NWANYI WUIHE: IN THE LIGHT OF THE IGBO SOCIAL WORLD

Abstract

In Igbo social setting, male child traditionally is preferred to female child. Igbo society is gender sensitive and patriarchal in nature. Even at birth, warm welcome and special recognition are accorded to male child as against the female counterpart. Male child is perceived as sustainers of lineage, holders of central and most important positions of authority and inheritors of immovable properties. Early in life, male child is made to understand that he is superior to the female. Thus, mothers wish to give birth to a male child as that will properly entrench her to her husband's heart. On the other hand, men are joyous because he has a man that will take his place after his death and continue his family line. This paper therefore argues that urbanization has drastically changed this pattern of old belief. It is observed in the contemporary society that female child takes appropriate care of her parents more than male child. Parents prefer spending holidays in their daughters' house as against the male child. This paper advocates value for female children because of their role in the society. Both male and female children must be equally empowered economically and psychologically.