Introduction This paper applies queer theory--particularly disruption in opposition to normativit... more Introduction This paper applies queer theory--particularly disruption in opposition to normativity-to analyze a Kenyan Television Network ducosoap, The Real Househelps of Kawangware (RHOK). Docusoap deploys observational documentary techniques wedded to the serial narratives of soap opera (Hill, 2005). For example, it follows non-professional actors or actresses through narrative material meant to entertain viewers. It depicts individuals in love, agonizing situations, and stereotypical narratives. In the USA examples of the docusoap include The Real Housewives (2006-), Keeping Up with the Kardashians (2007-) and Duck Dynasty (2012-). Reflecting vibrant, dynamic, growing multilingual reality of Kenya, RHOK is quintessentially Nairobian, and Kenyan. Strikingly, the RHOK mirrors the grandeur and drama of RHOK and plays into the extreme tropes about what everyday life looks like and is seemingly voyeuristic. For example, "househelp" is a term that fuses a brand of Kenyan jarg...
Angela Oyange who bravely survived and adapted to a new life with a student mother. A special tha... more Angela Oyange who bravely survived and adapted to a new life with a student mother. A special thank you to my family, especially my parents, the late Simon Rombo and Mrs. Annah Rombo for nurturing my desire for education. I am grateful to my siblings for keeping me on track by asking, "When are you getting done?" I knew that I had to get done. Two of my strongest supporters who have seen the completion from the spirit world are my late husband, Musa Odero, and late father, Simon Rombo. They are rejoicing with me! To all those who supported me in one way or another, but are not mentioned: Accept my thank you. iii DEDICATION This dissertation is dedicated to the women of Africa, who live with the hope that it shall be better each day.
Women's Emancipation and Civil Society Organisations, 2017
In this chapter, the authors apply African feminist lenses to evaluate the activities of the Maen... more In this chapter, the authors apply African feminist lenses to evaluate the activities of the Maendeleo ya Wanawake Organisation to determine its role in the emancipation of Kenyan women. Maendeleo has gone through difficult periods based on social, cultural, and identity politics within the organisation as well as in response to the shifting national political landscape. However, despite these challenges and contradictions, Maendeleo has been a conduit for elite women to attain political leadership positions, has provided economic assistance to women in some regions, developed a programme for eradicating female genital cutting while sustaining the rite of passage in the eastern province, participated in international conferences and played social and political roles in changing the status of Kenyan women’s rights. Still, the extent to which Maendeleo has achieved emancipation for women is negligible.
Abstract This study utilized thematic content analysis and a partial ecological model to analyze ... more Abstract This study utilized thematic content analysis and a partial ecological model to analyze qualitative data drawn from focus group discussions with first-generation immigrant parents from Cameroon, Kenya, and Somalia from the Twin City area of Minnesota. (Twin Cities: the cities of Saint Paul and Minneapolis are adjacent to each other, with Saint Paul located on the west bank and Minneapolis on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the state of Minnesota.) Results indicate that macro-time or chronosystem levels in the event of immigration had the most influence on parental perceptions. Hence, contextual changes that made “parenting” challenging were attributed to immigration. Variations were partly due to the reasons for migrating. Cameroonians and Kenyans migrated mainly for economic reasons and held perspectives that emphasized how the contextual change had influenced their parental roles. Cameroonians pointed to the impact of the exosystem on the perceived role of the child welfare system in the context of “parenting in fear.” Kenyans emphasized micro-time, meso-time, and macrosystem factors as influencing interactions with their children and hoped to benefit from what they perceived as the best of both worlds. Somalis identified both challenges and benefits from public assistance received due to their refugee status.
