Family Matters
It has taken me about 4 to 5 weeks to figure out the “family structure”- in the way that makes sense to my western mind- If I had (or ever do have) the time I will make a family chart like the one my host brother and I made. I can not say enough about the women of Burkina, who are AMAZING!!! From when they are 5- taking care of the infants and cultivating to when they are 12- fetching water, cultivating (with the men), cooking, cleaning and going to school (if they are lucky). Then around 15 until perhaps 18 for village women- they are married off- usually arranged marriages and start having children. My host mother has eight children. The WHO average is 6.7 children for a burkinade women. Most village women I have met have 5-7 children (or are still young and having children). Educated women living in the cities seem to have less, probably the average is around 3 children. The older men have an average of two wives according to my brother. But many of the younger men have (or want) one wife and fewer children. My host brothers say they want 3 children because children are expensive. And it is expensive to educate a child here in Burkina. So I have met the superwomen of Burkina. Oh and please do not forget that 77% of women have undergone FGM/C but I will not talk about it much because I have not heard or witnessed it. It is not talked about but I am told by my language teacher that most girls have undergone it in my village. I will be lucky if I am able to talk about it with anyone during my two years. It is forbidden in Burkina by law.
I do have to gave a hand to the men. They are superhuman as well. Especially some who seem to always be working and then looking after me. The hierarchy system in the family structure is very apparent. Everyone has a place and knows it. The men get my extra food. The children get the less nutritious food. Certain men work harder, others have better clothes and always seem to be chilling. The older men do not seem to cultivate as much. The boys that go to school are the favorite (and also the bullies) of the kids. The hierarchy even determines who will get my gifts in the end. (I try to be sneaky and let the ‘less’ favorite ones play before the word gets out.) Also if certain people are in my courtyard others will not come in. Women and girls are always against the wall, but this is difficult to analyze as the language barrier may contribute to this.
But every human is human and every human has his/her own personality and spirit. My relationships with my host family is my escape from the stress of learning how to live in a francophone country as a Peace Corps Volunteer. I hope I feel this comfortable in my new village and can build similar relationships.
July 31st, 2008 at 5:58 am
Where do you fit in the family structure? What do they think of you?