Análise da influência das perceções dos casais sobre a prática de lobolo em relação ao relacionamento abusivo: caso do Bairro de Khongolote

Abstract

This work is entitled, Analysis of the influence of couples' perceptions on the practice of lobolo in relation to abusive relationships: the case of the Khongolote neighborhood, the general objective was to analyze the influence of perceptions of the practice of lobolo on abusive relationships. A mixed-methods approach was chosen, with a greater qualitative bias, and was carried out on a sample of eight (8) participants, of which four (4) women who have been or are in abusive relationships and who have been loboloed and four (4) men who have been or are in abusive relationships and who have practiced lobolo, selected by the convenience sampling technique. As data collection instruments, a socio-demographic questionnaire and a semi-structured interview were used, and it was found that the participants understand that lobolo is a traditional marriage, which involves the payment of a dowry for the acquisition of a wife, the bride's family receives gifts given by the groom's family and in exchange they offer their daughter. Of the participants, the men consider that their lives improved after lobolo (bride price) since they began to be valued, while the women perceive that their lives changed negatively, due to the fact that they began to suffer pressure to have children, being prevented from participating in social groups and the lack of freedom to make decisions, behaviors that they consider abusive. The participants also stated that they believed there was a relationship between lobolo and abusive relationships, based on their experiences, although they consider that there is no way to reverse their current situation because the lobolo has already been consummated. Furthermore, there is a tendency on the part of men to normalize abusive relationships after lobolo, due to their interpretation of the term lobolo as being "the purchase of the woman". However, the following strategies were left in place: that victims of abusive relationships seek psychological assistance and for society, the framing of the role of lobolo to be seen in the context of traditional practices that connect to the spirits of ancestors and the living, and not as a form of power.