Stigma and widow remarriage: experiences of Malaysian Tamil women
- 13 September 2020
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Taylor & Francis Ltd in Journal of Family Studies
- Vol. 28 (4), 1303-1319
- https://doi.org/10.1080/13229400.2020.1819378
Abstract
Traditionally, widows are stigmatized in Tamil society. This research explores the challenges faced by Malaysian Tamil Hindu women in the process of remarrying after the death of their husbands. The data for this study were collected by conducting in-depth interviews with 13 women who have remarried. The findings were categorized into three main themes: the stigma of being a widow; remarriage as a transgression from the traditional notion of femininity; remarriage and women's bodies. Widows experienced social and self-stigma and were excluded from some cultural and religious rituals. Their involvement in courtship was seen as a transgression of the notions of a ‘good’ woman. For participants with children, the act of remarriage was seen as that of abandoning their responsibility towards their children. The decision to remarry was difficult for the women because they were criticized by others and felt conflicted due to the internalized stigma of widowhood and remarriage.Keywords
This publication has 26 references indexed in Scilit:
- Debt, shame, and survival: becoming and living as widows in rural Kerala, IndiaBMC International Health and Human Rights, 2012
- Felt and enacted stigma among HIV/HCV-coinfected adults: the impact of stigma layering.Qualitative Health Research, 2011
- Stigma and sex work from the perspective of female sex workers in Hong KongSociology of Health & Illness, 2011
- Social stigma for adults and children with epilepsyEpilepsia, 2007
- Confronting Sexual Stigma and Prejudice: Theory and PracticeJournal of Social Issues, 2007
- TRENDS IN DELAYED AND NON-MARRIAGE IN PENINSULAR MALAYSIAAsian Population Studies, 2007
- Re-framing Stigma: Felt and Enacted Stigma and Challenges to the Sociology of Chronic and Disabling ConditionsSocial Theory & Health, 2004
- Widowhood practices in West Africa: the silent victimsInternational Journal of Social Welfare, 2002
- Conceptualizing StigmaAnnual Review of Sociology, 2001
- Mental health stigma as social attribution: Implications for research methods and attitude change.Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 2000