Marriage in Contemporary Zimbabwe

The book provides a social analysis of marriage in contemporary Zimbabwe, highlighting how the institution is changing and evolving in the face of societal factors such as globalisation, technology, increased migration, religious plurality and shifting cultural systems.

Marriage has always occupied a profound cultural and social significance in Zimbabwean society, but the forms and meanings attached to marriage have changed in recent decades. This book traces the evolution of Zimbabwean marriages from traditional pre-colonial customs into the diverse modern practices seen today. Drawing on rich qualitative insights from across urban, rural, and diaspora communities, the book explores the shift in traditional ascribed gender roles, and the complex negotiations between persisting tradition and emerging modern influences like women’s empowerment, partner choice, and divorce. It explores changes in childrearing and the dissolution of the extended family networks that once governed marriages and provided mutual support. The book also explores broader societal transformations such as urban migration and westernisation, and the impact of socioeconomic challenges such as HIV/AIDS, COVID-19, poverty, and economic hardship.

Students and scholars of Zimbabwean history, culture, gender, and the family will find this book essential for understanding the continuities and evolutions of the marriage institution in Zimbabwe.