WELCOME TO KENTERPRO:
CONSEQUENCES OF POLYGAMOUS MARRIAGE ON CHRISTIAN HOMES IN PANKSHIN LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF PLATEAU STATE

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1. Background of the Study

There are many shades of interest in Nigeria due to different tribes, states, towns and villages that makes up the country. Every individual has certain interest of needs both material and emotional. The different interests gives rise to the different types of marriage that abounds in Nigeria. The types of marriage found in Nigeria are polygamous and monogamy. Polygamous marriage is a system of marriage in which a man marries more than one wife at a time. The number of wives which ranges from two to many or may not depending on the status. Religious and economic capability of the man. This form of marriage has given rise to what sociologists often refer to as the extended family. Thus Bell & Vogal (2012) define extended family as any grouping broader than the nuclear family which is related by descent marriage of adoption. Thus, this stands to be a common practice in Nigeria as this varying structure of any family from society to society has brought this practice. In the past polygamous marriage system was practiced in Nigeria because the main occupation was farming.

Polygamous marriage is a practice where a man is married to more than one wife at the same time. This practice has been a part of the African culture for centuries, and it is still prevalent in some parts of the continent, including Nigeria. However, it is a practice that is strongly discouraged by Christianity, which is the dominant religion in Nigeria. Polygamy is the type of marriage system practiced in the traditional African society whereby a man takes more than one wife at the same time. Polygamy was mostly practiced in African society because of the economical and sociological values associated with it in the olden days. Also, in Africa, polygamy is wide spread and nobody seems to believe or question that its occurrence is closely related to economic conditions. According to Chitamber (2012) a family is the basic social institution of an organized relationship involving workable and dependable person. One of the strongest appeals of polygamy to men in Africa is precisely its economic aspect, for a man with several wives command more land, can produce more food for his household and can achieve a high status due to the wealth which he can command. The wives and children were made to work in the farms in order to boost agricultural productivity. At that time, the education of the child was not very important. Viewing this from the social and economic point of view, polygamy is not an ideal form of marriage because the more number of wives and children the more problems the father is confronted with.

The family as an integrated and functional unit of society has for a considerable period of time captured the attention and imagination of researchers. While the family itself is a matter of study, equally important for research is its role as a factor influencing and affecting the development, behavior, and well-being of the individual. The family is a basic unit of study in many social science disciplines, such as sociology, psychology, economics, anthropology, psychiatry, and social work. This type of definition fails to identify units that function as families in an economic, social or emotional sense but do not usually reside in the same household. Although the literature often focuses on family living arrangements, family membership includes obligations across and between generations, no matter where family members are living. A family is a kinship unit and that even when its members do not share a common household, the unit may exist as a social reality. (Desai, 2012).

The moral decadence of the society today, may be as a result of the inability of polygamous parents to give the children adequate financial support for academic excellence. Some polygamous family may not give their children the educational materials they need due to lack of funds. This may result in poor feeding and general maintenance of the family members. Parents serve a useful purpose in the upbringing of their children in the home, but in polygamous interaction between fathers and their children because of the large number of family (Richard and Wanga, 2012). The parents may not be able to go through their school work at home consequently, they may not be able to identify the needs of their children who may be left to grow up alone. Infact, polygamy may affect the upbringing of children educationally, socially and morally. Furthermore, this tendency affects most polygamous home negatively, as equal opportunity is not given to the children in their educational pursuit. The above statement is supported by Osaigbovo (2013) who agreed that there is gender inequality in favour of the male children. Most girls from polygamous home are withdrawn from school at the tender age and they are given to husbands. Polygamy marriage therefore is a kind of marriage that permits a person to have more than one husband or wife.

Khasawneh (2011) feels that polygamy does not negatively affect pupils, but might affect them positively and negatively. He asserts that when the needs of children are all met in their polygamous home. Children are not affected emotionally in their homes. Children from polygamous homes can assist each other in their school work. This can only happen if the environment at home made them develop a sisterhood attitude towards each other. The children would be sharing the burden of household chores therefore getting enough time to do their school work while at home. Children raised in polygamous family’s exhibit development dysfunction as reflected in many outcomes including poor performance, poor mental health status, low self-esteem, poor social adjustment, rivalry between full and half siblings. These can lead to distress disagreement and marital tension which challenge parent ability to take care of their children. When the family breaks down in this way the children bear the greatest burden and often become the target of the parents’ frustration. The distress and hostility that arises from marital difficulties is transferred into parenting behavior resulting in dysfunctional parenting and impaired outcome for children. A child who is exposed to stress and violence in the family setting tends to express more hostility and more violent coping methods. Petit (2012) concur with this sentiment when he asserts that a chronic pattern of family stress can trigger violence. Most times, violence in children and academic performance of a child could be traced to the kind of home they are trained.

