NdiIgbo prize their womenfolk. Yet, a woman in Igbo culture is not accorded full social recognition, no matter her status in life. Unless she is married and proves to the 'world' that she is a woman by bearing children or at least a child (though debatable). To ndiIgbo, it conforms with the biblical injuction of 'Be Fruitful and Multiply, and fill the earth'.

yea thats very true in igbo land

Let us discuss the social status of this quintessential women- The Igbo women.

What exactly do you mean by full social recognition?

ChinenyeN:

What exactly do you mean by full social recognition?

For example, marriage to an Igbo woman is a protective armour against disrespect and remarks about her. A non-married woman is looked upon disparagingly even by her fellow women.

I know what you're talking about, but I've never witnessed it to that degree. . . But is that it? Is that what you're equating to lack of social recognition?

ChinenyeN:

I know what you're talking about, but I've never witnessed it to that degree. . . But is that it? Is that what you're equating to lack of social recognition?

Also, they take the biggest titles or title names for women in Igboland e.g Di-bu-ugwu meaning husband is eagle. Di-bu-eze-husband is king etc.

So, only married women take those titles?

ChinenyeN:

So, only married women take those titles?

Yes. Unless not in Igboland.

haha i laugh in greek. esp because i know the patronizing reason WHY this topic was created.

Unless she is married and proves to the 'world' that she is a woman by bearing children or at least a child (though debatable). To ndiIgbo, it conforms with the biblical injuction of 'Be Fruitful and Multiply, and fill the earth'.

and are men exempt from the biblical injuction? is a man subject to the same lack of social recognition as a woman if he is impotent?

let's just agree that many African cultures are sexist. period.

Oyinda, a begi. .

Andre, and so, is that what you're equating as lack of social recognition in Igboland? Because married women can take titles of which non-married women cannot?

Marriage confers on Igbo woman so many privileges which an unmarried woman would not get. It enables her to belong to many societies like women cultural dancing group. This is exclusively to married women, association of all married women within a family etc. There is so much social recognition but I do not intend to dwell on that here.
Igbo women are women of substance and it is an abomination and outright stupidity to beg any non Igo woman to become Igbo. I am inviting you to come and discuss social status of this unique women.
It is interesting to note that some of the associations and classified social set up are used to mobilise women at grassroots level. For administrative purposes, through such organisations, decisions pertaining to women at family (umunna) or village meetings are conveyed to them through any of the mentioned associations. Igbo women, may God bless you all.

Isn't this typical of all Nigerian tribes?

Andre Uweh:

For example, marriage to an Igbo woman is a protective armour against disrespect and remarks about her. A non-married woman is looked is looked upon disparagingly even by her fellow women.

This is our traditional form of check against divorce and single mother/womanhood, or do you want what is happening in the Western World to be the norm in Igboland?

Think twice.

Sisi_Kill:

Isn't this typical of all Nigerian tribes?

You may post on your own tribe. The poster is particularly interested on Igbo women who are specially created by God.

Igbo women like their male counterpart, are traditionally very industrious. They are versatile in farming, trade and handicrafts. The main crops cultivated by women are cocoyam, rice, cassava, vegetables, beans. They plant plantain and and banana stems. They process oil palm nuts for palm oil, crack the nuts for kernel which they use for cosmetics, some are sold for cash; but it is an abomination for women to climb palm trees in Alaigbo.

In most traditional Igbo homes, every house wife has her own poultry.

Andre, so is this your issue? The rights conferred to married women, as opposed to their unmarried counterparts?

Custom demands that apart from the attention they give to their poultry, no traditional Igbo woman stays outside her matrimonial home after cocks have gone to roost. That is one of the ETHICS OF IGBO CULTURE.

Andre Uweh:

Custom demands that apart from the attention they give to their poultry, no traditional Igbo woman stays outside her matrimonial home after cocks have gone to roost. That is one of the ETHICS OF IGBO CULTURE.

Is this ethic pan-Igbo?

Igbo women are good traders. They trade mainly on food items-cassava, fish, differenttypes of spices, vegetables.
 They are good potters. They produce different types of pots for cooking and storage of water. They produce musical instruments such as 'udu'.

ChinenyeN:

Is this ethic pan-Igbo?

Yes, but a lot has changed and still changing in Igboland.

Andre Uweh:

Yes, but a lot has changed and still changing in Igboland.

hmm. . . I'll have to go back and ask about that in particular, then.

Igbo women are good in handicrafts. They knit mats . They manufacture soap and cosmetics such as ude aku (palm oil cream), uli etc.
They weave textile materials such as 'Akwete'. Am sure Chinenye is very conversant with Akwete. They are manufactured somewhere not far from your town.

Wait, I think I know where I'm getting confused, now. You're using "recognition" and "status" synonymously, and I understand the two to be different, but related things. You seem to want to talk about status though, and not recognition, in particular, because from what I know, at least the Igbo society that I'm familiar with, women do receive lots of recognition. So, I would think that that ought not be your issue. So now, if you could help me out though on one little thing, do elaborate more on what you mean by "full recognition". Is it just titles that you are talking about or is there more to it?

ChinenyeN:

Wait, I think I know where I'm getting confused, now. You're using "recognition" and "status" synonymously, and I understand the two to be different, but related things. You seem to want to talk about status though, and not recognition, in particular, because from what I know, at least the Igbo society that I'm familiar with, women do receive lots of recognition. So, I would think that that ought not be your issue. So now, if you could help me out though on one little thing, do elaborate more on what you mean by "full recognition". Is it just titles that you are talking about or is there more to it?

There is more to it. For example, for a woman to be married, is for her to climb the first ladder to social recognition. People say about her such as 'okwa nwunye mmadu' (she is somebody's wife when one is about to or make an unwholesome remark about her.

Igbo women are indeed very very industrious. They support their husbands in home management and upkeep. They contribute to the economic well being of the family.
May God bless our Igbo mothers and wives.

Really? The first ladder of social recognition? Are you sure about that?

Granted though, I'm not denying the high level of importance placed on the institution. It is very important, for both men and women alike. It actually even affects the status of both, and not just the women. It also confers societal rights which unmarried people cannot obtain. So boys and girls alike are reared with the expectation that they will one day get married. So this thing that you're complaining about isn't woman-specific. I also don't believe it is as bad as you seem to make it out to be. Neither men nor women attain 'full societal recognition' until marriage.

Andre Uweh:

Custom demands that apart from the attention they give to their poultry, no traditional Igbo woman stays outside her matrimonial home after cocks have gone to roost. That is one of the ETHICS OF IGBO CULTURE.

I actually didn't want to comment on this topic owing to my off-tangent veiws of igbo women, in order not to spoil a good thread. But i'm impressed with the above quote. Our cultural values were meant to protect us. Its so unfortunate they are being lost faster than Bolt could finish a 100 m race.

Andre Uweh:

Custom demands that apart from the attention they give to their poultry, no traditional Igbo woman stays outside her matrimonial home after cocks have gone to roost. That is one of the ETHICS OF IGBO CULTURE.

and are men allowed to stay out of their matrimonial home after cocks have gone to roost?

oyinda.:

and are men allowed to stay out of their matrimonial home after cocks have gone to roost?

YES.

Yaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. You mean on top of all that fabulousness they are also allowed to have their own poultry?