Rural Women’s Perspectives on Marriage and Related Issues: Analysis of Personal Narratives from Kenyan Women
This paper is based on personal stories as told by Kenyan women. The stories were
compiled by the author in 2001 and 2002when interviewing Kenyans on their views
regarding the new constitution. The paper identifies issues raised by women during the
women only sessions which focused on the women‟s personal lives in the context of
marriage, polygamy, motherhood and experiences of domestic violence, among others.
The paper is guided by the feminist theoretical perspective which argues that if you want
to know about women, you should start with women, for they know. African feminism
also argues that though the struggle for women‟s liberation is a struggle that all should
engage in, including the state, policy makers both men and women must set the pace and
lead the struggle. It is they who will define what marriage is for them, whether polygamy
is a desired arrangement and say no to domestic violence. It is the women who must
clear the path that they, the men, and the African communities must walk on their
journey towards more women friendly societies. The paper focuses on: marriage, the
place of the first wife in polygamous marriages, motherhood, widowhood and domestic
violence. The author concludes that feminist research is bringing new knowledge and
perspectives to the traditional African view on the institution of marriage and mapping
the paths towards new societies.
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