School of Social and Political Sciences - Theses

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Type: PhD thesis × Author: Adu-Gyamfi, Albert ×

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    Gender and the feminisation of poverty: the case of single parenthood in Ghana
    Adu-Gyamfi, Albert ( 2018)
    The issue of single parenthood and how it might contribute to a better understanding of the feminisation of poverty has been relatively unexplored in development studies. This is especially the case with regards to single parenthood within the context of Africa and societies such as Ghana. Based on fieldwork conducted in Ghana, this thesis demonstrates how a sociocultural approach can be used to unpack the complexities of the gendered nature of poverty. By exploring the increasing rate of single parenthood in contemporary Ghanaian society, this research provides the opportunity to both synthesise and critically interrogate the universal validity of the assumptions underpinning the ‘feminisation of poverty’ thesis. Though the research confirms that, as in most societies, women are relatively more disadvantaged than men, the particular nature of the inequalities, and thus the development strategies required for addressing them, necessitate a more nuanced approach. The thesis highlights the extent that cultural specificity is necessary to consider alongside the differential experiences of both men and women as single parents. This is especially necessary given the often taken for granted assumptions that tapping into social capital can serve as a useful tool in addressing the feminisation of poverty. As argued here, social capital, or more specifically social relations, is not only gendered, but also highly individual and complex. Further, I argue that the gendering of poverty is greatly dependent on the complex array of broader societal norms, roles and identities; and the extent to which these are formalised or normalised by the state. This is particularly important given the differential experiences of poverty by single mothers and fathers in relation to inheritance, work, remarriage, and custody and care arrangements for children in Ghana.