A study on Social and Economic Challenges of Widowed Mothers; The Case of Beneficiaries from Zer Ethiopia Foundation
| dc.contributor.advisor | Mulugeta , Emebet (PhD) | |
| dc.contributor.author | Shalemariam, Tyobestya | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2019-12-16T12:15:57Z | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2023-11-18T08:46:32Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2019-12-16T12:15:57Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2023-11-18T08:46:32Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2019-06 | |
| dc.description.abstract | Widow refers to a woman whose husband has died and who has not married again; and widowhood is a state or period of being a widow. Especially, in the developing world, widows remain invisible and their exact numbers, ages or emotional and the socio-economic aspects of their lives remain unknown. Thus, this qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological research explored the socio-economic challenges of widowed mothers taking the case of beneficiaries from a local NGO, named Zer Ethiopia Foundation. Ten beneficiaries‟ and four key informants were selected through purposive sampling technique and involved in an in-depth interview. The targets experienced widowhood with their children for a minimum of three and maximum seventeen years; and non-remarried. The study set forth, exacerbating factors; emotional implications; coping mechanisms and critical intervention areas. Socio-economic challenges revealed crosscutting effects. Majorly experienced social challenge includes, stereotype and derogatory portrayals; discrimination; state of social loneliness and lack of social or familial support. Along with this, the main economic challenges fall into, lack of resource; lack of support and opportunities. Throughout the study, Poverty referred sequence of economic deprivations that accelerate widow‟s challenge, presenting them physical health risk including GBV and HIV; social isolation as well as emotional challenges. Gender, both as an outcome and a basis for various social arrangements; presented paramount vulnerability resulting decline in socio-economic status through economic deprivation, emotional abuse and social exclusion. The study also discussed HIV and stereotypes directed to widows and their children as exacerbating factors. Taken together, socio-economic challenges prompted emotional challenges such as; feeling of stress or depression; hopelessness and loneliness. Yet, almost all emotional challenges were found rooted in postwidowhood economic vulnerability and social loneliness than bereavement from loss of husbands love. Still, better emotional and financial coping was found reliant on familial/social support; since less support resulted them higher frustration and maladjustment. Thus, the study analyzed internal/external, positive/negative copings used; self-exclusion and spirituality being widely used to cope social stigma and destitution. Added together, the finding depicted how socio-economic challenges of widowhood are predominantly influenced by socializations of gender which resulted poverty after loss; hindering emotional wellness, economic empowerment and human rights violation (the right to live free from violence & discrimination). Surly, such problems develop a vicious circle of poverty thus, the study recommends for policies that address systemic inequalities, as it is an ideal way to holistically empower women to support themselves in the face of a marital ending | en_US |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/12345678/20382 | |
| dc.publisher | Addis Ababa University | en_US |
| dc.subject | Widowed mothers | en_US |
| dc.subject | social and economic challenges | en_US |
| dc.title | A study on Social and Economic Challenges of Widowed Mothers; The Case of Beneficiaries from Zer Ethiopia Foundation | en_US |
| dc.type | Thesis | en_US |