CONTEMPORARY WIDOWHOOD PRACTICES IN NSUKKA

Abstract

Widowhood practices have survived through generations and continues to exist even in contemporary times. More worrisome is the gender bias that has been instituted in male dominance which exist culturally in Nigeria; Igbo communities to be precise and has consequently, increase the vulnerability of widows to trauma and depression. Therefore, this study investigated the widowhood practices that exist in contemporary times. It anchored on radical feminism because, the theory effectively explained the continued existence of widowhood practices even in contemporary times. The study adopted a descriptive design and a probability and non-probability sampling technique. Data was derived through secondary sources of data collection technique and the use of a research questionnaire. Data derived from the study were presented in tables and analysed using simple percentages. The research findings revealed that, the contemporary widowhood practice in Nsukka are shaving of hair, seclusion, wearing black\white cloth, widowhood disinheritance, restriction of movement, not going out at night and not sleeping alone. The study however, found out that the rate of widowhood disinheritance is very low and that, widowhood practices leads to poverty, depression, high blood pressure and low self-esteem. Therefore, it was recommended that, that government make laws prohibiting all the obnoxious widowhood practices by placing strict sanctions on the enforcers of these widowhood practices.