Oleh, Kellegham, and Wanga, (2011) state that polygamy as a cultural practice does not affect a child but it has factors that are in it that affect and influence the child’s academic achievement. Family size affect the child as they lack the need, attention, guidance when doing their school work. The level of family cohesion and family relationship that exist in families are capable of influencing pupils’ academic achievement. In polygamous families, where relationship among mothers and among siblings is not cordial, negatively influence the child’s academic performance. The home influences the child at the most earliest possible time when his mind is most receptive. The pupils are psychologically, socially and emotionally affected by the bad relationship that exists in polygamous homes and thereby performing badly in their exams. The financial position of the polygamous families influences the academic achievement of the pupils. This affects the child in getting his fees paid on time, getting all the school requirements on time and hiring domestic workers to avoid absenting the pupils, the academic level of parents is seen as one of the major contributing factor of a child’s academic performance. It affects the achievement drives of their children’s learning endeavors. Parents with low academic achievement fail to assist their children with their school work. Not all polygamous set ups influence the pupils academic achievement in a negative way. Some parents from polygamous families afford to provide conducive environment relate well and financially cover their children’s needs.

According to Adams (2021) Pankshin Local Government Area is located in Plateau State, Nigeria. The area is predominantly Christians, with the majority of the population belonging to various Christian denominations. Despite the prevalence of Christianity in the area, the practice of polygamy is still widespread, and it has significant consequences on Christian homes in the area. The consequences of polygamous marriage on Christian homes in Pankshin Local Government Area are numerous. First, it often leads to conflict and tension in the family. The wives may compete for the attention and affection of their husband, leading to jealousy and resentment. This, in turn, affects the children in the family, who may grow up in a tense and unstable environment. Secondly, according to Alabi (2015) polygamy often leads to the neglect of the children in the family. The husband may be unable to provide for all his wives and children adequately, leading to a lack of basic necessities such as food, clothing, and education. This can have long-term effects on the children’s development, leading to a cycle of poverty and illiteracy. Thirdly, polygamy often leads to the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. The husband may have multiple sexual partners, increasing the risk of contracting and spreading STDs. This, in turn, affects the wives and children in the family, who may also contract the disease. Again, polygamy often leads to the disintegration of the family unit. The wives may become dissatisfied with their situation and leave the family, leading to the breakdown of the family structure. This can have long-term effects on the children, who may grow up without a stable family environment.

It is on this that the research work intends to embark on a study of this nature to find out the consequences of polygamous marriage on Christian home in Pankshin local government area of Plateau state.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Polygamous marriage became a unique and controversial issue in every society, as if the country could not accept the customs which is beyond their daily habits. Children from polygamous marriages may face abuse, psychological distress, low self-esteem, and marital discord. Children of polygamous marriages are often faced with a confusing family structure and competition for their fathers attention and that changes in the family structure that occur when a new wife is added may create problems in a developing child. Children of polygamous marriages are influenced by the conflict and/or stress experienced by their mother. Mothers may be less affectionate and involved with their children if they are experiencing problems in their marriage. The practice of polygamy has constituted a great hindrance to the formal education of the child. Equal opportunity is not given to the children by their parents in their education pursue. Some children are withdrawn from schools. The few ones that are allowed to school are subjected by going from one house to house, street to street after school e.g. hawking. Lack of proper care of students may lead to poor educational achievement. It is on this note that the research work tends to find out the consequences of polygamous marriage on Christian homes in Pankshin local government area of Plateau state.

The prevalence of polygamous marriage in Pankshin Local Government Area has significant consequences on Christian homes in the area. The practice of polygamy goes against the teachings of Christianity, which emphasizes the importance of a monogamous marriage between one man and one woman. The problem is that the practice of polygamy is deeply ingrained in the culture of Pankshin Local Government Area, and it is often seen as a symbol of wealth and social status. As a result, many Christian men in the area engage in polygamous marriages, despite the negative consequences on their families.

