Surviving On Their Own: What Determines And At What Age Does A Child Successfully Leave His Parents?
South Africa
Education
With the outbreak of AIDS, especially prominent in places like South Africa, the question has become if the parental home will survive long enough for the child to grow up, rather than when the child leaves it. Though some studies hold that orphans and children with living parents are on the same footing as far as education, other studies have also shown that once a parent dies, the children may have a disadvantage in schooling (5). This is especially true for children who have to migrate after the death of a parent, as they may have trouble fitting into a new community and family (5). In some areas, the AIDS infection is so bad that 41% of pregnant mothers are affected by the HIV infection, and AIDS has caused 73% of female deaths and 61% of male deaths (5). In these areas, the worries about children and migration are real. The real focus is on keeping children alive and well provided for, so that they are able to take part in any education. Children without parents who have nowhere to migrate to may be forced to live on their own in the street, barely surviving. Though these children have technically left the parental home, generally they are not able to survive with sufficient food, water, shelter, and support. They need that parental support in order to be able to successfully leave the home. Education is, however, very important in South Africa. An educated bride brings more bridewealth to her marriage, and shows her economic potential, both with education and an ability to bear children (11). When a higher level of education is reached, it may be important to leave the home in order to carry on that education. This is the area in which orphans and those without means are disadvantaged, as it is much harder for them to get the resources to attend schools that will raise their economic potential.
Marriage
Bridewealth is still an important part of marriage in South Africa, which can sometimes make it hard for women, especially uneducated women, to find marriage (11). Many men in South Africa are already able to provide and looking for specific traits within a wife, who generally leaves her family upon marriage (11). Marriage shows a want to create a life together and raise their own family, so it is generally seen as a time to leave one’s parental home if one has not already done so. However, in some African societies where kin is the major social determinant, it would be normal for a wife to move in with her husband’s family or vice versa. Everything depends on the society of the group in question; their beliefs, practices, and
Initiation Ceremonies
When looking into South Africa, I decided to primarily focus on the ceremonies that take place in less complex societies, as they are far more prevalent and varied than those in large, complex societies. Nomadic peoples, such as food foragers, are the most likely people to hold initiation ceremonies (8). In one study of Africa as a whole, they found 21 different age-set African societies where age groups are recognized and hold formal initiation ceremonies. In these ceremonies, individuals would become adults at a specific age, with a group of their peers, or upon finishing an important task (9). One interesting fact is that there are more ceremonies for girls throughout the globe than there are for boys. This is most likely due to the fact that women have a visible sign of maturity, their first menstruation (8). These ceremonies are more likely to be found in regions in which girls contribute much to the society, or in a bilateral society (8). This is because, with greater responsibilities, they have more need to be recognized and understand themselves as fully having achieved adulthood. For women, this is seen as the sign that they are able to marry and leave their home; for men, it’s a sign that they are capable and able to provide for their family. For Africa in particular, the initiation ceremony is seen as a chance to promote same sex bonding, between primarily men but also between the women that will be raising families, cooking, and spending time together. The men will often be out hunting and so, it is important to create a strong bond between the individual sexes in order to keep the society functioning peacefully (8). Not only do initiation ceremonies recognize adulthood in these cases, but also help to promote and protect the society.
Cultural Variance
It is very important when looking into this society to realize that there are many different tribes and ethnicities, all with different forms of marriage and initiation ceremonies. Even education between these groups is different, given whether the child lives in the city or rural areas. This site cannot possibly look into all of the different customs and practices of every tribe throughout South Africa. Instead, it is meant to give a generalized overview of how certain parts of South Africa practice education, marriage, and initiation rites. While initiation ceremonies may take place only for girls in one part of South Africa, they may only be present for boys one hundred miles away. There is no way to consider at what age all children in South Africa are likely to leave home, because it varies within the culture as much as it does with other cultures. For this reason, it is not possible to find a number to answer this question.
Resources
5.) Ford, Kathleen, and Victoria Hosegood. "AIDS Mortality and the Mobility of Children in Kwazulu Natal, South Africa." Population Association of America, Nov. 2005. JSTOR. Web. 14 Apr. 2010. <http://www.jstor.org/stable/4147338>.
8.) Schlegel, Alice, and Herbert Barry, III. "The Evolutionary Significance of Adolescent Initiation Ceremonies." American Anthropological Association, Nov. 1980. JSTOR. Web. 15 Apr. 2010. <http://www.jstor.org/stable/643477>.
9.) Hogan, Dennis P., and Nan Marie Astone. "The Transition to Adulthood." Annual Reviews, 1986. JSTOR. Web. 15 Apr. 2010. <http://www.jstor.org/stable/2083197>.
11.) Kaufman, Carol E., Thea de Wet, and Jonathon Stadler. "Adolescent Pregnancy and Parenthood in South Africa." Population Council, June 2001. JSTOR. Web. 20 Apr. 2010. <http://www.jstor.org/stable/2696343>.
8.) Schlegel, Alice, and Herbert Barry, III. "The Evolutionary Significance of Adolescent Initiation Ceremonies." American Anthropological Association, Nov. 1980. JSTOR. Web. 15 Apr. 2010. <http://www.jstor.org/stable/643477>.
9.) Hogan, Dennis P., and Nan Marie Astone. "The Transition to Adulthood." Annual Reviews, 1986. JSTOR. Web. 15 Apr. 2010. <http://www.jstor.org/stable/2083197>.
11.) Kaufman, Carol E., Thea de Wet, and Jonathon Stadler. "Adolescent Pregnancy and Parenthood in South Africa." Population Council, June 2001. JSTOR. Web. 20 Apr. 2010. <http://www.jstor.org/stable/2696343>.
