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TABOO AND
WOMEN EDUCATION
ABSTRACT
The study is
on taboo and women education in Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo
State. The purpose is to examine whether taboo affects women education. The
study used the cross-sectional survey design and sampled 250 respondents in
Emii town in Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State. The study
generated five research questions and two hypotheses. The study collected data
using a structured questionnaire designed by the researcher and validated by
the research supervisor. Statistical procedures of mean and chi-square were
used to analyse the data obtained. Results showed that some common taboos in
Owerri North are incestuous acts, marrying osu and eating of some animals. Also
it was gathered that some taboos affect women by subjecting them to some
ill-treatment. The study recommended among other things that parents should
teach their children Igbo tradition early enough. Again taboos should be
included in Igbo language curriculum taught in schools. The study therefore
conclude that taboo has significant effect on women education in Owerri North.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Human
behaviour is not only governed by rational decision making, sometimes often
have shared values and standards of acceptable behaviour that members of the
society are encouraged to follow. A culture of a society guides the behaviour
and the thoughts of their members by agreed upon expectations and rules. The
list of behavioural guidelines is typically referred to as social norms, while
the unacceptable behaviours are tagged taboos (Fershtman, 2011).
A taboo is a
prohibition against a certain act for moral or religious reasons. The word
‘taboo’ came from the Polynesian language where it means a religious
restriction, or to break which would entail or attract some automatic punishment
(Douglas, 2009). In simple terms, a taboo is a prohibited act.
Taboos were
introduced to regulate the moral order of the society. They took their origin
from the fact that people discerned that there were certain things which were
morally approved or disapproved by the deity (Chukwuka, 2012). These are not
contained in any written law but are preserved in the tradition. Taboos and
superstitions were often regarded as integral part of traditional education.
Taboos are put in place to safeguard the earth. Ekpunobi and Ezeaku (1990)
opined that taboos are central to the socialization process, and thus ensure
public peace, unity and stability of the society. In religious taboos, the
forbidden item is believed to be unclean or sacred, and the taboo is imposed
for protection against the item’s power. Violation of these prohibitions is
considered moral, spiritual and social pollution of the land, requiring
appropriate ritual for the purification of the offender and the community in
order to appease the earth goddess (Obika, 2013).
In the
traditional Igbo society, taboos were held in high esteem for the sake of
preserving the land. Contravening any of them is regarded as abomination (nso
ala or aru). According to Arinze (1970), abomination in the first place
embraces serious personal and moral crimes according to Igbo morality. Taboos
are not strange or new, it is a common thing for every town, culture or village
to have one form of taboo or the other. Taboos actually vary from culture to
culture, town to town and sometimes village to village. The people of Owerri
North in Imo State are not any different. There abound some rules and
regulations including taboos which are observed by the people of Owerri North.
As well known, human behaviour is not governed by only rational decision
making, every society (Owerri
North
inclusive) often has shared values and standards of acceptable behaviour which
members are encouraged to follow. There are certain behaviour or attitudes that
people of Owerri North regard as taboos. Some of them include marrying an
outcast popularly referred to as “Osu”, a woman leading or controlling a man,
women owning lands or building houses (in their names), sleeping with one’s
blood relation among others. Each of these behaviours are regarded as taboo as
far as people of Owerri North is concerned. Such actions attract punishment
either from a deity or the people of the land.
However, Ikedioha (2008) noted that some of
these taboos are no longer taken serious or effective because of the influence
of Western Education and Christianity on the entire system of human existence
for instance, the birth of twins is now being celebrated in most part of the
world including Africa (Owerri North a part) where it used to be a taboo.
Western
education brought with it great enlightenment and understanding. In the views
of Ocho (2005), education is the process of enlightening one’s mind and
intellect to be able to reason meaningfully and achieve his goals in life.
Education is the process of acquisition of traits, skills, competencies and
capabilities which are necessary for meaningful living in the society. It is
equally a potent tool for achieving national objectives (Federal Government of
Nigeria, 2004). Education is meant to enlighten and to be empowered. It equally
leads to empowerment. Though there are two types of education; formal and
non-formal, each of them are meant to help recipients become better citizens by
making meaningful contributions to the society. Though education is a basic
right of all citizens (women inclusive), many women are not educated as some
men Nwosu (2013) observed that some taboos in Igbo land seem directly against
women. She maintained that there are certain taboos that are meant to frustrate
a woman especially in the area of education. Offorma (2009) earlier noted that
many women have been educationally disadvantaged due to certain taboos. It is
against this background that the present study is set to examine taboos and
their effect on women education in Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo
State.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Taboo is as
old as mankind. Since the time of Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden, God
himself placed some rules (dos and don’ts) to Adam and Eve, in which violation
attracted a curse to mankind. As part of the curse pronounced by God, the
creator to Eve, as a result of violating the rule was that her desire shall be
to her husband. Since then till date, women have suffered terrible denials,
consequences based on this age-long declaration by God, the creator, most.