There are myriad challenges facing Kenyan families today that include: poverty; HIV/AIDS; illiter... more There are myriad challenges facing Kenyan families today that include: poverty; HIV/AIDS; illiteracy; unemployment and gender inequality; infant, childhood and maternal mortality; and obsolete traditional marriage and family laws. However, the Kenyan family as an institution has survived and stood the test of time. Strong families exist and respond positively and effectively to contemporary challenges. They are cohesive, adaptive, and use communication within the social spheres which provide the context for positive interaction. Strategies that support strong families in Kenya include: promotion of family values; communitarianism in form of familism and collectivism; extended kin and family social system; communal child rearing; care of
We have analyzed the impact of Section 6 of The Kenya HIV and AIDS Prevention Act on Kenyan famil... more We have analyzed the impact of Section 6 of The Kenya HIV and AIDS Prevention Act on Kenyan families and especially within marriage. In 2006 Kenya passed two bills into law: The Kenya HIV and AIDS Prevention Act and The Sexual Offences Act. The latter addresses sexual offenses including rape, incest and other acts of sexual violence and relates to the Prevention Act in that HIV infection may be transmitted during a sexual offense. Section 6 of the Prevention Act focuses on the sensitive issue of secondary and tertiary transmission of HIV. Although protection is accorded to individuals living with HIV, this section of the law places responsibility on this group to reduce infections among positive individuals as well as the spread of infection between spouses {when only one partner is positive} by criminalizing recklessness leading to HIV infection. By asking questions proposed in the family impact analysis such as, does the law enhance family stability, and commitment or does it acknowledge diverse family forms, interdependence and target vulnerable groups, the framework allows us to examine the impact of Section 6 of the law on families. Under the FIA framework, the ability of The Prevention Act to enhance family functions, promote wellbeing, marital stability, commitment and responsibility is considered while taking into account the contextual realities in Kenya.
Handbook of Research on Women's Issues and Rights in the Developing World, 2018
This chapter traces a history of domestic workers both within, and to a lesser degree without, Ke... more This chapter traces a history of domestic workers both within, and to a lesser degree without, Kenya. Reading from international policy platforms—including the United Nations and various international non-governmental organizations—as well as academic research, Kenyan government policy documents, and online sources like blogs and periodicals that reveal this history and frame content addressing domestic workers, the authors develop an image of the situation of domestic work in Kenya. We identified missing protections of rights and made other policy recommendations in light of that situation. Using intersectionality to disclose how the different identities of gender, class, socioeconomic status, and ethnic identification (socially imposed or individually emphasized) of domestic workers in Kenya simultaneously clash and collude, workers nonetheless remain embedded within layers of marginalization that make the very circumstance of their work more challenging for upholding the human ri...
This study investigated African diaspora parenting in the United States. Three different sources ... more This study investigated African diaspora parenting in the United States. Three different sources of data were analyzed: parents' focus group discussions, interviews from children and parents, and YouTube videos made by African immigrant children living in the United States. This study applied the thematic analysis methodology, and the results validate other studies that found that parenting is influenced by culture. The results also show that African immigrant parents in the United States use abstract yet multifaceted approaches to parenting, while their children acculturate faster but are also aware of their African cultural heritage. Overall, this chapter underscores the importance of triangulation in studying ethnic minority groups, not only in the way that it precludes lumping their stories together, but also how this method reduces bias and increases the relevance of data.
African beauty salons are important institutions within the African and African American communit... more African beauty salons are important institutions within the African and African American community and can be found in nearly every city and community where African immigrants have settled. This study utilizes content review and a single case study to explore the pathways to African women's entrepreneurship and business sustainability within the care industry of hair braiding. The authors applied the push and pull theory to illuminate the “non-choice” of salon entrepreneurship for educated African immigrant women. In general, the study shows the efforts of one entrepreneur to fit the unique exigencies of (African) hair braiding to local (western) business requirements. The study identifies how better accommodation of those exigencies would less inhibit this form of African women's entrepreneurship in general and thus benefit local communities at large through more sustainable service delivery, increased revenue flow, and infrastructural support for immigrants in general.
