ABSTRACT
Marital infidelity is one of the factors militating against
marriage and family which are two institutions that work towards the population
and growth of the society. This research study is undertaken to make a little
contribution towards creating awareness of the ills of marital infidelity in
Idemili North L.G.A.; and to search for the most likely causes and solutions to
the problem. The research adopted the systematic sampling approach for the
study with a sampling size of 530 respondents. The respondents were drawn from
various communities within the Local Government Area, covering the market women
and men, civil servants, independent workers and police men and women working
within the Local Government Area. The research study was able to make some
findings, some of which are, that marital infidelity is very rampant the Area
of study; and that it is most rampant among the married couples of age bracket
of 25-35 and 36-45. The research made a number of recommendations on the
problem of marital infidelity. Some of these recommendations are, that churches
and Christian organizations of married men and women should establish marriage
counseling centres in the Local Government Area; and that victims of marital
infidelity should be encouraged not to resort to divorce and separation.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1
Background to the Study.
Marriage and family are two
unique institutions that form the bedrock of a society. Without marriage and
family, society cannot be said to exist. This is why, any phenomenon that does
harm to either marriage or family, inevitably does a great harm and damage to
the society at large.
Marital infidelity as presented
by Igbo (2003) is one of the probable causes of marital instability. It is a
phenomenon that adversely destabilizes the uniqueness of marriage and family
institutions. It brings about the moral degradation and bastardization of
marriage and family as cultural and social institutions.
Marriage is understood as
institution in which the parties concerned have exclusive sexual right to each
other. Macionis and Gerber (2005), identified marriage as a legally sanctioned
relationship usually involving economic cooperation as well as normative sexual
activity and child bearing, that people expect to be enduring. Marriage is an
institution in which inter
personal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a
variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found.
Ifih and Ezeah (2004)
specifically identified marriage as a durable union between one or more men and
one or more women sanctioned by the society. Giddens (2008) looks at marriage
as a socially acknowledged and approved sexual union between two adult
individuals. Marriage is a legitimate sexual union, completely exclusive to the
partners. It is therefore a sacred institution involving legal union of a man
and a woman as husband and wife. This union permits the partners every sexual
right limited to each other and excluding any third party except in cases of
polygamous marriages as observed by Ifih and Ezeah.
The family on the other hand is
founded on marriage. Marriage gives credence to a family as an institution.
Without marriage, a family lacks every merit, that is, why every family that
originates from legal marital union is recognized as a microcosm of society.
The family
has often been regarded as the corner stone of the society. In both pre-modern
and modern societies, family has been seen as the most basic unit of social
organization and which carries out vital tasks such as bearing, harnessing and
socializing of children. Family is usually the first social group in which man
learns aspects of his culture.
Murdock, quoted by Haralambos
and Holborn (2004) examined the institution of family in a wide range of
societies and came up with the definition of family as a social group
characterized by common residence, economic cooperation and reproduction. It
includes adults of both sexes, at least two of whom maintain a socially
approved sexual relationship, and one or more children, owned or adopted, of
the sexually cohabiting adults.
Marriage and family are two
mutually corresponding institutions that necessarily guarantee the existence
and continued survival of a society. The two collaborating institutions play
very vital roles to the corporate existence of a society and ensure its
progress.
In both
marriage and family, we realize that exclusive sexual relationship between the
marriage partners is emphasized as a matter of necessity. This is because only
in exclusive sexual relationship, is the essence of marriage which gives
credence to the family is realized. Any harm done to this sexual union between
husband and wife is a harm done to marriage and by virtue of extension, it is
also a damage done to the family and the larger society. Peschke (1992),
remarks that exclusive sexual union is suited to give expression to the mutual
love and esteem of husband and wife; and to deepen their intimate unity.
Nature, by means of recurrent longing for sexual union between husband and
wife, urges and compels the partners to cohabit together in lasting bond.
