IGBO PROVERBS AND FEMALE DEGRADATION: ABOH MBAISE DIALECT EXAMPLES

Abstract

This study is a representation of the relationship that exists between some Igbo proverbs and female degradation, (the example of Abọh Mbaise dialect). The study investigates how Igbo proverbs degrade females in Abọh Mbaise dialect while the objective of the study is to examine why Igbo proverbs are used to degrade females in Abọh Mbaise dialect. The study made use of the primary and secondary sources of data collection. The primary sources include introspection, oral interview, and observation method while the secondary sources include sourcing of data from relevant books, journals, internet materials and magazines. The study adopted qualitative research design, the choice of this design is because it gives room for in-depth questioning of the respondents based on their responses and analysis of data is based on themes from descriptions. Area or cluster sampling technique was adopted in this study because Abọh Mbaise is large. The study adopted social construction theory of Peter Berger and Thomas Luckman (1966) as its theoretical framework because proverb is a social construct. The population for the study was the entire Abọh Mbaise society with the study sample of twenty (20) people from Abọh Mbaise local government area. The findings revealed that not all proverbs in Abọh Mbaise dialect are sexist. Through the sexist proverbs, females are portrayed as being weak, unreliable, materialistic, unimportant, no value without husband etc. The findings also revealed that, sexist proverbs are used to checkmate the behaviours of the females and inculcate good virtues. The females though not comfortable with the sexist proverbs see them as normal way of life because they believe that it is the tradition of the land. Again, it was also discovered that sexist proverbs can be portrayed through the following ways: gender inequality, continuation of lineage, marriage, male domination, social life and human behaviour. The findings also revealed that sexist proverbs are not often used in Abọh Mbaise, rather they are used during interaction especially when there are ugly situations that need corrections. This seminar work therefore recommends that sexist proverbs should be reviewed or restructured so that people will be comfortable with proverbs and appreciate the wisdom they represent.