Maqubela, Lucille N. (2013) An exploration of parenting : normative expectations, practices and work-life balance in post-apartheid South Africa, 1994-2008. PhD thesis, University of Warwick.

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Abstract

This thesis explores the complexities of parenting in post-apartheid South Africa. It
investigates the normative expectations surrounding motherhood and fatherhood and how
employed mothers, as those who bear the main responsibility for childcare, reconcile family
and paid work. It is a qualitative study which draws on 43 interviews with women and men
managers in a Government Department and a Parastatal. Thirty seven interviews were with
managers (21 mothers and 16 fathers), 3 with gender experts in these organisations, and 3
with Human Resources personnel. It also draws on an analysis of domestic divisions of
labour in 3 households and an exploration of national legislation and workplace policies to
examine how the workplace accommodates those with family/childcare responsibilities. The
study demonstrates that South African parenting is complex: parental norms encapsulate the
coexistence of modern and traditional values (Inglehart and Baker, 2003; Hotchfeld, 2008),
rather than following a linear pattern of change from traditional to modern. Moreover, there
are inconsistencies in values and normative expectations relating to gender-role attitudes and
parenting expectations, as well as between gender-role attitudes and parenting practices.
Incongruencies and contradictions in relation to parenting are also found between and within
domains: the fast-changing workplace brought about by the new democratic government‟s
commitment to equality and the subsequent transformation of the public sector contrasts with
the „stalled revolution‟ in parenting practices, especially in relation domestic divisions of
labour, within the domestic sphere. Using Squires‟s (2005) typology of inclusion, reversal
and displacement to analyze South African approaches to workplace gender transformation,
the study establishes that South Africa has adopted policies based on inclusion and reversal
and has left out displacement, thus increasing women‟s representation at the workplace
without challenging the status quo. To this effect the workplace has remained masculineoriented;
it is characterized by a long-working hours regime and minimal work-life balance
policies. As a result mothers are facing difficulties in reconciling family and paid work.
However, women mobilize support outside the workplace to cope with the demands of family
and paid work. The study shows that the support networks mobilized by women are
influenced by socio-economic and geographical mobility associated with the rise of the new
black middle-class families brought about by the political change from apartheid to
democracy. The migration of families from working to middle-class areas demonstrates the
fluidity of mothering and coping strategies; while fathers remain free from childcare and
family responsibilities.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Subjects:	D History General and Old World > DT Africa H Social Sciences > HC Economic History and Conditions H Social Sciences > HQ The family. Marriage. Woman
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Post-apartheid era -- South Africa, Parenting -- South Africa, Families -- Economic aspects -- South Africa, Families -- South Africa -- Social conditions, Sexual division of labor -- South Africa, Work and family -- South Africa
Official Date:	January 2013
Dates:	Date Event January 2013 Submitted
Institution:	University of Warwick
Theses Department:	Department of Sociology
Thesis Type:	PhD
Publication Status:	Unpublished
Supervisor(s)/Advisor:	Charles, Nickie
Sponsors:	British Council ; Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the United Kingdom
Extent:	xi, 439 leaves.
Language:	eng

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