Feminine futures: female initiation and aspiration in matrilineal Malawi

• DOI: 10.1111/1467-9655.12917
• Publication Date: 2018-09-27T11:14:59Z
• Authors: Jessica Johnson
• Keywords: Redress

Abstract A vibrant recent literature documents the challenges of achieving social adulthood in context economic decline and high youth unemployment Africa beyond. Those who have already made this transition, however, tend to reside margins these texts, casting disapproving shadows. This article seeks redress balance by focusing on significant efforts adults shape young girls’ transitions adult womanhood. In rural Malawi, takes form female initiation rites, which been adapted include messages about importance formal education potential benefits ‘waithood’. Rather than constituting a problem, delayed marriage is lauded as an alternative real limbo entailed early childbearing widespread poverty. Subtle alterations rites are thus embraced attempt guide women towards more desirable future, at same time they prepared, moral practical terms, for lives much like their elders.