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Accepted Paper:
Social and gender norms informing voicing and reporting against sexual harassment among domestic workers in Kampala
Victoria Namuggala
(Makerere University)
Paper short abstract:
Based on a qualitative study, this paper examines the role of cultural and gender norms in voicing and formal reporting relating to sexual harassment drawing on experiences of young female (18-24 years) domestic workers within Kampala.
Paper long abstract:
For the past decade, Uganda has topped Africa's unemployment levels. With a population of over 75% people below 30 years of age, young people's unemployment is a big challenge and approximately 90% of young people find work in the informal economy. As the result of urbanization and increase of working class households, the demand for domestic work increased and many young women, especially migrants, find work as domestic workers. Based on a qualitative study, this paper examines the role of cultural and gender norms in voicing and formal reporting relating to sexual harassment drawing on experiences of young female (18-24 years) domestic workers within Kampala. Their informal employment is precarious: they lack contracts, security and have no avenues for challenging abuse. The paper further elaborates the risk factors leading that create exposure to sexual harassment among live-in domestic workers, like age, education and class. Gender and cultural norms interface with these and other critical identity like job experience and motherhood to further marginalize young domestic workers. Findings indicate that the culture of silence and notions of victim blaming, stigmatization and language restrictions all work to hinder women's voice towards self-care and social justice.
Click the star to add/remove an item to/from your individual schedule.
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Accepted Paper:
Paper short abstract:
Paper long abstract:
For the past decade, Uganda has topped Africa's unemployment levels. With a population of over 75% people below 30 years of age, young people's unemployment is a big challenge and approximately 90% of young people find work in the informal economy. As the result of urbanization and increase of working class households, the demand for domestic work increased and many young women, especially migrants, find work as domestic workers. Based on a qualitative study, this paper examines the role of cultural and gender norms in voicing and formal reporting relating to sexual harassment drawing on experiences of young female (18-24 years) domestic workers within Kampala. Their informal employment is precarious: they lack contracts, security and have no avenues for challenging abuse. The paper further elaborates the risk factors leading that create exposure to sexual harassment among live-in domestic workers, like age, education and class. Gender and cultural norms interface with these and other critical identity like job experience and motherhood to further marginalize young domestic workers. Findings indicate that the culture of silence and notions of victim blaming, stigmatization and language restrictions all work to hinder women's voice towards self-care and social justice.
Gendered urban spaces and security
Session 1 Thursday 7 July, 2022, -