marriage and a theoretical contribution that
highlights their actions, choices, and understandings before, during and after the
marriage in Manicaland. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine how
females in Manicaland experience child marriage. Furthermore, how their actions,
choices, and understandings can be understood via Social practice theory, Coping
strategies and Sense of coherence. The methodology is a narrative-and fieldwork
approach and the data was collected through eight semi-structured interviews and
analyzed through a thematic- narrative analysis using the mentioned theories
above. The findings indicate that females have limited knowledge of marriage
and are limited in their choices and actions by gender structures. To escape
negative events, they act via emotion-focused and problem-focused coping and
follow gender norm and enter marriage. For many participants, marriage resulted
in negative experiences but chose to stay due to recognition, dependence, and fear.
Others had positive experiences as they gained love and safety, which eased their
ability to adapt and accept their lives as child brides. When gaining a higher sense
of coherence, some changed their actions and chose to leave their marriages and
others chose to stay due to motherhood and socioeconomic dependence. The
majority of the participants do not advise girls to enter marriage at an early age. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Eissa, Juliette LU
supervisor
organization
course
SIMV08 20191
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Child marriage, Zimbabwe, Gender, Social practice, Coping strategies, Sense of coherence
language
English
id
8990233
date added to LUP
2019-11-21 13:52:17
date last changed
2019-11-21 13:52:17
@misc{8990233,
  abstract     = {{The female child marriage research landscape in Zimbabwe concludes reasons,
consequences, and solutions as a means to bring awareness. However, there is an
absence in the current literature of an individual perspective focusing on rural
females experiences of child marriage and a theoretical contribution that
highlights their actions, choices, and understandings before, during and after the
marriage in Manicaland. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine how
females in Manicaland experience child marriage. Furthermore, how their actions,
choices, and understandings can be understood via Social practice theory, Coping
strategies and Sense of coherence. The methodology is a narrative-and fieldwork
approach and the data was collected through eight semi-structured interviews and
analyzed through a thematic- narrative analysis using the mentioned theories
above. The findings indicate that females have limited knowledge of marriage
and are limited in their choices and actions by gender structures. To escape
negative events, they act via emotion-focused and problem-focused coping and
follow gender norm and enter marriage. For many participants, marriage resulted
in negative experiences but chose to stay due to recognition, dependence, and fear.
Others had positive experiences as they gained love and safety, which eased their
ability to adapt and accept their lives as child brides. When gaining a higher sense
of coherence, some changed their actions and chose to leave their marriages and
others chose to stay due to motherhood and socioeconomic dependence. The
majority of the participants do not advise girls to enter marriage at an early age.}},
  author       = {{Eissa, Juliette}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Stories from within A narrative study focusing on females’ experiences, actions, choices and understandings of child marriage in Zimbabwe}},
  year         = {{2019}},
}