Women of Phokeng

Women of Phokeng is a study of a group of 22 black South African women, all born before 1915 in Phokeng, a small town in the Western Transvaal. Belinda Bozzoli follows and records their lives: as domestic workers in the city, their building of strong family life in townships, where they brew beer illicitly to support their families, and finally we see them return to Phokeng, to survive on meagre pensions.

Bozzoli’s intention in conducting the study was to examine the broad processes and events that shaped the experiences of these woman as black South Africans; to explore the specific ways in which their gender effected their lives and, most importantly, to study the forms of consciousness they express in their own interpretations of their histories.

A fascinating and insightful academic study.