WELCOME TO KENTERPRO:
CHILDLESSNESS AND SOCIO-CULTURAL IMPACT ON MARRIED COUPLES OF VWANG COMMUNITY IN JOS SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF PLATEAU STATE

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

• BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

                        The issues of childlessness and its implication can be traced to the Patriarch family in the Holy Bible where Sarah did not have child for several years, Genesis 11:30, Micah David‘s wife was childless, Elkanah‘s wife Hannah was childless for so many years 1st Samuel 1:6 and so on, however, this history shows that this families in one way or the other management their socio-cultural implication of their childlessness (Ayanilo, 2019 &Zastrow 2001),identified reasons couples decide to have children is that from the beginning biblically children are blessing ranging from religion to ideology to economic necessity population replacement and cultural expectation.

                        Historically, in agricultural and pre-industrial societies children were seen as economic asset; their labors were important in planting and harvesting crops and in tending domestic animals (Nwafor, 2018). Parents wanted large families to help with the work because, children were seen as economic asset, and values were gradually established that it was natural and desirable for married couples to procreate. However, for most people, getting married and starting their families and having children-is not a matter of choice; but necessities. In marriage, childlessness is one aspect of the diversity inherent in contemporary experience of marriage and the family (Rasak & Oladipo, 2017). For most of history, childlessness has been regarded as great personal tragedy involving much emotional pain and grief, especially when it is resulted from failure to conceive or from the death of a child. With this greater diversity, once common pressures for childbearing have given way to greater social acceptance of remaining single or married without children. Before conception was well understood, childlessness was usually blamed on the woman and this in itself added to the high level negative emotional and social effects of childlessness (Rasak & Oladipo, 2017).

Google.com (3023) online stated that childlessness causes constant fights, misunderstanding and suspicion in the marriage. Sex becomes mechanical and unfulfilling. The risk of being sterile can be a heavy burden. The woman risk divorce and in some cases gets rivals.

Nonetheless, childlessness is a concern, partly because of its implications for the maintenance of societies and partly because of its unwanted consequences for individuals (Nwafor, 2018). However, societies regard children as the most important asset in every successful marriage and for this reason; childless couples become an object of ridicule in their communities (Makinwa – Adebusoye, 2001). The dynamics of culture and human relationships have made researchers to observe many influences, manifestations, happenings and occurrences in marriage stability within the Nigerian ethnic communities.

According toRasak&Oladipo (2017), stated that in Idah urban community, as in most other part of the country, procreation is one of the major functions of the family. Every man take a wife apparently to have children with them, where this main purpose for marriage is not forth coming into fulfillment, it is then result to tension in most cases which lead to misunderstanding and disputes in the family. In traditional Igala society, many wives try to ensure the procreation of children of children to its fullest limit. For most of history, childlessness has been regarded as great personal tragedy involving much emotional pain and grief, especially when it is resulted from failure to conceive or from the death of child (Mail, Charlene, 1986).

This is not far from married couple of Vwang community where the research is to be carried. Some of which before conception was well understood, childlessness was usually blamed on the woman and this in itself added to the high level negative emotional and social effects of childlessness. Some wealthy families also adopted children as a means of providing heirs in case of childlessness or where no son had been born, the monetary incentives offered by Westerners desire for children is so strong that a commercial market in the child laundering business exists (McCurry, 2005). In marriage, childlessness is one aspect of diversity inherent in contemporary experience of marriage and the family. For most of history, childlessness has been regarded as great personal tragedy involving much emotional pain and grief, especially when it is result from failure to conceive or from the death of a child. With this greater diversity, once common pressures of child – bearing have given way to greater social acceptance of remaining single or married without children. Before conception was well understood, childlessness was usually blamed on the woman and this itself added to the high level negative emotional and social effects of childlessness. Some wealthy families also adopted children as a means of providing heirs in case of childlessness or where no son had been born, the monetary incentives offered by westerners desire for children is so strong that the commercial market in the child laundering business exists.

