The centrality of women in moral teachings in Yoruba family system

Abstract

Social order and peaceful co-existence are some of the primary goals in every human society. To have these and other conditions which ensure lives and properties secured, societies ensure moral and ethical uprightness of its members. This is done through various social institutions . Family, Education, and Marriage to mention a few. Among the Yoruba people of south Western Nigeria, parents and other family members are the first teachers of their children, instructing them in the i°proper" ways of life approved by the society. For example, relating with elders and people of same age group, humility, diligence, truthful and accommodating. Culturally among the Yoruba people, Women within the family settings are socialized differently from Men. Women are socialized to be  relationship oriented in marriages, families, communities, provision of love and care for family members, teaching people to live morally upright lives, helping transform oppressive structures and working towards peace and reconciliation. Unlike other study which focused on oppression of women in Yoruba society, this work viewed the significance of women towards the maintenance of order. The paper is divided into six sections: section one examined the place of order in the contemporary society, section two focused on the status of women in Yoruba society, section three explored the concept of morality among the Yoruba people, section four dealt with the centrality of women in the teaching of morality in Yoruba culture. Section five examined the challenges of change on women.s roles as moral teachers, lastly, section six gave a conclusion and some recommendations.