Abstract:
This study is an investigation into the perceptions that people have about the roles of
married women in community development in the Assin North Municipality of the
Central Region of Ghana. Using a qualitative research method, the study also provides an
insight into the reasons that explain the people’s perceptions. Data was collected from
200 respondents who were interviewed in twenty focus groups. It is evident that there are
several perceptions that people have about the roles of married women in community
development, including the perception that, married women can effectively manage both
family and community responsibilities only when there is a permissive, supportive and
encouraging husband and that, married women are the least participatory in community
development processes. The study also identifies the opinions that married women are
biologically fragile, that they have God-given duties, and social ascription as some of the
reasons that explain the perceptions that people have about the roles of married women in
community development. It is, therefore, imperative that the situation of stereotyping,
which the above reasons seek to justify, be urgently reconsidered. The capacity of the
education system comes to the fore in the quest to sensitize the people to be appreciative
of the roles of everyone, as complementary to others’ in the development of their
community. Nonetheless, responses also favoured the empowerment of women which
allows the married women to tell their own story which would necessarily be devoid of
stereotyping.
Description:
A thesis in the Department of Social Studies Education,
Faculty of Social Science Education submitted to the
School of Graduate Studies, University of Education, Winneba
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for
the Award of the Master of Philosophy (M. Phil) degree in
Social Studies
August, 2015
