Culture of Family Ideals and Perceived Subjugating Positions of Women in Patriarchy Society: The Way Forward

Abstract

Qualitatively, this article sought to examines the essence of family ideals and the perceived subjugating positions of women in patriarchy society. Patriarchy has been a cultural issue to grapple with in our contemporary society. The paper intends to place male dominance as a trigger factor for domestic violence within a theoretical framework which shows that it is not an individual problem but rather a social one. This is why this research is not only apt and timely, but also appropriate. Phenomenological design was adopted for this study. The research sought to answer the following questions: (1) what are the position of women in the family?; (2) what are the position of women in the workplace?; and (3) what are the position of women in the church?. The population was made up of married men and women in the Effutu municipality of Central Region of Ghana. The population for the study consisted of thirty people, which were made up of fifteen females and fifteen males from five communities within the municipality. The five communities were conveniently selected. Purposive sampling technique was employed in selecting the population for the study. The criteria for the selection were (1) married men and women, (2) households having permanent residence of couples, (3) gainfully employed and (4) being church goers. This research is delimited to male domineering of women in the areas of households, workplace and the church. It is further delimited to selected communities in the Effutu Municipality of the Central Region of Ghana. Qualitatively, outcomes from the interviews, observation and domestic violence data from Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) at the municipal police headquarters, Winneba were analyse based on strands of themes arrived at. It was revealed that family ideals are controlled and shrouded in patriarchal and men benefit at the expense of women. In the family, while men are seen as the head and independent, most women are not independent. They rely on men for upkeep because they have either become house wives or are not gainfully employed. Based on the findings it was recommended that, women should form caucuses and networks within professional organizations and academic disciplines to pressure for changes in internal policies and priorities. Women’s studies programmes should be established in universities and there should also be creation of serious academic journals focused on gender and women empowerment.

Keywords: Culture, Family, Patriarchy, Positions, Society, Women