A Widow’s marriage is a sensitive issue in many parts of the world. Different social and cultural patterns are observed among communities and societies. Some restrict them from getting remarried and some force them to enter into a marital contract.
However, modernization and globalization are changing the attitude of people around the world. It has influenced cultural patterns and social setups. Consequently, governmental policies are now more concerned with providing equal human rights. Hence, the issues of widows are now taken into consideration by non-governmental organizations, civil society, and policy-makers.
According to an estimate, 1 in 10 women of material age is widowed. This number is estimated to increase after COVID-19 and increase in conflicted areas such as the war in Palestine and Ukraine. The parentage of widows in developing countries is estimated to be higher due to poor social and economic conditions.
Learn more about Barriers that Stop Widows from Getting Remarried
Afghanistan
According to the United Nations in 2001, two million women entered widowhood in Afghanistan due to war. Among these 40,000 widows were in Kabul. A Huge number of these widows live below the poverty line because they are unskilled, uneducated, and jobless.
Afghan widows are forced to remarry to their deceased husband’s brother or a close relative to keep the property inherited by the widow, within the family. Her denial of remarrying her husband’s relative can risk losing her children.
Though national and Sharia (Islamic) laws are against forced marriages still, widows face these traditional harmful practices. Widows living in Afghanistan have less control over their lives than widows in other developing countries.
Africa
Widows living in Africa also face severe nature of discrimination and violence in their routine lives. Widows belonging to any ethnic group, religion, or class are customarily oppressed, exploited, and abused by their in-laws.
A widow is deprived of her husband’s property. She is projected to perform traditional and customary duties toward her late husband. By fulfilling the traditions she is permitted to live in her home.
Moreover, they are not privileged from their husband’s property and face discrimination in inheritance. Sometimes widows are even deprived of their children. Poor widows with low social and economic status earn money through begging or prostitution.
Some widows let their children do the same work to earn a livelihood. In some racial groups widows are forced to go through humiliating and shameful rituals such as the practice of cleansing by sex, the practice of levirate or widow inheritance also known as bride inheritance.
Learn about Challenges Faced by Widows Around the World
China
In traditional Chinese families, a woman is controlled by her in-laws even after the death of her husband. Therefore, the remarriage of a widow depends on the permission granted by her in-laws.
Furthermore, if a widow remarries she is excluded from her husband’s property and has no claim on her children. Remarriage of widows, in China, from the 12th to 19th century was considered a taboo. Gradually things changed, and due to socio-economic changes and modernization, attitudes of people towards remarriage changed in cities.
Moreover, widows marriage is even encouraged by the government of China. However, in some rural areas, widows are still expected to remain chaste. In 1999, a survey was conducted regarding the remarriage of widows, in which four thousand elderly people gave their opinion among which six hundred were widows and widowers.
It was found that 46 percent of the respondents were in full favor of the remarriage of elderly widows and widowers, whereas 68 percent of widows and widowers showed their interest in remarriage.
Latin-America
Widows living in America are not bound to follow ritual cultural norms as widows in Asia and Africa are forced to do so. However, they face subordination, oppression, and discrimination because of male chauvinism.
Widows with low economic status face problems, especially in old age when they are left alone. It is because their children move to other places leaving them on their own with no economic support.
Research done by “Help Age International” appreciated the important roles of elderly widows in providing social support to their families. However widows are gradually losing their importance among families because of traditional cultural destruction.
India
Widows living in India have always captured the attention of people across the globe due to rigid customary practices. This includes child widows, the austere widows, and lastly, the widows who are burned at their husband’s pyre.
Around 33 million widows live in India, which is the highest recorded figure in the world. This means that 10 percent of the female population in India is a widow. According to the 1991 census in India, 12 percent of middle-aged women were widows and 55 percent of elderly women were widows.
Widows marriage in Indian society is not encouraged due to strict social norms. Remarriage of widows is restricted among higher castes of Hindus, who even seclude widows from society. However, widows of lower castes are allowed to remarry.
Nepal
Like other cultural patterns, discussed above, traditionally remarriage of widows in Nepal was also restricted by Brahmin during 1000 AD. Because only virgins were allowed to become brides and get married.
Further, Sati was widely practiced and it was essential for widows to commit it. Later in the nineteenth century, widows having children were forbidden to commit Sati, but still, they were not allowed to remarry.
Traditions changed and with the passage of time and later widows were allowed to remarry but without having any ceremony. And if a widow entered into a marital relationship her children would stay with her deceased husband’s family.
Pakistan
Hindu social and cultural norms influence the culture and society of Pakistan. Even though the country is independent now, still the cultural practices, in one way or another, resemble Hindu culture.
Widowhood for a Pakistani woman is a condition of extreme distress and a stigma. They face extreme poverty because of no financial source. One of the major problem is their survival which becomes difficult even with children.
A few numbers of women including widows own property or productive assets. Among whom mostly are at the risk to be exploited by male family members in this patriarchal society.
Like other societies, widows face social and cultural restrictions that discourage them from getting remarried. Even though, the law and religion encourage them to enter into a marital contract and enjoy their life in every way.
Concluding Remarks
Widows still face oppression because of male dominance. Despite all the national and international laws that provide equal status to men and women and protect women from all kinds of violence.
Arm conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq, Kashmir, Palestine, Ukraine, and other parts of the world have resulted in several young women entering widowhood. Moreover, numerous women who are unaware of their marital status. They don’t know whether they are married or widowed because they are wives of missing men.
Along with this, reports on widows reveal their low social and economic status, isolation, and low esteem. They face physical and physiological problems and become a victim of loneliness. These are some of the challenges that increase their vulnerability.
To overcome these problems widows marriage should be encouraged. Also because they are human beings who have feelings and are entitled to enjoy their lives. Policymakers should initiate advocacy projects to change the social and cultural patterns that encourage widow marriage.