Ibadan Journal of the Social Sciences
Volume 21, No. 1, 2023
DOI: 10.36108/ijss/3202.12.0130
The Influence of Higher Degrees on the Eradication of Domestic Violence
Salamat Atinuke Ajede
Department of Sociological Studies, Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijebu Ode, Nigeria
Abstract
The study examined the links between educational acquisition by women and its attendant impact on domestic violence (DV) eradication. It focused on DV that happens within the family whose victims are mostly young girls who are forced into early marriages without economic means, adequate training and education. Unfortunately, there is a paucity of studies on the link between how the acquisition of formal educational knowledge and skills can help reduce\eradicate the menace of domestic violence among couples. The study locations were Ijebu Ode in Ogun State, Ikeja in Lagos State and Ibadan in Oyo State all in South/West, Nigeria. A mixed method was adopted. Simple random, purposively and stratified sampling techniques were jointly utilized to select respondents and participants for the study’s quantitative and qualitative components. Findings indicate that respondents who are educated reported little or no incidence of domestic violence with their spouses, unlike the less educated. Abuse of the concept of dowry and bride price was found to have led to the commodification of females in marriages underscored by domestic violence – devoid of human dignity. Results, therefore, point to education as a major variable for the prevention of domestic violence with particular reference to women. Results from the study corroborated existing literature that forced and early marriages in Asia and Africa including Nigeria remain a major factor associated with the high rate of domestic violence.
Keywords: Domestic violence, women education, gender equality, child marriage, forced marriage