Articles · Vol. 19 No. 1 (2015): African Sociological Review · Pages 43-62

Family Structure, Race, Gender and Poverty: The Case of Food Deprivation in South Africa

  • Acheampong Yaw Amoateng
    Acheampong Yaw Amoateng https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3320-116X (unauthenticated)
    Research Professor of Sociology and Family Studies and the Director of the Research Focus Area in Population and Health in the Faculty of Humanities Studies, North-West University (Mafikeng Campus). Consulted for such multilateral organizations as the United Nations Economic...
    Their articles →
  • Boitumelo Marilyn Patience Setlalentoa
    Boitumelo Marilyn Patience Setlalentoa
    Faculty of Human and Social Sciences North-West University, Mafikeng Campus. South Africa
    Their articles →
Vol. 19 · 2015 No. 1 African Sociological Review ASR

Abstract

This study sought to examine the relationship between race, family structure and gender on one
hand, and food deprivation as a measure of poverty on the other hand in South Africa. Main
effects were found for race, residence, presence of children and adults, while interaction effect
was found for race and family structure. Whites, and to a large extent Indians/Asians, were
less likely to experience food deprivation, while black Africans and coloureds were most likely
to experience food deprivation. Couple-headed households were the least likely to experience
food deprivation, compared to households headed by either male or female. Finally, the presence
of children and the elderly in a household was negatively associated with food deprivation, a
finding which supports the view that most poor families in the country depend on social grants
to children and the elderly for survival.

Keywords

Households Social grants Children Elderly Labour migration

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Author Biographies

  • Acheampong Yaw Amoateng

    Research Professor of Sociology and Family Studies and the Director of the Research Focus Area in Population and Health in the Faculty of Humanities Studies, North-West University (Mafikeng Campus). Consulted for such multilateral organizations as the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, the African Union, the World Health Organization and the World Scout Bureau. Nominated by the African Union in 2011 to be part of the Country Mission to Zambia to assess that country under the African Peer Review Programme. Published widely in high-impact national and international journals and has written several chapters in books/monographs. Research focus and interest in and written widely in the area of Adolescent and Youth development in sub-Saharan Africa.

  • Boitumelo Marilyn Patience Setlalentoa

    Faculty of Human and Social Sciences North-West University, Mafikeng Campus. South Africa

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