Socio-cultural constructions of gender roles and psychological wellbeing in farm-families of Ogun-state, Nigeria : exploring the complexities.
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Date
2003
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Abstract
The study set out to explore the complexities of the socio-cultural constructions of gender roles
and psychological wellbeing in farm-families of Ogun state Nigeria. The intention of the study
was to gain insight and understanding of the farmers' life experiences since farm-families are
gendered institutions with peculiar needs, problems and aspirations. The study was motivated by
a dearth of research on the constructions and determinants of psychological wellbeing and gender
roles in farm-families. This thesis is therefore an attempt to fill the identified gap in knowledge,
by generating empirical data on the socio-cultural constructions of psychological wellbeing and
gender roles in farm-families.
The thesis is essentially interdisciplinary in nature, drawing from and contributing to the
bodies of knowledge in gender-based research, social psychology, family studies, developmental
research, and agricultural extension. The inclusion of men's and women's views and perceptions,
as opposed to a polarized view of men exclusively as the oppressors and perpetrators of female
subordination is a poststructural feminist approach toward de-emphasizing gender dichotomies.
In addition, the incorporation of children's perspectivesis due to recognition of family factors as
determinants of children's gender identity construction, life outcomes, and the psychological
wellbeing of the entire family. Research participants included forty adults (17 men and 23
women) and thirty-one children (17 boys and 14 girls), drawn from five farming communities in
Ogun state Nigeria. These include: Kango, Ogijan, Boodo-Sanyaolu, Obafemi, and Ilewo-Orile.
Adopting a qualitative research methodology, multiple methods of data collection were
employed. These include life history methodology, in-depth interviews, focus group interviews,
and interactive observation techniques. Although 'psychological wellbeing' is a difficult
construct to define because of its complexity and high subjectivity, adopting the social
representations' framework, the constructions,ยท meanings and determinants of psychological
wellbeing and gender roles were allowed to emerge from the participants, within their peculiar
socio-historical and cultural contexts. Findings reveal that the constructions of gender identity
and gender roles in farm-families are the foundations of the internalization of gender ideals,
socio-cultural constructions, psychological wellbeing and coping strategies. Children then grow
up to become part of the society and continue the trans-generational perpetuation of gender ideals
and reinforcement of gender stereotypes, and these have several implications for the
psychological wellbeing of entire farm-family members. The problems of women-subordination
vis-a-vis male-domination, therefore, have their roots in the socio-cultural constructions of
gender, gender roles, and their ideological representations. Research outcomes thus provide basis
for the development of sustainable culture-specific feminist strategies, which address the origins
and foundations of gender stereotypes, as well as gender-sensitive and gender-specific
interventions for the enhancement of farm-families' psychological wellbeing.
The adoption of Yoruba terminology in the constructions of psychological wellbeing and
related concepts in the thesis is the beginning of an innovative research process for inventing
contextually meaningful and relevant Yoruba terminology for previously Western-based
concepts. In this thesis for example, psychological wellbeing is construed as - ilera-okan, alafiaokan,
ibale-okan, ilera pipe t 'okan-t 'ara; while stress and emotional disturbance are construed as
- aibale-okan, iporuuru ati pakaleke okan. This is a unique contribution to knowledge.
Description
Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2003.
Keywords
Sex role--Nigeria., Social institutions--Nigeria., Family--Nigeria., Families--Psychological aspects., Rural families--Nigeria., Rural families--Psychological aspects., Theses--Gender studies.