Paper short abstract:

This paper explores Maputo upper class's specific dynamics of intimate relationships, social mobility, family pressure and economic and political interest in shaping internal dynamics of relationship, specifically in regards to intimate violence.

Paper long abstract:

In late 2016 the daughter of the Mozambique's preceding president was killed by her husband. In 2015, the daughter of the first Mozambican president was blinded and she accuses the ex-partner of attacking her. These two incidents raised interest to deepen my research on dynamics of relationships among the well-off in Maputo.

My results indicated that financial stability and education together with non-heteronormative sexual practices and notions of sexual pleasure within this group of young adults prompt timid transformations in gender praxis, thus denoting more equity and more autonomous sexual lives for women. However, these dynamics are mediated by ideas of monogamy and gendered notions related to "tradition" and "modernity" as well as "(non-) African-ness". The juxtaposition of these opposing value-systems creates a complex scenario in which sexual-romantic-intimate relationships are being constantly (re-)negotiated via control, silence, pressure, public demonstrations of love, violence, humiliation, tests, and even blackmail and witchcraft.

This paper expands the conclusions of such research and explores specific dynamics of the relationships, social mobility, family pressure and economic and political interest in shaping internal dynamics of relationship, specifically in regards to intimate violence.