EARLY CHILDBEARING AND KIN CONNECTIVITY IN RURAL SOUTH AFRICA

Abstract

While overall fertility has declined dramatically in South Africa, adolescent fertility continues to be of concern to researchers and policymakers who see early childbearing as jeopardizing a young woman's life chances. Of particular concern is the diminishing role of fathers in supporting the women and children. In this paper, I examine how young unmarried women and their families establish connections with the child's father and paternal kin such that moral legitimacy is established and material benefits are maximized. Using ethnographic data on 19 young mothers and their families in rural South Africa, I show that most women establish some level of social connectivity with the fathers and paternal kin of their children and are able to access financial support from them. I lowever, there is variation in the strategies that are used and the strength of these connections. I close with a discussion of the rationale behind such strategies and the implications for educational progress and intervention efforts to support young mothers and their children. While overall fertility has been relatively low in South Africa, adolescent fertility

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