Intersectional Factors Influencing Stepmother Roles in Durban, South Africa

Dumile Gumede; Fikile Xaba

doi:10.25159/2708-9355/18624

Authors

Dumile Gumede Durban University of Technology https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8628-5726
Fikile Xaba University of Zululand

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25159/2708-9355/18624

Keywords:

stepmothers, intersectionality, stepfamilies, South Africa, case study

Abstract

Stepfamilies are increasingly common, yet they present unique challenges, particularly for stepmothers as they navigate their roles within these complex systems. While previous studies have examined stepmother experiences, limited research addresses the intersectional factors influencing their roles in the African context. This study explored the multifaceted roles stepmothers assume and the factors that influence these roles within stepfamilies in Durban, South Africa. This study employed a qualitative case study approach. Five stepmothers, aged 18 or older, who were living with a stepchild and had been in this role for at least two years, were selected. Participants were selected through snowball sampling. Data were collected by means of in-depth interviews in isiZulu, and transcribed and translated into English. The intersectionality theory guided thematic analysis. Stepmothers adopted five distinct roles: mother, replacement, kinship keeper, spectator, and troubleshooter. Intersecting factors, including the non-biological identity of stepmothers, the respect and recognition they received, and social stigma, shaped the roles of these stepmothers. Stepmothers’ gendered caregiving expectations and power dynamics intersect with their non-biological identity to create a unique vulnerability. Addressing these dynamics in policy, family practice, and community education is crucial to creating conditions in which stepmothers can engage in caregiving without the burden of stigma, thereby fostering healthier, more equitable family environments.

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