Intergenerational solidarity in and after marriage crises: older women as safety nets for younger women in Uganda

Few studies have focused on intergenerational transfers from older women to their adult children during emergencies such as marriage formation and dissolution. There is limited documentation about the support of older women to their daughters during and after marriage crises.
In this paper, our objective is to provide evidence of the role of older women as safety nets for younger women during and after marriage crises by drawing from 8 case studies of older persons’ households in-depth interviews from western, central and eastern Uganda. In addition, key informant interviews are used to substantiate the findings of household in-depth interviews.
Our findings are that older women still play a vital role of caring for children born out of wedlock when their daughters get married; provide financial support, material and emotional support to their daughters during and after marriage crises. Further research is needed to ascertain the changes in intergenerational solidarity in the context of time and marriage dynamics.