Ibadan Journal of the Social Sciences
Volume 10, No. 2, 2012
DOI: 10.36108/ijss/2102.01.0240
Gender Equity in Contemporary Marriages: The Decision Making Perspective
Abiola, Monday Desmond, Ndisiaka, Michael and Vincent-Osaghae, Gloria N.
Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Benin, Benin-City
Abstract
The female gender, more especially, has not benefitted from gender equity arrangement in Nigeria mostly due to socio-cultural constraints and non-possession of empowering instruments. This is most evident in marriages which are enduring contact point for adult males and females. However; with the contracting of contemporary marriages that is apparently characterized by lesser regard for traditional gender-disparity values, and increasing socio-economic equality of spouses, this paper found it imperative to examine gender equity in such marriages with particular focus on decision making. Quantitative data was obtained from 665 respondents who had been in contemporary marriage in the last 20 years in the Benin metropolis. The nature of decision making as it affects the ability of a spouse to access opportunities and resources was measured with the giving of “approval” or not. Perception on equal decision making between spouses was measured using a five-response Likert scale made up of four Liken-type items. Results indicate significantly high odds of a husband not approving of his wife acquiring higher education, registering and participating in politics, and individually acquiring property. Also significant difference exist in the perception of equal decision making between male and female; and there is a significant relationship between the age of spouses and their disposition towards equal decision making. Accordingly, it is recommended that empowering females should be sustained and negative perception of equal decision making between spouses should be eroded.
Keywords: Gender equity, Contemporary marriage, Decision making, Perception, Resources