Families and Households in Post-Apartheid South Africa: Socio-Demographic Perspectives

Prior to South Africa's democratic transition in 1994, studies of families and households were limited by the structure of apartheid and the lack of adequate social and economic data. Large social changes since that time have had a profound effect on public-policy planning and service delivery, and this monograph takes a new look at the lingering effects of colonialism and apartheid on South African families, as well as their economic gains. Experts from the fields of demographics, economics, psychology, and sociology report their findings on living arrangements across rural and urban divides; on access to toilets, electricity, water, and housing; on rates of marriage and divorce; on fertility and infant mortality; and on the housework and other chores performed by children.