Abstract
Contemporary societies have undergone major changes in the last decades, particularly with the increase of women's participation in the workforce. Changes in family roles are also affecting the place of Cameroonian women in society. The aim of this study is to reveal the current Cameroonian family structure, then the new roles expected from working women, and finally men and society’s perception of women. While using a qualitative research method, the data were collected through face-to-face semi-structured interviews. The sample of the study consists of ten (10) adult Cameroonian women and ten (10) adult men between the ages of twenty (20) and sixty five (65). The diversity and contradiction between the current social orientations of Cameroonian men and women, especially the problems of working women, structural changes in families, and their immediate consequences were revealed. Men argue that their women copy white feminism, which is not suitable for their black African context and daily struggles, and their children consequently inherit those new habits. Women on the other side, complain that men became too irresponsible and do not fully provide nor take their responsibilities as it used to be with previous generations.
References
- Azevedo, M. J. P., Gwendolyn (1986). The changing status of women in cameroon: An overview; The Western Journal of Black Studies; Pullman., Wash. Vol. 10 (4), 195.
- Boserup, E. (1983). La femme face au développement économique [compte-rendu]. Revue Tiers Monde, 24 (95), 698-699.
- Bucrep Cameroon (2023).The number of girls who go to school in rural and urban areas in Cameroon. Retrieved from: https://cameroon.opendataforafrica.org/data#source=Bureau+Central+des+Recensements+et+des+Etudes+de+Population+(BUCREP)+-+Cameroun
- Bryman, A. (2003). Social Science Methods (2nd ed.) New York, U.S.A: Oxford University.
- Camer.be (2023). The divorce rate in Douala Cameroon in 2023. Retrieved from: https://www.camer.be/55247/11:1/cameroun-360-demandes-de-divorce-en-un-an-a-douala-cameroon.html
- Cameroon National Civil Status Office (BUNEC) (2018). Retrieved from: https://ins-cameroun.cm/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Report-Final-31-05-2021.pdf
- Cameroon Institute of Statistics (2021): EDS-MICS, . Retrieved from: https://ins-cameroun.cm/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/DEPLIANT-JIF-2021-vers-07-05-2021-Vers-DG-francais.pdf / https://ins-cameroun.cm/statistique/journee-internationale-de-la-femme-edition-2021/
- Cameroon Institute of Statistics (2023). Retrieved from: https://www.fluechtlingshilfe.ch/fileadmin/user_upload/Publikationen/Herkunftslaenderberichte/Afrika/Kamerun/230414_KAM_mariage_force_feminicide.pdf
- Creswell, J. W. (1998). Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design: Choosing Among Five Traditions. USA: SAGE Publications, Inc.
- Demir, İ., & Roukaya, M. N. (2018). Everyday Interpersonal Experiences of African International Students in Turkey: A Phenomenological Study. Current Debates In Education, 20-63, London: IJOPEC publication.
- Horowitz, R., & Gerson, K. (2002). Observation and interviewing: options and choices in qualitative research. In Qualitative research: An international guide to issues in practice, London: Sage.
- Nkwi, P. N. (1987). Transformations of African Marriage, The Changing Role of Women and their Contributions to the Domestic Economy in Cameroon, London: Routledge.
- Makiwane, M., Gumede, N. A., Makoae, M., & Vawda, M. (2017). Family in a changing South Africa: structures, functions and the welfare of members. South African Review of Sociology, 48(2), 49-69.
- Moi, T. (2006). “I am not a feminist, but…”: how feminism became the f-word. PMLA/Publications of the Modern Language Association of America, 121(5), 1735-1741.
- Odetola, T. O., Oloruntimehin, O., & Aweda, D. A. (1983). Man and society in Africa: an introduction to sociology. London: Longman.
- Ogundare, S. F. (2010). Changes in family types and functions among Yoruba of Southwestern Nigeria since 1960. Journal of GLBT Family Studies, 6(4), 447-457.
- Oppong, G., Monebenimp, F., & Dapi Nzefa, L. (2019). ‘You just have to grin and bear’–emotional suppression among women in polygyny in Cameroon. Culture, health & sexuality, 21(8), 946-956.
- Sidze, E. M., & Defo, B. K. (2013). Effects of parenting practices on sexual risk-taking among young people in Cameroon. BMC public health, 13(1), 1-14.
- Stacey, J., & Thorne, B. (1985). The missing feminist revolution in sociology. Social problems, 32(4), 301-316.
