Patriarchal-oriented couples' practice of self-empowerment and its effects on their marital stability. A case study of Cameroonian couples in Denmark.
Author
Joan Chufi, Ayeah
Term
4. term
Publication year
2023
Submitted on
2023-05-31
Pages
54
Abstract
Marriage is a core social institution, and many couples seek stability in their relationships. This study examines how differences in gender role expectations between Cameroon and Denmark shape marital stability for Cameroonian couples living in Denmark who hold patriarchal orientations. Cameroon is often described as patriarchal, while Denmark is widely seen as more egalitarian, and some argue it leans toward matriarchal norms. In patriarchal systems, power tends to be unevenly distributed, and wives may be dependent on their husbands. The study uses qualitative interviews with Cameroonian couples in Denmark and analyzes them with interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA), an approach that explores participants’ lived experiences and the meanings they attach to them. Two theoretical perspectives guide the discussion. Gary Becker’s economic theory of marriage (1973) proposes that marriages are more likely to persist when the benefits of being married exceed the benefits of being single; it has been criticized for being static and not capturing how people’s meanings change over time. From this lens, greater empowerment, especially for wives, can sometimes challenge marital stability, while in other cases it can improve the relationship. The Practice Theory Perspective on Doing and Undoing Gender Equality (Grzelec, 2022) suggests that entrenched stereotypes are replaced only when new ways of doing things are practiced consistently until they become normal. Applied here, the study encourages couples to experiment with more shared and mutually empowering role arrangements to support marital stability within the Danish context.
Ægteskabet er en grundlæggende samfundsinstitution, og mange par ønsker stabilitet i deres forhold. Dette studie undersøger, hvordan forskelle i forventninger til kønsroller mellem Cameroon og Danmark påvirker ægteskabelig stabilitet hos kamerunske par i Danmark med en patriarkalsk orientering. Cameroon beskrives ofte som patriarkalsk, mens Danmark almindeligvis opfattes som mere egalitært, og nogle vil endda hævde, at det hælder mod matriarkalske normer. I patriarkalske systemer er magten ofte ulige fordelt, og hustruer kan være afhængige af deres ægtefæller. Studiet bygger på kvalitative interviews med kamerunske par i Danmark og analyserer dem med fortolkende fænomenologisk analyse (IPA), en tilgang der udforsker deltagernes levede erfaringer og de betydninger, de tillægger dem. To teoretiske perspektiver rammesætter diskussionen. Gary Beckers økonomiske ægteskabsteori (1973) foreslår, at ægteskaber består, når fordelene ved at være gift overstiger fordelene ved at være single; teorien kritiseres for at være statisk og ikke indfange, hvordan menneskers betydninger ændrer sig over tid. Set i dette lys kan øget empowerment, især for hustruer, nogle gange udfordre ægteskabelig stabilitet, mens det i andre tilfælde kan forbedre relationen. Praksisteorien om at gøre og gøre kønslighed om (Grzelec, 2022) peger på, at sejlivede stereotyper først afløses, når nye måder at gøre tingene på praktiseres konsekvent, indtil de bliver normale. Anvendt her opfordrer studiet par til at afprøve mere delte og gensidigt styrkende rollefordelinger for at fremme ægteskabelig stabilitet i den danske kontekst.
[This apstract has been rewritten with the help of AI based on the project's original abstract]
Keywords