Social Change Impact on Female Headed Families in Sudanese Community Case study: Omdurman City

Abstract

This study aims to shed light on the social change impact on families headed by female in the Sudanese community.

This study has been conducted in Omdurman city, during the period between, June 2011 - to July 20014.

The study examined the multiple social and economic roles of female headed families, and the importance of these roles in decision making and socialization of the children. The study also focused on the community perception towards families headed by females.

Data was collected through primary and secondary sources. The primary data was collected through the snow ball sampling of female worker and heads of their families' .The questionnaire was a tool through which the researcher gather the preliminary data (quantitative), in addition to the in depth interview (qualitative). The researcher analyzed the data of the study by using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). While secondary sources are collected through relevant information to the subject of research, that are obtained by previous studies, references and the Internet.

The results showed that the majority of these female are decision makers with respect to all activities related to the daily life of the family, through the provision of economic and social needs The results also showed that females as heads of their families in this study played prominent role in the upbringing of their children socially, which is reflected through the continuous guidance and following them in schools and encourage them to integrate into society.

It was clear from the results of the analysis to what extent do female- heads of families live under the pressure of social and economic life, as a result of several reasons forced them to be head for their families, these reasons, include; death of a spouse, divorce, disability, or immigration.

The study found that, despite the ongoing pressures, we find that these female adhere to their work, and work very hard, and almost take all the responsibilities of family management and the management of its affairs in a wise and good vision, helped in this by cooperation of sons, daughters, sisters and some relatives. The study also found that, there were some negative impacts on women's health, due to the roles they played in headed their families.

Finally the research argues that, the study of female headed families' adequacy understands the situation of women in general and the female headed family in Omdurman in particular.