When schoolgirls become mothers: reflections from a selected group of teenage girls in Durban
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Date
2013-03
Authors
Bhana, Deevia
Mcambi, Sithembile Judith
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Faculty of Education, University of the Free State
Abstract
Schools are obliged to support young women who become mothers. Drawing from an interview study of
young women in a Durban school, this article shows how their experience is situated within discourses
of shame and stigma. Such shame works to reduce their agency and increase their vulnerability to drop
out of school. Both teachers and peers are complicit in this. The participants argue that schools do
not support the management of pregnancy, parenting and learning, with negative effects for learning
outcomes. However, schools are not only sites of social reproduction, since the participants point to
glimmers of hope as a consequence of care work among friends, some teachers and support groups in
the school. The article argues that the experience of pregnancy and parenting is highly gendered, and
addressing the challenges requires a commitment to gender equality and justice. Some implications for
schools are suggested in the conclusion of the article.
Description
Keywords
Girls, Pregnancy, Young mothers, Schooling, Sexual shame, Teachers, Peers, Disruption, Care work
Citation
Bhana, D., & Mcambi, S. J. (2013). When schoolgirls become mothers: reflections from a selected group of teenage girls in Durban. Perspectives in Education, 31(1), 11-19.