Changing Perceptions of the Value of Daughters and Girls’ Education among the Isoko of Nigeria
Population studies
21
Issue: 1
(04 - 2006)
This paper examines the changes in parents’ perception on the value of daughters and their
education. It utilizes information generated from Focus Group Discussions in two urban
and four rural Isoko communities in Delta State, southern Nigeria. Eight Focus Groups
were constituted in each of the towns and villages (four for men and four for women). The
groups were homogeneous in terms of sex, age and educational level. It is observed that
parents’ perception on the value of daughters is changing because adult daughters have been
found to be more caring and more supportive of aged parents than adult sons. Consequently,
parents now consider the education of daughters as very rewarding since educated
daughters become better equipped to provide support to their parents. The changing
attitudinal disposition towards girls’ education has implication for the enhancement of
women’s status and fertility decline.
Key Words: Changing perceptions, value of daughters, girls’ education,
women’s status, fertility, Isoko, Nigeria
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