Beyond societal pressure: Negotiating gender equality for marital prospects in courtship among older educated unmarried women in Botswana

Abstract

While existing studies have shown that unmarried older women, particularly in many African societies, are often stigmatized and pressured due to their marital status, few studies have captured the experiences of educated older unmarried women about societal pressure to marry. This study examines marital pressure and compromises related to gender equality in the courtship experiences of educated older unmarried Botswanan women. A qualitative approach was employed to study the unique experiences of 23 Botswanan women aged 30 to 42. Using a blend of convenience and purposive sampling to recruit participants from an online female group chat, semi-structured interviews were conducted via telephone and face-to-face interviews. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis, revealing five key findings: first, that pressure to marry is a matter of personal choice; second, women experience vicarious pressure; third, morality and self-satisfaction influence women’s marital decisions; fourth, women make compromises with loved and trusted partners; and fifth, compromises occur when there is no fear of emotional harm.