Influence of paternal authority on the social development of the girl-child among the Igbo in Imo state

Abstract

The study assesses the influence of paternal authority on the social development of the girl-child among the Igbo in Imo state. Multi stage sampling procedure was used to select 206 respondents using interview schedule. Data collected on social development, and influence of paternal authority on the social development was analyzed with percentages, mean, and standard deviation. Average age of the girl children was 15.18 ± 0.86 years. Majority (63.1%) had WASSCE, 8.7% had sexual desire for their fathers, while 66.0% had special relationship with their fathers. Most (90.7%) of the girl-children in the study area accepted that they had positive relationship with their peers, and 84.9% accepted that they had good conflict management skills. My social development was promoted by fathers’ support (WMS = 2.34) and fathers’ stern reaction to my failures motivated me to work harder in subsequent tasks (WMS = 2.33) ranked foremost influence of paternal authority on the social development of the girl-child. Also, 89.3% of the girl-children in the study area accepted that a fathers’ absence makes a girl-child feel misunderstood and unappreciated in her social environment. The study concludes that fathers’ stern reaction to their daughters’ failures motivated their daughters to work harder in subsequent tasks.