The consequences of polygamous marriage on Christian homes in Pankshin Local Government Area are numerous. The wives often compete for the attention and affection of their husbands, leading to jealousy and resentment. This, in turn, affects the children in the family, who may grow up in a tense and unstable environment. Polygamy also often leads to the neglect of the children in the family, as the husband may be unable to provide for all his wives and children adequately. Furthermore, the practice of polygamy often leads to the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, and it can also lead to the disintegration of the family unit. These consequences have long-term negative effects on the children and the community as a whole.

Therefore, the problem of polygamous marriage on Christian homes in Pankshin Local Government Area needs to be addressed to promote the well-being and development of families and communities in the area.

1.3. Purpose of the study

The purpose of this study is to investigate the consequences of polygamous marriage on Christian homes in Pankshin Local Government Area of Plateau State. Specifically, the study aims to:

1. Examine the impact of polygamous marriage on the well-being of family members, particularly the wives and children.
2. Identify the cultural and social factors that contribute to the acceptance of polygamy in Pankshin Local Government Area.
3. Analyze the challenges faced by women and children in polygamous marriages.
4. Find out if children from polygamous homes are provided with adequate school materials to enhance their academic achievement.
5. To find out the extent to which polygamy affects the academic achievement of secondary school students.

1.4. Research questions

The major problem of the study is an attempt to provide answers to the following questions.

1. What is the impact of polygamous marriage on the well-being of family members, particularly the wives and children?
2. What are the cultural and social factors that contribute to the acceptance of polygamy in Pankshin Local Government Area?

• What are the challenges faced by women and children in polygamous marriages?

1. To what extent do children from polygamous homes are provided with adequate school materials to enhance their academic achievement?
2. To what extent does polygamy affect the academic achievement of secondary school students?

1.5. Significance of the study

The study on the consequences of polygamous marriage on Christian homes in Pankshin Local Government Area of Plateau State is significant for several reasons.

Firstly, the study will contribute to the body of knowledge on the impact of polygamy on families, particularly in a Christian context. It will help to shed light on the challenges faced by families in polygamous marriages and the long-term effects on the well-being of the family members.

Secondly, the study will provide insights into the cultural and social factors that perpetuate the practice of polygamy in Pankshin Local Government Area. It will help to identify the underlying beliefs and attitudes that contribute to the acceptance of polygamy and provide recommendations for addressing these cultural and social factors.

Thirdly, the study will provide a basis for developing interventions aimed at mitigating the negative consequences of polygamous marriages on families and communities. It will help to identify the specific areas where support and intervention are needed, such as improving access to education and healthcare services and providing economic empowerment programs for women and children in polygamous families.

Fourthly, polygamous families will know the importance of academic performance thereby giving their children the best of educational achievement as polygamous family will tend to leave in peace with one another as when a home is peaceful, the children tend to behave well in every area of life including their academic performance. The study will enlighten school authorities more on how to tackle poor academic performance from students, thereby instilling sense of seriousness to students and also counsel the students where they need counselling on how to handle issues concerning family challenges and the environment at large.

Finally, the study will contribute to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women in Pankshin Local Government Area. It will help to highlight the negative impact of polygamy on women’s rights and provide recommendations for addressing gender inequalities in the area.

The society in general will know how to tackle polygamous issues in order to bring peace in the family. The society will know how to handle issues concerning conflict and unrest in the family thereby providing adequate counseling when needed to polygamous family.

Overall, the study on the consequences of polygamous marriage on Christian homes in Pankshin Local Government Area of Plateau State is significant as it will provide valuable insights into a complex issue affecting families and communities in the area. It will help to inform policy and interventions aimed at promoting the well-being and development of families and communities in the region.

1.6. Scope of the Study

The scope of this study on the consequences of polygamous marriage on Christian homes in Pankshin Local Government Area of Plateau State will be limited to the following: The study will focus on Christian homes in Pankshin Local Government Area where polygamy is practiced. It will further examine the impact of polygamous marriage on the well-being of family members, particularly the wives and children. The study will explore the cultural and social factors that contribute to the acceptance of polygamy in Pankshin Local Government Area. The study will investigate the challenges faced by women and children in polygamous marriages and the interventions needed to address these challenges. The study will analyze the effects of polygamous marriages on gender relations and the promotion of gender equality. The study will not cover other forms of marriage, such as monogamous marriages or polyandrous marriages. It will also not cover the entire Plateau State, but only the Pankshin Local Government Area. Additionally, the study will not focus on the legal aspects of polygamous marriages or the religious perspectives on the issue, but rather on the social and cultural consequences of polygamy on Christian homes in the area.