Communities in Igboland have held on to this and had made several rules
(taboos) that are inimical to women advancement and empowerment.
In Owerri
North, certain taboos are observed which are binding on everyone. Most times,
these taboos are seen to affect the women negatively than the men. Some expressions/words
are condoned if used by men but regarded as taboo when used by women. Again, a
situation whereby if a man is caught in adultery, his wife does not divorce him
but if a woman is caught in same adultery, the marriage automatically ends.
With the introduction of Western education, and its attendant influence in
changing some age-long held norms, it seems there may be an effect of women
education in observance of some taboos. Now, the problem of the study is
embedded in this broad question “how does taboo affect the education of women
in Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State?
1.3 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
The main
purpose of the study is to examine the influence of taboos on women education
in Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State. The study is specifically
designed to achieve the following objectives, to:
1. Identify some common taboos in Owerri
North Local Government Area of Imo State.
2. Identify the role and importance of taboos
in Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State.
3. Identify the consequences of some common
taboos.
4. Identify the effect of some taboos on
women education.
5. Suggest ways of encouraging women
education in Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State.
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
The study is
guided by the following research questions.
1. What are the common taboos observed in
Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State?
2. What roles/importance do taboos play in
Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State?
3. What measures could be adopted to enhance
the education of women in Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State?
1.5 HYPOTHESES
The
following hypotheses are formulated to guide the study and were tested at 5%
level of significance.
1. There is no significant difference between
the opinions of male and female respondents on the effect of taboos on women
education.
2. There is no significant effect of taboo on
women education in Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State.
1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The findings
from the study will be of immense benefit to stakeholders like women and women
groups, religious leaders, educationist, parents and guardians,
non-governmental organizations and general public.
Women and
women groups will be adequately informed about some common taboos in Owerri
North Local Government Area of Imo State, this awareness will help them to live
carefully so as not to violate any of the prohibitions that may attract
punishment or consequences to them. Religious leaders will utilize the insights
and knowledge from the study to instruct and admonish their adherents on the
need to avoid lifestyles that will attract the wrath of God to them.
Again, the
religious leaders will equally be enlightened about those “taboos” that are
contrary to the law of God and equally educate their members about them. They
could equally be against such taboos that are inimical to development and
advancement of the society.
Educationists
will be well-informed through the study about those taboos or imposition that
hinders equal education of all citizens irrespective of sex. The awareness will
guide them to workout modalities with the relevant education agencies and
adequate education of all citizens without any gender bias. Since taboos are
meant to safeguard the norms and culture of the society, parents and guardians
will be aware of such taboos and use them to instruct, train and admonish their
children and wards adequately to ensure sanity in the society. Non-governmental
organizations will equally utilize the awareness and knowledge from the study
to assist the government to bring sanity in communications where they operate
by education citizens about the dangers of violating taboos.
The general
public will gain by adequate knowledge, awareness, and information about
taboos. This will help them to behave orderly in order not to attract
punishment by violating taboos. Also, the sanity and orderliness which will
ensure in the society by avoidance of taboos will create peace among the
residents.
1.7 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
The study is
based on the Patriarchal Theory of Rogers (1959). The Patriarchal theory states
that men have dominion in all aspects of life than women. The theory is based
on the age-long declaration of God, the creator at the Garden of Eden that “the
desire of the woman (Eve) shall be to her husband (Adam). Based on this
pronouncement, women are seen as subordinates to men. The theory recognizes
women as lower citizens and as such inferior to men. Hornby (2006) described
patriachality as giving power and importance only to men. In this regard, women
have so many limitations as to what they can do. The theory believes that men
are superior than women and as such enjoy some level of immunity more than
women to the point that the men are exonerated from some limitations or
restrictions.
This theory
is appropriate for the study in that some taboos place limitations on the women
and how they live their life, while same taboos allow men some level of
leverage more than women.
1.8 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
The study is
limited to Emii Town in Owerri North Local Government of Imo State. The study
will concern itself with the identification of some taboos in Emii Town, the
role of the taboos, their remedies and how the taboos affect women education.
Respondents in the study are both men and women in Emii Town who are 40 years
and above, especially community leaders, village heads, traditional rules and
women leaders, in Emii town.
1.9 OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS
Some lead
terms in the study are defined in the context of the study as follows;
Taboo: Any
act, behaviour, or word considered, bad, unlawful, immoral or prohibited in
Emii town which attracts a punishment.
Women: This
word is taken to mean a female (daughter, wife or mother) in Emii town who is
of age to bear children.
Education:
The act of inculcating desired skills, traits or competencies to enable women
in Emii town live useful and meaningful life.
Women
Education: The extent to which a woman in Emii town has acquired traits, skills
and competencies to enable her live meaningful life. It can be at the primary,
secondary or tertiary level.
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