Advances in Electronic Government, Digital Divide, and Regional Development, 2018
This chapter traces a history of domestic workers both within, and to a lesser degree without, Ke... more This chapter traces a history of domestic workers both within, and to a lesser degree without, Kenya. Reading from international policy platforms-including the United Nations and various international non-governmental organizations-as well as academic research, Kenyan government policy documents, and online sources like blogs and periodicals that reveal this history and frame content addressing domestic workers, the authors develop an image of the situation of domestic work in Kenya. We identified missing protections of rights and made other policy recommendations in light of that situation. Using intersectionality to disclose how the different identities of gender, class, socioeconomic status, and ethnic identification (socially imposed or individually emphasized) of domestic workers in Kenya simultaneously clash and collude, workers nonetheless remain embedded within layers of marginalization that make the very circumstance of their work more challenging for upholding the human rights of these employees. By calling attention to the destiny of migrant domestic workers in comparison to local Kenyan domestics and linking to the present international push to protect migrant domestic workers, then, not only discloses but also hints at how the needs and interests of domestic Kenyan workers may be better met, respected, and protected. It suggests future work as well aimed at prompting an acknowledgment of, and policy changes with respect to, the basic human rights of other subaltern populations.
This study utilized thematic content analysis and a partial ecological model to analyze qualitati... more This study utilized thematic content analysis and a partial ecological model to analyze qualitative data drawn from focus group discussions with first-generation immigrant parents from Cameroon, Kenya, and Somalia from the Twin City area of Minnesota. (Twin Cities: the cities of Saint Paul and Minneapolis are adjacent to each other, with Saint Paul located on the west bank and Minneapolis on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the state of Minnesota.) Results indicate that macro-time or chronosystem levels in the event of immigration had the most influence on parental perceptions. Hence, contextual changes that made “parenting” challenging were attributed to immigration. Variations were partly due to the reasons for migrating. Cameroonians and Kenyans migrated mainly for economic reasons and held perspectives that emphasized how the contextual change had influenced their parental roles. Cameroonians pointed to the impact of the exosystem on the perceived role of the child welf...
Introduction This paper applies queer theory--particularly disruption in opposition to normativit... more Introduction This paper applies queer theory--particularly disruption in opposition to normativity-to analyze a Kenyan Television Network ducosoap, The Real Househelps of Kawangware (RHOK). Docusoap deploys observational documentary techniques wedded to the serial narratives of soap opera (Hill, 2005). For example, it follows non-professional actors or actresses through narrative material meant to entertain viewers. It depicts individuals in love, agonizing situations, and stereotypical narratives. In the USA examples of the docusoap include The Real Housewives (2006-), Keeping Up with the Kardashians (2007-) and Duck Dynasty (2012-). Reflecting vibrant, dynamic, growing multilingual reality of Kenya, RHOK is quintessentially Nairobian, and Kenyan. Strikingly, the RHOK mirrors the grandeur and drama of RHOK and plays into the extreme tropes about what everyday life looks like and is seemingly voyeuristic. For example, "househelp" is a term that fuses a brand of Kenyan jarg...
Angela Oyange who bravely survived and adapted to a new life with a student mother. A special tha... more Angela Oyange who bravely survived and adapted to a new life with a student mother. A special thank you to my family, especially my parents, the late Simon Rombo and Mrs. Annah Rombo for nurturing my desire for education. I am grateful to my siblings for keeping me on track by asking, "When are you getting done?" I knew that I had to get done. Two of my strongest supporters who have seen the completion from the spirit world are my late husband, Musa Odero, and late father, Simon Rombo. They are rejoicing with me! To all those who supported me in one way or another, but are not mentioned: Accept my thank you. iii DEDICATION This dissertation is dedicated to the women of Africa, who live with the hope that it shall be better each day.
