Women Involvement in Specific Forms of Employment and Implications for Family Structure in Africa: The Nigerian Experience

Modernisation coupled with survival needs push women into jobs formerly dominated by men in Africa. This study examined married women’s involvement in one of these jobs and the implications on family structure in southwest Nigeria. Consequently, 150 copies questionnaires were purposively distributed among female bankers and complemented with 20 in-depth interview sessions in selected banks in Ado-Ekiti. Findings revealed that 72.0% remained in banking jobs so as to cater for their needs and that of their families. While 95.3% contributed financially to the family upkeep, majority of respondents’ spouses were not supportive of the job and about 80.7% quarrelled with their husbands over their job demands. However, 95.3 % were not willing to quit their jobs in spite of challenges faced. Further, 46.6% were able to cope with the rigors of family and work demands through house-helps; support from husbands (24.7%) and care givers. Chi-square results showed a significant relationship between income and continued stay in the job (p=001) while no significant relationship was found between women’s involvement in the job and separation/divorce. Women involvement in paid employment has affected women’s roles as mothers and wives. This change, however, may not affect the stability of their marriages