Gender and intergenerational support: the case of Ghanaian women
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21504/sajg.v3i2.44Abstract
Africa must formulate appropriate social welfare policy for the elderly as a matter of urgency. Whether policy formulation takes place without in-depth knowledge of black indigenous structures, or whether it does the contrary and builds upon this knowledge, will have consequences for the whole of Africa. This article addresses the issue of gender and intergenerational support as a policy agenda for African countries. The article focusses on Ghana and examines intergenerational support systems, in particular the intergenerational exchanges between women traders. It also considers the social welfare benefits and contributions that intergenerational support can make. A new approach to the design of social welfare policy is proposed, which recognizes that the problems of the aged are increasingly African problems.References
Apt, N.A. 1991. Who is caring for the elderly in Ghana? BOLD, 1(4): 5-10.
Apt van Ham, N.A. 1991. Activities, care and support of aging women in Africa: a Ghanaian case study. In: Hoskins, I. (Ed.) Older women as beneficiaries of and contributors to development: international perspectives. Washington, DC: American Association of Retired Persons, pp. 87-99.
Apt, N.A. 1992. Ageing in the community: trends and prospects in Africa. Community Development Journal, 27(2): 130-39.
Apt, N.A. 1994. The situation of elderly women in Ghana. Report to the United Nations. New York.
Apt, N.A., Blavo, E. & Opoku, S. 1992. Street children. Accra: University of Ghana. Social Administration Unit.
Apt, N.A. & Grieco, M.S. 1994. Urbanisation, caring for the elderly and the changing African family: the challenge to social welfare and social policy. International Social Security Review, October. (Forthcoming)
Ardayfio-Schandorf, E. 1994. Household headship and women's earnings in Ghana. In: Ardayfio-Schandorf, E. (Ed.) Family and development in Ghana. Accra: Ghana Universities Press, pp. 30-46.
Cutrufelli, M.R. 1983. Women of Africa. Bath, UK: Pitman Press.
Derricourt, N. & Miller, C. 1992. Empowering older people: an urgent task for community development in an ageing world. Community Development Journal, 27(2): 117-21.
Gabianu, A.S. 1990. The Susu credit system: an ingenious way of financing business outside the formal banking system. In: The long-term perspective study of sub-Saharan Africa. Volume 2. Economic and social policy issues. Washington, DC: The World Bank.
Goody, E.N. 1978. Some theoretical and empirical aspects of parenthood in West Africa. In: Oppong, C.O. et al (Eds) Marriage, fertility and parenthood in West Africa. Canberra: Australian National University Press.
Katila, S. 1994. Fieldwork notes on female market traders in Accra. Accra: University of Ghana, Social Administration Unit.
Little. K. 1973. African women in towns: an aspect of Africa's social revolution. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Oppong, C.O. 1994. Some roles of women: what do we know? In: Ardayfio-Schandorf, E. (Ed.) Family and development in Ghana. Accra: Ghana Universities Press.
Turner, J. & Grieco, M.S. Fieldwork notes from the Transpon Research Laboratory/University of Ghana study on gender, travel and household organisation in Accra. Accra: University of Ghana, Social Administration Unit.
United Nations. 1982. Human development report. New York: United Nations.
United Nations. 1991. The world ageing situation 1991. New York: United Nations.
Apt van Ham, N.A. 1991. Activities, care and support of aging women in Africa: a Ghanaian case study. In: Hoskins, I. (Ed.) Older women as beneficiaries of and contributors to development: international perspectives. Washington, DC: American Association of Retired Persons, pp. 87-99.
Apt, N.A. 1992. Ageing in the community: trends and prospects in Africa. Community Development Journal, 27(2): 130-39.
Apt, N.A. 1994. The situation of elderly women in Ghana. Report to the United Nations. New York.
Apt, N.A., Blavo, E. & Opoku, S. 1992. Street children. Accra: University of Ghana. Social Administration Unit.
Apt, N.A. & Grieco, M.S. 1994. Urbanisation, caring for the elderly and the changing African family: the challenge to social welfare and social policy. International Social Security Review, October. (Forthcoming)
Ardayfio-Schandorf, E. 1994. Household headship and women's earnings in Ghana. In: Ardayfio-Schandorf, E. (Ed.) Family and development in Ghana. Accra: Ghana Universities Press, pp. 30-46.
Cutrufelli, M.R. 1983. Women of Africa. Bath, UK: Pitman Press.
Derricourt, N. & Miller, C. 1992. Empowering older people: an urgent task for community development in an ageing world. Community Development Journal, 27(2): 117-21.
Gabianu, A.S. 1990. The Susu credit system: an ingenious way of financing business outside the formal banking system. In: The long-term perspective study of sub-Saharan Africa. Volume 2. Economic and social policy issues. Washington, DC: The World Bank.
Goody, E.N. 1978. Some theoretical and empirical aspects of parenthood in West Africa. In: Oppong, C.O. et al (Eds) Marriage, fertility and parenthood in West Africa. Canberra: Australian National University Press.
Katila, S. 1994. Fieldwork notes on female market traders in Accra. Accra: University of Ghana, Social Administration Unit.
Little. K. 1973. African women in towns: an aspect of Africa's social revolution. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Oppong, C.O. 1994. Some roles of women: what do we know? In: Ardayfio-Schandorf, E. (Ed.) Family and development in Ghana. Accra: Ghana Universities Press.
Turner, J. & Grieco, M.S. Fieldwork notes from the Transpon Research Laboratory/University of Ghana study on gender, travel and household organisation in Accra. Accra: University of Ghana, Social Administration Unit.
United Nations. 1982. Human development report. New York: United Nations.
United Nations. 1991. The world ageing situation 1991. New York: United Nations.
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1994-10-01
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