Abstract

This work addresses changes in family gender roles among southern Sudanese refugee families in Cairo. Its objectives are to bring to light the feelings, perceptions and views mostly among married men about the experiences of their lives in exile, how they feel when they could not perform their male gender roles but are forced by circumstances to perform female gender roles in the family when their wives are away working as domestic servants to earn incomes for their families. Its also examines husband-wife relations, decision-making, authority and power in the family in relation to the role of breadwinner. The study employs the following theories; role theory, gender role theory and the resource-bargaining theory to offer an explanation for how authority, power and the role of a provider affect conjugal relations. This work is the result of a fieldwork I conducted at the end of September to mid November of the year 2001 among displaced southern Sudanese families I interviewed respondents and carried out Participant Observations during visits to families and Church compounds. I contacted twenty-nine males and six females who were all married. This qualitative research was based on the techniques including; in­depth interviews, focus group discussions and participant observation. Respondents are selected by their being available at the time. The study reveals that men's unemployed status and their inability to provide for their family tends to weaken their authority and power in the family. Women, on the other hand have become income earners and providers of the family and have gain great influence in the family than their were back in Sudan when they had no incomes of their own and were depending on their husbands. Unemployment forced men to stay at home and that has increased their level of participation in the domestic chores but they have considered that this role change and women's gain in decision-making, authority and power is temporary. Although they did not admit that family authority and power has shifted from them to women, they are generally afraid of environments that deprive them from their traditional roles and control over their wives.

School

School of Humanities and Social Sciences

Date of Award

2-1-2002

Online Submission Date

1-1-2001

First Advisor

Anita Hausermann Fabos

Committee Member 1

Anita Hausermann Fabos

Committee Member 2

Nazek Nossier

Committee Member 3

Nicholas Hopkins

Document Type

Thesis

Extent

117 leaves

Library of Congress Subject Heading 1

Sudanese

Library of Congress Subject Heading 2

Refugees

Rights

The American University in Cairo grants authors of theses and dissertations a maximum embargo period of two years from the date of submission, upon request. After the embargo elapses, these documents are made available publicly. If you are the author of this thesis or dissertation, and would like to request an exceptional extension of the embargo period, please write to thesisadmin@aucegypt.edu

Call Number

Thesis 2001/84

Location

mmbk

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