Survival of the fittest: female single headed households in an urban locality: the case of Vingunguti ward in Dar es salaam, Tanzania

This study has examined and analyzed the social and economic factors responsible for the development and sustenance of female single headed households in urban Tanzania, specifically in Vingunguti ward in Dar es Salaam. The study aimed at first, examining the social, economic, cultural and psychological factors responsible for the generation of female single headed households in the area, second at exploring the social and economic problems faced by female single heads of households and lastly in examining the coping up strategies employed by female single heads of households in their daily lives. The study employed the Materialist Political Economy approach to elucidate the social processes, forces and relations responsible for the change in the household system and the subsequent generation of female single headed households. Qualitative research methodology was adopted for the reason that it enabled the researcher to grasp the quality, meaning, context and image of the reality of what individuals actually do. For this case, Focus Group Discussion, In-depth Interviews and Observation were used in the collection of data from the research subjects. Also, documents were reviewed in order to supplement some information. The study found out that there have been radical changes in the household system and marriage institution which, in turn, affects the individuals’ relationship in the household. The change has been from the traditional African household to contemporary “modem” household and marriage system. It therefore recommends further qualitative historical studies on the female single parents households incorporating the changes that have been taking place since the period of primitive communalism until to date under capitalism.