Women in polygynous marriages and African Initiated Churches: Selected narratives in Greater Tzaneen, South Africa

abstract

Polygynous marriage is practised in some African Initiated Churches (AICs). The article reflects on the stories of women in polygynous marriages within selected AICs in Greater Tzaneen in the Limpopo province. Conversations were held with 25 purposely selected married female believers. The women’s perceptions and status in the church and at their respective family homes are discussed and analysed. The presentation of these conversations is an attempt to fill a gap in research on AICs and gender. The research conducted sought to explore how faith traditions and religious identities determine social constructs of sexuality and gender in the context of women’s rights and gender equality. Oral research methods were used in this qualitative research study. Twenty five anecdotes relayed by women who had been married in polygynous marriages for the past 20 years were studied. The data was analysed through the Creswell method of analysing qualitative data. The research found that the women the authors engaged with have strong opinions about their status within the church and family. They realised that the church and their family life situations favour their husbands. What was evident was the resilience that was required of the respondents in the face of the insecurities that they face in polygynous marriage.

keywords:

• women
• religion
• polygynous marriage
• African Initiated Churches (AICs)
• resilience
• discrimination

Notes

1. African Initiated Churches (AICs) refer to churches that were originated in Africa by Africans without the influence of European churches or missionaries and are self-governing.

2. An example of one of these denominations is the Zion Christian Church (ZCC), whose headquarters are in Moriya, about 20 kilometres outside Polokwane. Other examples of AICs include the Ibandla lama Nazaretha (commonly known as the Shembe Church named after the founder of the Church, Isaiah Shembe), the International Pentecostal Holiness Church (IPHC); and St John’s Apostolic Church.

3. Ubuntu implies a sense of ‘humanness’, recognising and caring about the human dignity of others.

4. Not her real name. The source for quotes are translated interview recordings with women respondents, September 2015.

5. Not her real name.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Mogomme Alpheus Masoga

MOGOMME ALPHEUS MASOGA is the Research Professor in the School of Human and Social Sciences at the University of Venda.

Allucia Lulu Shokane

ALLUCIA LULU SHOKANE is a registered Social Worker and lecturer in the Department of Social Work, University of Venda. Email: [email protected]