Today however, the observable
situation in the society seems to indicate that the sacredness and sanctity of
marriage and family with reference to exclusive sexual union between husband
and wife has been dashed to the mud. Marital infidelity seems to be the order
of the day with no equanimity of conscience. In Idemili North Local Government
Area of Anambra State, traces of cases of marital infidelity seems to replete
every where. From day to day, stories of illegitimate sexual relationships are
related here and there within the Local government Area. These illegitimate
sexual relationships keep affecting the smooth and peaceful existence of a
number of marriages and families. Years backwards, such situation was not
common among the people of the area. But today however, stories of it abound
every where.
Consequences of marital
infidelity are always too bitter to tolerate. Many couples who some years
backwards had lived in peace and mutual accord because they regarded and
respected each other and held their marriages sacrosanct, are today
experiencing a lot of crisis due to either suspicion of marital infidelity
among themselves or out-rightly due to confirmed marital infidelity either on
the part of the husbands or on that of the wives, or worse still of the two
partners. This situation has disintegrated a good number of marital unions that
were once very happy in the Local Government Area.
Obviously, it is a very
difficult issue for any marriage to continue to exist smoothly or for any family
to continue to thrive peacefully in the face of a case of marital infidelity
involving any member of the marriage or family. The exclusive character of the
sexual union between husband and wife within a marriage and family setting
makes such a setting a happy and peaceful
one; and once anything happens to such an exclusive right and union, it
jeopardizes the corporate existence of the institution. The mutual union of the
partners in any marriage is essentially broken once the exclusive sexual right
between husband and wife is put to question.
1.2
Statement of the Problem.
From oral discussions with a
number of married people in Idemili North Local Government Area, it was found
out by the researcher, that marital infidelity is a problem devastating a
number of marriages and families within the Local Government Area. Marital
infidelity perforates the sacredness and sanctity of marriage institution as
well as family in the Local Government Area. It has rendered a number of them
meaningless. By destroying the institutions of marriage and family, marital
infidelity does a great disfavour and harm to the larger society within the
Area.
Marital infidelity erodes the
exclusive right which husband and wife share together and destroys the mutual
trust they had in each other. It equally destroys the love a family shares
among its members. By destroying the stability of marriage and family, marital
infidelity renders null and void the peace and harmony a couple and family
members previously
shared and enjoyed. Marital infidelity, Peschke (1992) maintains, violates the
fidelity promised by the marriage partners to each other and the pledges made
in the marriage.
The New Encyclopedia Britannica
establishes that almost all cultures that recognize marriage also recognize
marital infidelity as a violation of the terms of marriage. It is a complete
aberration and a negative phenomenon that is meant to disrupt the fact of marriage
and its authenticity. Why this phenomenon is obtainable within the society is a
problem begging for an answer. Almost on daily basis, people hear talks and
remarks in the churches, in the market places, on the streets, in government
ministries and commissions, in school institutions and even in the public
buses, on the issue of marital infidelity and the havoc it is causing in the
society.
In almost every wedding
ceremony either in the church or in the hall for reception; and in most
gatherings of people for worship, married couples are always requested to
respect the sacredness and sanctity of marriage. Yet all these not
withstanding, marital infidelity is still very much prevalent within the Local
Government Area. People have even witnessed
wives abandon their husbands, and husbands drive their wives away because of
the same reason.
Marital infidelity is therefore
a social conflict militating against the values of marriage and family. It has
done harm and mischief to erstwhile happy marriages and resulted in separation
and in most cases divorce. A number of factors are responsible for this ugly
situation; and certainly there must be a way out of it. This research study is
therefore meant to address the problems which marital infidelity generates in
the hope of finding possible solution within the area of study.
1.3
Research Questions.
The researcher has proposed the
following research questions to help him out in undertaking the study:
i.
How prevalent is marital infidelity
in Idemili North L. G. A. of Anambra State?
ii.
What age range of married couples is
most involved in marital infidelity in Idemili North L. G. A.?
iii.