Women's Emancipation and Civil Society Organisations, 2017
In this chapter, the authors apply African feminist lenses to evaluate the activities of the Maen... more In this chapter, the authors apply African feminist lenses to evaluate the activities of the Maendeleo ya Wanawake Organisation to determine its role in the emancipation of Kenyan women. Maendeleo has gone through difficult periods based on social, cultural, and identity politics within the organisation as well as in response to the shifting national political landscape. However, despite these challenges and contradictions, Maendeleo has been a conduit for elite women to attain political leadership positions, has provided economic assistance to women in some regions, developed a programme for eradicating female genital cutting while sustaining the rite of passage in the eastern province, participated in international conferences and played social and political roles in changing the status of Kenyan women’s rights. Still, the extent to which Maendeleo has achieved emancipation for women is negligible.
Abstract This study utilized thematic content analysis and a partial ecological model to analyze ... more Abstract This study utilized thematic content analysis and a partial ecological model to analyze qualitative data drawn from focus group discussions with first-generation immigrant parents from Cameroon, Kenya, and Somalia from the Twin City area of Minnesota. (Twin Cities: the cities of Saint Paul and Minneapolis are adjacent to each other, with Saint Paul located on the west bank and Minneapolis on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the state of Minnesota.) Results indicate that macro-time or chronosystem levels in the event of immigration had the most influence on parental perceptions. Hence, contextual changes that made “parenting” challenging were attributed to immigration. Variations were partly due to the reasons for migrating. Cameroonians and Kenyans migrated mainly for economic reasons and held perspectives that emphasized how the contextual change had influenced their parental roles. Cameroonians pointed to the impact of the exosystem on the perceived role of the child welfare system in the context of “parenting in fear.” Kenyans emphasized micro-time, meso-time, and macrosystem factors as influencing interactions with their children and hoped to benefit from what they perceived as the best of both worlds. Somalis identified both challenges and benefits from public assistance received due to their refugee status.
There are myriad challenges facing Kenyan families today that include: poverty; HIV/AIDS; illiter... more There are myriad challenges facing Kenyan families today that include: poverty; HIV/AIDS; illiteracy; unemployment and gender inequality; infant, childhood and maternal mortality; and obsolete traditional marriage and family laws. However, the Kenyan family as an institution has survived and stood the test of time. Strong families exist and respond positively and effectively to contemporary challenges. They are cohesive, adaptive, and use communication within the social spheres which provide the context for positive interaction. Strategies that support strong families in Kenya include: promotion of family values; communitarianism in form of familism and collectivism; extended kin and family social system; communal child rearing; care of
We have analyzed the impact of Section 6 of The Kenya HIV and AIDS Prevention Act on Kenyan famil... more We have analyzed the impact of Section 6 of The Kenya HIV and AIDS Prevention Act on Kenyan families and especially within marriage. In 2006 Kenya passed two bills into law: The Kenya HIV and AIDS Prevention Act and The Sexual Offences Act. The latter addresses sexual offenses including rape, incest and other acts of sexual violence and relates to the Prevention Act in that HIV infection may be transmitted during a sexual offense. Section 6 of the Prevention Act focuses on the sensitive issue of secondary and tertiary transmission of HIV. Although protection is accorded to individuals living with HIV, this section of the law places responsibility on this group to reduce infections among positive individuals as well as the spread of infection between spouses {when only one partner is positive} by criminalizing recklessness leading to HIV infection. By asking questions proposed in the family impact analysis such as, does the law enhance family stability, and commitment or does it acknowledge diverse family forms, interdependence and target vulnerable groups, the framework allows us to examine the impact of Section 6 of the law on families. Under the FIA framework, the ability of The Prevention Act to enhance family functions, promote wellbeing, marital stability, commitment and responsibility is considered while taking into account the contextual realities in Kenya.
