Assignment 42

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QUESTION : Are women better at child rearing and upbringing than men ?

In recent times women play the major role of children upbringing and rearing
. One example of country that explains this is Nigeria. In Nigeria child rearing
and upbringing is influenced by different cultures and belief but most
cultures in Nigeria the women are play major role in child rearing. In most
parts of Nigeria, women are considered subordinate to their male
counterparts, especially in Northern Nigeria as well as in other sectors
including the Nigeria music industry, politics, and education sector. It is
generally believed that women are best suited as home keepers. In the
history of Nigeria when education was introduced to Nigeria women were not
allowed because there was the believe that women didn’t need a degree to
pursue socially acceptable roles like homemaker, mother, and domestic
servant, so from the beginning of time in Nigeria women were trained for
children rearing and upbringing and till date that training and beliefs are
passed from one generation to another . So, even in a patriarchal society,
how did mothers get such undying respect and admiration even when it was
not shown openly and acknowledged?

Back in time, mothers were regarded as “Homebuilders” and all their


activities were limited to the four corners of the house. Men stayed at the
forefront and acted as the voice of the house. The women were silenced and
little or nothing was heard of their impact as pillars of the house.

Despite the relegation of women and mothers in the African society by


patriarchy, core traditional Yorùbá society has always shown great respect to
mothers and revered their role in the society. By becoming a mother, a
woman is promoted to the esteemed position in which she can be referred to
as a precious stone.

The common saying in Yorùbá “Obirinin lo’laye; (The world is owned by


Women) implies that the world revolves because of the power it draws from
women – This saying holds a physical and spiritual meaning-. Motherhood,
the divine strength of creating life, the powerful intuition that allows a
mother to have foreknowledge of any activity around her offspring gives her
the almost Omnipresence power of knowing all. This God-given sense of
wisdom and knowledge over the years, has positioned mothers as secondary
deities on earth. This duty they carry with all sense of pride and love.

“Orisha bi Iya Kosi” – “There is no deity like a mother”. What could have
spurred up such a saying that places mothers on the same pedestal as gods
and deities revered spiritually in Yorùbá culture? The answer is not
farfetched from the spiritual essence they pass on to their offspring. A
mother’s duty never ends- that unconditional love, the absolute spirit of
limitless sacrifice, and the selfless care she provides to her children. Mothers
would literally take the place of their children even in the face of death.
These selfless acts been displayed over the years have shown the
importance of Mothers in Yorùbá society.

Whenever one is set to embark on a journey, and suddenly strikes his or her
left foot on a stub, it is considered as bad luck. It is believed in Yorùbá
culture that the left foot is the maternal foot, and a strike on one’s “mother’s
leg” is bad luck. The journey for that day is cancelled or an appeasement is
done to wade off any evil.

The role and position of mothers in our society cannot be overlooked and left
unnoticed. Life givers, caregivers, protectors, nurses, several multiple roles
embedded in one being. The role of mothers cannot and should not be
compromised at all. The multi-tasking role they play makes them the
superhuman that makes our lives easy the way it seems.
A woman’s role is multi dimensional in Yorùbá culture – a mother, a wife, a
daughter, a priestess, or even a witch. The way she is perceived depends on
the position she occupies, and the different perceptions are reflected
through songs, works of art, music, language, and religion. The highest value
is given to a mother because Yoruba people revere motherhood.

Even in songs, mothers are rated as precious gold:

Iya ni wura iyebiye

Ti a ko le f’owora

O l’oyun mi f’osu mesan

O pon mi f’odun meta

Iya ni wura iyebiye

Ti a ko le f’owora

Translation:

Mother is a precious gold

That cannot be purchased with money

She carried me in her womb for nine months

She nursed me for three years

Mother is a precious gold

That cannot be purchased with money.


according to the research stated above , in Yoruba land , Women play roles
at child rearing and upbringing than men do . Here are points to prove that
women play better role at child upbringing .

1 Women have stronger child-rearing skills than men because it is what they
have grown up doing. The roles of caring and nurturing are assigned by the
parents to their daughters. As a result, by the time they reach adulthood,
they will have mastered these talents. Girls will engage in motherly tasks as
they grow older.

2 Mothers on average spent more time with their children in general than
fathers, spent more time taking care of their children, were more likely not to
work full time, were seen as more overprotective and more caring, spent the
most quality time with their children, and still speak to their children more
often today.

3 Mothers show a wider range of emotional response while fathers use


“Command terms”.

4 Mother’s value love, communication, beauty and relationships, while


fathers I’m Nigeria fathers are more interested in objects and things rather
than their children’s feelings.

It is obvious from the preceding discussion that women play a larger part in
child-rearing than men. There are a number of reasons why mothers are
more essential in the family than fathers. They create the ideal atmosphere
for a child’s healthy development. They do it by actively participating in the
child’s upbringing from the moment he or she is born. Carrying a child from
conception to birth creates a strong link between the mother and the child.

Mothers also provide comfort and sympathy to their children, which is


important for their psychological development. Furthermore, women are
more sensitive to and aware of children’s needs than men. Furthermore,
mothers are outstanding communicators who are always willing to listen to
their children’s worries.

In conclusion woman are better at child rearing and upbringing than men.

REFERRENCE

A Mother's Role In Early Childhood Development. (April 17 , 2020). healthway medical.

adebowale, o. (2020). understanding the cultural and traditional importance of mothers in yoruba
society . life everything you need to live well.

Ashley, S. M. (2009). Gender Difference in Parenting Style and Effect on the Parent-Child Relationship.
Texas State University .

j, A. .. (2020). Are women Better Parents Than Men ? Podium school information knowledge resources.

Ogungbemi, S. A. (2019). Role of Women In Raising Good Children. The Sun voice of the nation.

Thomas-Odia, I. (2021). Specific Roles Of Women In Child Upbringing . The Guardian.

Wayne. (2023). Differences Between Men and Women . Relationship Institute.

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