People’s perceptions about unmarried women A survey in Kwaebibirem District of the Eastern Region

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.