SOCIOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS OF SEX PREFERENCE FOR FERTILITY AND MARITAL STABILITY IN CROSS RIVER STATE
SOCIOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS OF SEX PREFERENCE FOR FERTILITY AND MARITAL STABILITY IN CROSS RIVER STATE
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Date
2011-08
Authors
AGBOR, IGBOLO MAGDALENE
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Abstract
The issue of high fertility and its causes have received much attention of recent
from experts in diverse areas of study. One of such causes that has been identified
and taken up for study is sex preference. This work takes a look at the sociological
implications of sex preference for fertility and marital stability in Cross River State.
Data for the study were drawn from the people of Cross River State. The
respondents for the study were systematically selected from the population of
study (ever married persons) and altogether a total of 1200 respondents were
selected. Data for the study was gathered using a combination of quantitative and
qualitative techniques of data collection. A questionnaire was used for the
quantitative aspect. Focus group discussions and indepth interviews were also held
with participants and key informants who were selected purposively for their
experience in marriage and the issue under discourse. One important feature of the
people studied is their lineage system. They are patrilineal in nature and prefer
large families for economic purposes as well as the continuity of the lineage. The
study found that because the society is a patriarchal one, there is a strong
relationship between sex preference and fertility behaviour. Where there was a
strong preference by couples for a particular sex, there was also a resultant increase
in family size. The study also found that, where there was a strong preference for a
particular sex in marital unions, the marriage was more likely to be unstable. Once
unions in which the preferred sex was not born, especially in the later stages of the
marriage, sex preference becomes a factor in marital stability. The study also found
that cultural norms and values prevalent in the State enhance and sustain sex
preference. The study therefore calls for development, especially of the rural areas
as one of the remedies for curbing those aspects of the culture that support sex
preference, high fertility and marital instability. This, it is believed, will enable the
populace to stick to a particular number of children irrespective of their sex as well
as enhance the stability of marital unions.
Description
A DOCTORATE DEGREE DISSERTATION CARRIED OUT IN THE
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY,ZARIA
SUBMITTED TO
THE POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY
ZARIA, NIGERIA.
IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE AWARD OF THE
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (Ph.D.) DEGREE IN SOCIOLOGY
AUGUST, 2011
Keywords
SOCIOLOGICAL,, IMPLICATIONS,, SEX,, PREFERENCE,, FERTILITY,, MARITAL,, STABILITY,, CROSS,, RIVER,, STATE,