The Widow’s Room A journey from cultural oppression to freedom, by Mbangiseni Dzivhani

BOOK SUMMARY

This book highlights the plight of women who are widows in the African cultures. It is a memoir reflecting on personal experiences of the author. The book exposes ill cultural practices, myths, traditions, beliefs and societal expectations towards women who are widows. The author highlights some of the harmful, cultural practices; physical and psychological trauma, and the disregard for widows’ legal and marital rights. It exposes isolation and exclusion of widows from decision making, property grabbing, arranged marriages and gross human rights violations of women who are widows. Furthermore, the book highlights the role of women in gross violation and abuse of other women who are widows in the name of culture and religion. This is a story about a woman who survived the worst experiences as a widow and managed to rebuild her life, succeeded in her career and became a powerful force in society to empower and support other women.

AUTHOR BIO

Mbangiseni obtained her masters degree in community health at the University of Johannesburg. For twenty years she worked in various NGOs for women, managing programmes of gender equality, violence against women and children, capacity building, material development, gender mainstreaming, and advocacy and activism. She has served in the Presidency in the Ministry of Women, Children and People with Disabilities as the Director and Chief Director for eight years. During this time she participated in various international forums including the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in New York, The Southern African Development Community (SADC), Parliamentary Portfolio Committees and Cabinet. She successfully lead the development and ratification of Gender Protocol in SADC Heads of State in 2008 under the chairmanship of President Thabo Mbeki. Dzivhani is a widow with two daughters and currently managing a company that focuses on socio-economic empowerment for women.