Soil Eating as a Psychological Coping Strategy for Women in Rural African Patriarchal Contexts
Abstract
1. Introduction
- Which factors contribute to the persistence of soil eating among women in rural African patriarchal contexts?
- How does eating soil function as a psychological coping strategy for women in these contexts?
2. The eZiko siPheka siSophula Framework
3. Materials and Methods
3.1. Positionality
3.2. Study Data
3.3. Data Analysis
4. Results and Discussions
4.1. Theme 1: Soil Eating as a Generational Practice
“I started a long time ago, around the age of ten, with the girls I grew up with here in the village. It’s probably been more than thirty years, though I don’t eat soil every day. But I can’t go for a week without eating it. I learned it from our grandmothers, our aunties, and other girls and women from the village. It really helps us, especially when overthinking. During the process, I’ll get thirsty, and then I’ll stand up and drink some water”(P16)
“I’m telling you; this is not a trivial matter. If it’s been happening for generations, it’s clear evidence that it’s a living tradition. Let me explain, our elders didn’t just do things for no reason. They acted with incredible foresight and wisdom, things that are beyond the understanding of those who take life for granted. That’s why we keep the practice of soil eating even today”(P11)
4.2. Theme 2: Soil Eating as Part of Intergenerational Conversations and a Cornerstone for Communication
“When we sit together and eat soil, older women teach us how to voice our thoughts respectfully, and that’s how we keep these traditions alive, but also learn how to live better with each other”(P13)
“Yes! While sitting together, eating soil, we communicated all matters revolving around our lives as well as knowing the best strategies to use when expressing views within our communities.”(P2)
“Talking with the younger girls and women in the village helps us a lot, especially when we discuss how to speak up at home and in the community, without fear”(P5)
4.3. Theme 3: Soil Eating as a Coping Mechanism to Navigate Power Relationships
“When things get too tough at home, like when my views are ignored or I’m not allowed to speak freely, I go out and eat soil. It calms me down and helps me think more clearly”(P15)
“Most of the time, we eat soil as a coping mechanism to manage challenging situations”(P1)
“Yes!, Soil eating helps us to navigate challenges, and while we are together, we manage to build good relationships. We consider eating soil as a mode of peacebuilding within our community”(P8)
“Since it is not easy being a woman in this community; we are often told what to do by men. But when we sit together as women and eat soil, most of the time we feel like regaining some of strength and power”(P7)
4.4. Theme 4: Soil Eating as a Coping Mechanism Toward Femininity
“Sometimes being a woman in this community feels like a burden, where you are expected to be soft and not speak up. When I feel overwhelmed by these expectations, I turn to soil eating to relieve the pressure”(P4)
“The pressure to always look and act a certain way can be exhausting. When I eat soil, it helps me momentarily escape those expectations and find some peace”(P6)
“When I eat soil, it’s like I’m reconnecting with something that belongs to me, something untouched by all the rules society has imposed on me. It’s a moment where I don’t have to be ’proper’ or fit into the box of what society expects from a woman. It’s my way of just being myself, even if it’s just for a moment”(P9)
“I’ve always been told what it means to be a woman; how I should look, how I should behave. But when I eat soil, it feels like I’m breaking free from all those expectations. It’s a small rebellion that lets me feel like I’m not just a woman defined by others, but someone who has control over who I am”(P12)
“Sometimes, society’s pressure to be perfect, whether it’s about my appearance or my behavior becomes overwhelming. Eating soil helps me feel grounded like I’m reconnecting with the earth, and for a moment, I can let go of all the things I’m supposed to be. It’s like a release like I’m allowing myself to just exist without the weight of everyone else’s standards”(P1)
5. Conclusions
6. Recommendations
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Participants | Age | Education Status | Marital Status | Employment Status |
---|---|---|---|---|
P1 | 20 | Tertiary | Single | Unemployed |
P2 | 20 | Secondary | Married | Unemployed |
P3 | 22 | Primary | Married | Unemployed |
P4 | 25 | Tertiary | Single | Unemployed |
P5 | 29 | Tertiary | Single | Employed |
P6 | 30 | Tertiary | Married | Employed |
P7 | 31 | Secondary | Single | Self-employed |
P8 | 32 | Secondary | Widow | Unemployed |
P9 | 33 | Primary | Married | Unemployed |
P10 | 36 | Secondary | Married | Unemployed |
P11 | 43 | Primary | Married | Unemployed |
P12 | 49 | Secondary | Married | Unemployed |
P13 | 56 | Primary | Married | Unemployed |
P14 | 68 | Non-formal education | Married | Unemployed |
P15 | 72 | Non-formal education | Widow | Pensioner |
P16 | 89 | Primary | Widow | Pensioner |
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Share and Cite
Notsi, L.; Ramatea, M.A. Soil Eating as a Psychological Coping Strategy for Women in Rural African Patriarchal Contexts. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22, 876. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22060876
Notsi L, Ramatea MA. Soil Eating as a Psychological Coping Strategy for Women in Rural African Patriarchal Contexts. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2025; 22(6):876. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22060876
Chicago/Turabian StyleNotsi, Libopuoa, and Mamochana Anacletta Ramatea. 2025. "Soil Eating as a Psychological Coping Strategy for Women in Rural African Patriarchal Contexts" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 22, no. 6: 876. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22060876
APA StyleNotsi, L., & Ramatea, M. A. (2025). Soil Eating as a Psychological Coping Strategy for Women in Rural African Patriarchal Contexts. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 22(6), 876. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22060876