The dynamics of culture and human relationships have made researchers to observe many influences, manifestations, happenings and occurrences in marriage stability within Yoruba community and likewise in this case, Vwang community.

However, one of the general cultural beliefs in marriage is that procreation is the basic aim of marriage, for them marriage and procreation are inseparable. However, modernization has not weakened the deep rooted tradition of having a child as soon as possible after marriage.

Owo (1994), having many children makes one feel contented and important and also usually respected by others for not being childless. Marriages which fail to produce children often end in divorce. It is also describe as the dissolution or abrogation of marriage. Psychologically, he further explained that childless couples especially the women are always depressed about their condition; they always feel bad because most of the blames are levied against them. The pains suffered by childless couples attract sympathy

• STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

In most societies, marriage and procreation are intertwined and inseparable. It is almost always presumed that readiness for marriage is readiness for procreation; to get married is an opportunity to contribute freely, through procreation, to the survival of the lineage and society at large (Nwafor, 2018). During marriage (both traditional and Christian), one of the most appreciated and common gestures of good-will show to the newly married couple is praying for them for the fruit of the womb, may God grant you many children, you shall give birth to male and female, in nine months we shall gather to celebrate the birth of your baby (Abiodun, 2010). In these wishes, both the societal perception of marriage and the use of sexuality in marriage as primarily geared toward the begetting of progeny are encapsulated.

Having children is perceived to be a natural part of reproductive cycle for women (Obiyo, 2016). This expectation emanates from young people as individuals, as a couple, and from the society of which they are part (Mabasa, 2000). The problem arises when a marriage fails to lead to procreation. A cultural context that stresses procreation blames a woman for any failure in this regard.

Globally, the word ―childlessness‖ sounds interesting to the ears of listener and a sense of pity is immediately aroused in the minds of the couple. This problem is prevalent in the African setting particularly Nigeria. There is an uncomfortable silence around the issue of childlessness in our Society. It is often tough enough to lend an ear to the laments of those who experience such pain, suffering and indignity when it comes to the scourge of barrenness (Obiyo, 2016). It can be even more grueling for those who suffer from childlessness.

In many cases in Nigerian men simply refuse to accept that they could be the problem and the women in their desperation from social pressures have been forced to help their men to bring in children from outside (Obiyo, 2016). Childlessness seems to cause constant fight, misunderstanding and suspicion in the marriages (Dike, 2013). It appears to make sex become mechanical and unfulfilling and the risk of being sterile can be a heavy burden among couples. The socio-cultural problem is the woman risk divorce and in some cases gets rivals. The number of childless couples seems to be tremendously on the increase, this is evident to the fact that attempts to initiate a move which would have been directed towards adoption is taken with serious resistance in some places mostly by couples without child (Hollos, 2003). Differences in the way couples commonly view childlessness can lead to tension and anger in marital relationships.

Throughout the world and particularly in African societies, Igala land not exempted, the word “childlessness’s listener and a sense of pity is immediately aroused in the mind.

Therefore it is obviously because of this that the research wishes to embarked on this research study to find effects of Childlessness and Socio Cultural Impact on Married Couples of Vwang Community in Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State.

• AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

            The purpose of this study is to investigate into the challenges of records keeping and management in secondary schools of Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State. Specifically, the study is design to

1. Ascertain the causes of childlessness on married couples.
2. Ascertain the effects of childlessness on married people in a community.
3. Ascertain the relationship between childlessness and socio – cultural impact on married people.
4. Suggest ways of preventing childlessness among married people.
   • RESEARCH QUESTIONS

            To achieve the objectives of this study, the following research questions are put forward as the basic frame work for the study.

1. What are the causes of childlessness on married couples?
2. What are the effects of childlessness on married people in your community?
3. What relationship is between childlessness and socio – cultural practices on married people in your community?
4. What are the ways of preventing childlessness among married people?
   • HYPOTHESES

            For the successful completion of the study, the following research hypotheses were formulated to guide the research study;

H_O1: There are no causes of childlessness among married couples.

