Socio-economic change and cultural continuity in the lives of the older Tswana

Abstract

The rural villages of Botswana have a disproportionate number of children and aged resulting from out-migration of able-bodied adults for wage employment. The social position of the rural based aged people, as perceived by urbanites and villagers, was determined through ethnographic interviews and participant observation. The traditional elder contributory roles of childcare and agriculture for women and political and pastoral involvement by men have been modified, still allowing the active old to participate in community life as elders. Social old age occurs when dependency created by physical limitations outweighs contributions possible with body mobility. Minimal economic support provided by adult children to aged parents has been substituted for the fuller traditional expression of filial piety. Grandchildren provide physical care. Low incomes, inexperience with the large numbers of aged and consequent lack of behavioral norms place social emphasis on the economic dependency of old people rather than on the social and service needs as perceived by the socially old individuals, themselves.