Handbook of Research on Women's Issues and Rights in the Developing World, 2018
This chapter traces a history of domestic workers both within, and to a lesser degree without, Ke... more This chapter traces a history of domestic workers both within, and to a lesser degree without, Kenya. Reading from international policy platforms—including the United Nations and various international non-governmental organizations—as well as academic research, Kenyan government policy documents, and online sources like blogs and periodicals that reveal this history and frame content addressing domestic workers, the authors develop an image of the situation of domestic work in Kenya. We identified missing protections of rights and made other policy recommendations in light of that situation. Using intersectionality to disclose how the different identities of gender, class, socioeconomic status, and ethnic identification (socially imposed or individually emphasized) of domestic workers in Kenya simultaneously clash and collude, workers nonetheless remain embedded within layers of marginalization that make the very circumstance of their work more challenging for upholding the human ri...
This study investigated African diaspora parenting in the United States. Three different sources ... more This study investigated African diaspora parenting in the United States. Three different sources of data were analyzed: parents' focus group discussions, interviews from children and parents, and YouTube videos made by African immigrant children living in the United States. This study applied the thematic analysis methodology, and the results validate other studies that found that parenting is influenced by culture. The results also show that African immigrant parents in the United States use abstract yet multifaceted approaches to parenting, while their children acculturate faster but are also aware of their African cultural heritage. Overall, this chapter underscores the importance of triangulation in studying ethnic minority groups, not only in the way that it precludes lumping their stories together, but also how this method reduces bias and increases the relevance of data.
African beauty salons are important institutions within the African and African American communit... more African beauty salons are important institutions within the African and African American community and can be found in nearly every city and community where African immigrants have settled. This study utilizes content review and a single case study to explore the pathways to African women's entrepreneurship and business sustainability within the care industry of hair braiding. The authors applied the push and pull theory to illuminate the “non-choice” of salon entrepreneurship for educated African immigrant women. In general, the study shows the efforts of one entrepreneur to fit the unique exigencies of (African) hair braiding to local (western) business requirements. The study identifies how better accommodation of those exigencies would less inhibit this form of African women's entrepreneurship in general and thus benefit local communities at large through more sustainable service delivery, increased revenue flow, and infrastructural support for immigrants in general.
Advances in Electronic Government, Digital Divide, and Regional Development, 2018
This chapter traces a history of domestic workers both within, and to a lesser degree without, Ke... more This chapter traces a history of domestic workers both within, and to a lesser degree without, Kenya. Reading from international policy platforms-including the United Nations and various international non-governmental organizations-as well as academic research, Kenyan government policy documents, and online sources like blogs and periodicals that reveal this history and frame content addressing domestic workers, the authors develop an image of the situation of domestic work in Kenya. We identified missing protections of rights and made other policy recommendations in light of that situation. Using intersectionality to disclose how the different identities of gender, class, socioeconomic status, and ethnic identification (socially imposed or individually emphasized) of domestic workers in Kenya simultaneously clash and collude, workers nonetheless remain embedded within layers of marginalization that make the very circumstance of their work more challenging for upholding the human rights of these employees. By calling attention to the destiny of migrant domestic workers in comparison to local Kenyan domestics and linking to the present international push to protect migrant domestic workers, then, not only discloses but also hints at how the needs and interests of domestic Kenyan workers may be better met, respected, and protected. It suggests future work as well aimed at prompting an acknowledgment of, and policy changes with respect to, the basic human rights of other subaltern populations.
This study utilized thematic content analysis and a partial ecological model to analyze qualitati... more This study utilized thematic content analysis and a partial ecological model to analyze qualitative data drawn from focus group discussions with first-generation immigrant parents from Cameroon, Kenya, and Somalia from the Twin City area of Minnesota. (Twin Cities: the cities of Saint Paul and Minneapolis are adjacent to each other, with Saint Paul located on the west bank and Minneapolis on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the state of Minnesota.) Results indicate that macro-time or chronosystem levels in the event of immigration had the most influence on parental perceptions. Hence, contextual changes that made “parenting” challenging were attributed to immigration. Variations were partly due to the reasons for migrating. Cameroonians and Kenyans migrated mainly for economic reasons and held perspectives that emphasized how the contextual change had influenced their parental roles. Cameroonians pointed to the impact of the exosystem on the perceived role of the child welf...
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Papers by Dorothy Rombo