CONSTRAINTS OF PRIVATE SPHRE RESPONSIBILITIES ON AVAILABILITY OF TIME TO STUDY: A CASE STUDY OF MARRIED WOMEN STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ZIMBABWE’S FACULTY OF EDUCATION

This study sought to identify the constraints placed by private sphere responsibilities on the available time to study on women at the University of Zimbabwe’s Faculty of Education. The sample consisted of twenty five women students. Data collection instruments consisted of questionnaires and focused group discussions. The study found out that patriarchy influences the amount of time available for study for women. Although the engagement of a housemaid provides some relief there are certain specific chores that require individual time. If private sphere obligations were equally shared between husband and wife more study time would be available. Married women have devised certain coping strategies to create more study time for example reducing sleeping time and cutting on social activities. Married female students find it extremely difficult to balance their work, study and private sphere responsibilities. The study recommends that: employers should consider giving women involved in further study programmes either through early dismissal from work or making more off days available; there is need for societal wide conscientisation on the importance of gender sensitivity to enable men to carry out some household chores; the Ministry of Education , Arts Sports and Culture should consider giving female students on study leave full salaries to enable them to meet certain obligations; lecturers in universities should consider making available more free slots on timetables to enable female students gain more study time, and in the schools female students engaged in further studies should be exempted from co curricular activities