H_O2: There are no effects of childlessness on married couples.

• THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

SKINNER’S THEORY OF BRANCHING PROGRAMMING

                        This study has the theoretical backing of Skinner; a behaviourist, and well known psychologist who extended the work of Edward. L. Thorndike. Skinner was instrumental in popularizing a behaviouristic approach to teaching and learning through his research on the effects of reinforcement.

                        Meanwhile, Skinner’s theory is in consonance with Computer as a result of learning at the learner’s pace and development of interest by operant conditioning, hence the student’s achievement is improved.

            Saul McLeod(2019), cited Bruner (1966) was concerned with how knowledge is represented and organized through different modes of thinking (or representation).

            In his research on the cognitive development of children, Jerome Bruner proposed three modes of representation:

1. Enactive representation (action-based)
2. Iconic representation (image-based)

• Symbolic representation (language-based)

            He stated that Bruner’s constructivist theory suggests it is effective when faced with new material to follow a progression from enactive to iconic to symbolic representation; this holds true even for adult learners.

            He further said that Bruner’s work also suggests that a learner even of a very young age is capable of learning any material so long as the instruction is organized appropriately, in sharp contrast to the beliefs of Piaget and other stage theorists.

• SIGNIFCANCE OF THE STUDY

            It is believed that at the completion of the study, the finding will be of benefit to the married couple. The study will also be of great benefit to the researchers who intend to embark on similar topics as this will serve as guide. Finally, the study will be of great benefit and importance to the academia; lecturers, teachers, students and the general public, and where the research will be carried.

• SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The scope of the study covers childlessness and socio – cultural impact on married couple. The researcher will encounter some constraints which will limits the scope of the study. They include:

• Availability of Research Material: The research material available to the researcher is insufficient, thereby limiting the study
• Time: The time frame allocated to the study does not enhance wider coverage as the researcher has to combine other academic activities and examination with the study.
• Organizational Privacy: limited access to the selected auditing firm makes it difficult to get all the necessary and required information concerning the activities.
  • OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS
• Childlessness: Childlessness refers to people – men and women – having no children. Childlessness may have personal, social or political significance.
• Socio – Cultural: The term “socio – cultural system” embraces three concepts: society, culture and system. A cultural is the learned behaviors that are shared by the members of a society, together with the material products of such behaviours.
• Married couple: This refers to man and woman united in marriage. Married couple – two people who are married to each other; “his second marriage was happier than the first”; “a married couple without love” man and wife, marriage. Family unit, family – primary social group; parents and children; “he wanted to have a good job before starting a family”.
• Impact: impression or power that childlessness has on people.
• Adoption:A non – biological child of a family but legally accepted as a member of that family.
• Childless:The inability to conceive and bear a child for married couples. It may have personal, social and or political significance (Peter, N. 2010). They are two distinguishable types of childlessness, voluntary and involuntary, voluntary childlessness is described as childfree, it is a consequence of having made a decision not to produce. To be childless not by choice is defined as involuntary childlessness (Miall Charlene, 1986).
• Contraception:It refers to a drug, device or practice used to prevent a woman from becoming pregnant.
• Culture:According to Edward Tylor  (1871), culture is that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, law, morals, customs and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society.
• Fertility:The ability to conceive after sexual intercourse.
• Infertility:The inability to conceive after a period of 12months of uncontrollable sexual intercourse (Billings, 2000).
• Inheritance:This refers to an ownership of certain property after the death of the original owner.
• Linage:The series of families that one belongs to or descends from.
• Sexual Intercourse:The physical activity of sex played by couples in order for them to procreate.
• Surrogate Mother:This refers to where one act as, serve as or a mother substitute. A woman who bears a child for another person, often for pay, either through artificial insemination or by carrying until birth another mother’s surgical operation.