Abstract
Çağdaş toplumlar son on yıllarda, özellikle kadınların işgücüne katılımının artmasıyla birlikte büyük değişikliklere uğradı. Aile rollerindeki değişiklikler Kamerunlu kadınların toplumdaki yerini de etkilemektedir. Bu çalışmanın amacı Kamerun'daki mevcut aile yapısını, ardından çalışan kadınlardan beklenen yeni rolleri, son olarak da erkeklerin ve toplumun kadın algısını ortaya koymaktır. Nitel araştırma yöntemi kullanılarak veriler yüz yüze yarı yapılandırılmış görüşmeler yoluyla toplanmıştır. Araştırmanın örneklemini yirmi (20) ile altmış beş (65) yaşları arasındaki on (10) yetişkin Kamerunlu kadın ve on (10) yetişkin erkek oluşturmaktadır. Çalışma sonucunda; Kamerunlu erkek ve kadınların mevcut sosyal yönelimleri arasındaki çeşitlilik ve çelişki, özellikle çalışan kadınların sorunları, ailelerdeki yapısal değişiklikler ve bunların acil sonuçları olduğu ortaya çıktı. Erkekler, kadınlarının, siyahi Afrika bağlamlarına ve günlük mücadelelerine uygun olmayan beyaz feminizmi kopyaladığını ve dolayısıyla çocuklarının da bu yeni alışkanlıkları miras aldığını ileri sürmüşlerdir. Kadınlar ise erkeklerin çok sorumsuz hale geldiklerinden, önceki kuşaklarda olduğu gibi sorumluluklarını tam olarak yerine getiremediklerinden ve sorumluluklarını alamadıklarından şikayetçi olmuşlardır.
References
- Azevedo, M. J. P., Gwendolyn (1986). The changing status of women in cameroon: An overview; The Western Journal of Black Studies; Pullman., Wash. Vol. 10 (4), 195.
- Boserup, E. (1983). La femme face au développement économique [compte-rendu]. Revue Tiers Monde, 24 (95), 698-699.
- Bucrep Cameroon (2023).The number of girls who go to school in rural and urban areas in Cameroon. Retrieved from: https://cameroon.opendataforafrica.org/data#source=Bureau+Central+des+Recensements+et+des+Etudes+de+Population+(BUCREP)+-+Cameroun
- Bryman, A. (2003). Social Science Methods (2nd ed.) New York, U.S.A: Oxford University.
- Camer.be (2023). The divorce rate in Douala Cameroon in 2023. Retrieved from: https://www.camer.be/55247/11:1/cameroun-360-demandes-de-divorce-en-un-an-a-douala-cameroon.html
- Cameroon National Civil Status Office (BUNEC) (2018). Retrieved from: https://ins-cameroun.cm/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Report-Final-31-05-2021.pdf
- Cameroon Institute of Statistics (2021): EDS-MICS, . Retrieved from: https://ins-cameroun.cm/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/DEPLIANT-JIF-2021-vers-07-05-2021-Vers-DG-francais.pdf / https://ins-cameroun.cm/statistique/journee-internationale-de-la-femme-edition-2021/
- Cameroon Institute of Statistics (2023). Retrieved from: https://www.fluechtlingshilfe.ch/fileadmin/user_upload/Publikationen/Herkunftslaenderberichte/Afrika/Kamerun/230414_KAM_mariage_force_feminicide.pdf
- Creswell, J. W. (1998). Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design: Choosing Among Five Traditions. USA: SAGE Publications, Inc.
- Demir, İ., & Roukaya, M. N. (2018). Everyday Interpersonal Experiences of African International Students in Turkey: A Phenomenological Study. Current Debates In Education, 20-63, London: IJOPEC publication.
- Horowitz, R., & Gerson, K. (2002). Observation and interviewing: options and choices in qualitative research. In Qualitative research: An international guide to issues in practice, London: Sage.
- Nkwi, P. N. (1987). Transformations of African Marriage, The Changing Role of Women and their Contributions to the Domestic Economy in Cameroon, London: Routledge.
- Makiwane, M., Gumede, N. A., Makoae, M., & Vawda, M. (2017). Family in a changing South Africa: structures, functions and the welfare of members. South African Review of Sociology, 48(2), 49-69.
- Moi, T. (2006). “I am not a feminist, but…”: how feminism became the f-word. PMLA/Publications of the Modern Language Association of America, 121(5), 1735-1741.
- Odetola, T. O., Oloruntimehin, O., & Aweda, D. A. (1983). Man and society in Africa: an introduction to sociology. London: Longman.
- Ogundare, S. F. (2010). Changes in family types and functions among Yoruba of Southwestern Nigeria since 1960. Journal of GLBT Family Studies, 6(4), 447-457.
- Oppong, G., Monebenimp, F., & Dapi Nzefa, L. (2019). ‘You just have to grin and bear’–emotional suppression among women in polygyny in Cameroon. Culture, health & sexuality, 21(8), 946-956.
- Sidze, E. M., & Defo, B. K. (2013). Effects of parenting practices on sexual risk-taking among young people in Cameroon. BMC public health, 13(1), 1-14.
- Stacey, J., & Thorne, B. (1985). The missing feminist revolution in sociology. Social problems, 32(4), 301-316.
Details
| Primary Language | English |
|---|---|
| Subjects | Family Sociology , Sociology of Family and Relationships, Women's Studies |
| Journal Section | Orjinal Makale |
| Authors | |
| Early Pub Date | November 30, 2024 |
| Publication Date | November 30, 2024 |
| Submission Date | September 26, 2024 |
| Acceptance Date | November 7, 2024 |
| Published in Issue | Year 2024 |