What gender of married couples is
most involved in marital infidelity in the Local Government Area?
v.
How has marital infidelity
contributed in cases of divorce and separation within Idemili North L. G. A?
vi.
What could be done to reduce the
rate of marital infidelity in Idemili North L. G. A?
vii.
How do the people of Idemili North
L. G. A. view marital infidelity?
1.4
Objective of the Study.
Every study
one undertakes has objective which is the motive or purpose of the study. Generally,
the objective of this study is to examine the public perceptions of marital
infidelity in Idemili North L. G. A.
Specifically
also, the study is aimed at:
i.
To find out the prevalence and rate
of marital infidelity in Idemili North L. G. A.
ii.
To determine the age range of
married couples that are most involved in marital infidelity.
iii.
To find out which gender of married
couples is most involved in marital infidelity in Idemili North L. G. A.
iv.
To identify the most likely causes
of marital infidelity in Idemili North L. G. A.
v.
To find out the extent marital
infidelity has contributed to cases of divorce and separation in Idemili North
L. G. A.
vi.
To find out the likely solutions to
marital infidelity in the Area.
1.5
Significance of the Study.
Every study
undertaken has corresponding significance motivating the study. Theoretically
speaking, the significance of this study is to enhance the sociological
understanding of the phenomenon of marital infidelity as a social evil and
socio-cultural aberration militating against the progress of marriage and
family institutions in the society in Idemili North L. G. A.
The practical significance on
the other hand will expose the reality of this vice to the people of Idemili
North L. G. A. of Anambra State and to the larger society. This study will
create awareness to married couples of the harm and dangers of marital
infidelity to marriage and family institutions.
If the
married couples are fully aware of the ills and social negative effects of
marital infidelity; and then know how to handle it for the sake of their happy
union as well as for the sake of their family values, it will restore
confidence and mutual trust in the minds of married couples.
The study indeed will be of
great benefit to the wider society. It will help the society to rebuild the
essential values of marriage and family. It will be of great benefit to young
married couples and hopeful, prospective suitors to begin early enough to guard
against the causes of marital infidelity. Finally, it will help the hopeful
suitors who have become cold footed because of the harm marital infidelity has
done to so many marriages, to appreciate once more the values and essential
benefits of marriage institution, and to be adequately prepared to enter it
without any trepidation.
1.6.
Definition of Terms.
It is necessary the key
expressions of this study be properly understood. The researcher has therefore
endeavoured to draw up the following working definition for the study.
i.
Divorce: The
term divorce means dissolution of a legally contracted marriage while
both partners are still alive, who are then free to remarry.
ii.
Family: A
family is a social group characterized by common residence, economic
cooperation and reproduction. It includes adults of both sexes, at least two of
whom maintain a socially approved sexual relationship, and one or more
children, owned or adopted, of the sexually cohabiting adults.
iii.
Family Instability: The
expression family instability is understood to mean absence of mutual
peace, accord and unity within a family. It is absence of stability in a
family. This can result from a number of factors which may militate against a
family progress.
iv.
Marital Infidelity: This
is also known as adultery, extra-marital sex, cheating in marriage or
philandery. It is an illicit sexual or emotional relationship between a married
person and someone who is not the legitimate spouse which has an impact on the level
of intimacy, emotional distance and overall dynamic balance in the marriage.
The role of an extra-marital affair is to create emotional distance in a
marriage.
v.
Marriage: Marriage
is a socially acknowledged and approved sexual union between two adult
individuals.
vi.
Public Perception: This
is the selection, organization and interpretation by the public of
specific stimuli in a situation, according to prior learning activities,
interests, experiences etc. Public perception is a process and a pattern of
public response to a situation affecting the public either favourably or
unfavourably.
================================================================
Item Type: Project Material | Size: 81 pages | Chapters: 1-5
Format: MS Word | Delivery: Within 30Mins.
================================================================
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.