Abstract:
This study aimed at discovering people of Kwaebibirem views about unmarried women
in order to see whether their perceptions align with what was already in the literature
about unmarried women in other countries. The study was conducted in Kwaebibirem
district in the Eastern Region of Ghana. The participants of the study were 110 adults
purposively drawn purposively from five towns that were conveniently chosen from the
district. The study employed the mixed-method design. Data were collected through the
administration of questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. Findings from study
revealed that many of the participants had a negative perception about unmarried
women while others showed positive perceptions about unmarried women. The
findings also revealed that the married people especially, the married female had the
most negative perceptions than the single males and the females. The study revealed
that these negative perceptions were rooted in the idea that the unmarried woman is at
fault but not the men or societal norms. From the study it was evident that the perception
that unmarried women are unhappy was not about their marriage per se rather how
others see them; what others say, think and do to them that make unmarried women
unhappy. Furthermore, the study showed that people perceived too much education on
the side a woman, lack of money on the side of her suitor and too much selectiveness
on the side of the unmarried woman as causes of women delaying marriages. It is
recommended that a change in societal norms to pave way for respect for people
irrespective of their marital status. Besides, it is also recommended that laws on all
manner of negative comments, marginalization and stigmatization of people especially,
the unmarried women should be enforced by law enforcement institutions to help allow
people to make life time choices they want to make.
Description:
A Thesis in the Department of social studies education, faculty of social sciences
education, submitted to the School Of Graduate Studies, University of
Education Winneba in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Master of
Philosophy (Social Studies) degree.
JULY, 2015