Dispelling the
Myths
It
is generally assumed that widows in developing countries are supported
by their extended families or by adult sons; that they quickly, voluntarily
re-marry a kin member, and that they are mostly elderly women cared
for in the community.
The
facts demonstrate that this is far from the case:
- On
the death of their husband they rarely have the right to inherit his
property; they are frquently evicted from their home, have their property
grabbed and their children torn from them; destitution is therefore
the lot of millions in countries where social security and national
pensions are non-existent.
- Even
where laws do officially grant widows inheritance and other rights,
few widows are aware of these. Widows are victims of the conflicts and
confusion concerning the relationship between patriarchal customary,
religious and modern law, and the local court's monopoly over all disputes
concerning family and land issues.
- Widows
are particularly vulnerable to violence, sexual abuse and rape. Domestic
violence is common especially at the hands of their husband's male relatives,
and in connection with property grabbing.
- Coercive
traditional burial and mourning rites are often degrading and harmful
to widows, and frequently involve non-consensual sexual activity and
extreme limitations on personal freedom.
- Eviction,
homelessness, illiteracy, poverty and destitution force widows and their
children into the most exploitative areas of informal sector work such
as domestic service and prostitution.
- The
precariousness of widows' lives often results in their children being
deprived of education. Daughters are especially vulnerable, and their
lack of education and training often propels them into too early marriage
and consequent early widowhood.
- Thousands
of widows are very young, many being mere children.
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