Slavery and Family relationships: Implications for Family Living Education. By Bridget Ogowewo

Slavery and Family Relationship: Implications for Family Living Education By Bridget Ogowewo Guyana is a multi cultural society, made up of six ethnic groups ; among them are the Afro Guyanese. Although family is the basic unit of every society, the conceptualization of family varies across cultures . This study focused on the Afro Guyanese family since only the Afro Guyanese had slavery experience in Guyana. Traditionally, family is a social group characterized by common residence, economic cooperation and reproduction. It includes adults of both sexes, at least two of whom maintain a socially approved sexual relationship and one or more children, own or adopted of the cohabiting adults, (Fulcher & Scott, 2003). It is the instrument that brings together individuals and group activities. There are some basic expectations of the family. United Nations (1992b) as cited by Usman (2002) enumerated the role of the family to include: procreation, socialization, providing affection and emotional support. She stressed that the family has been described by the sociologist as the smallest unit but the most important unit within the society. It is an agency of social control (Heald, 1991). He explained that during the early years, the child is largely dependent on its family and as such its parents have considerable power to direct its behaviour. A pertinent question for our modern society is to ask if the family is still performing its role. Usman (2002), noted that the family which has been a unit of organization, the basis on which we can plan and develop our wider communities, is rapidly disappearing by day due to a number of factors, such as urbanization, political , economic and social changes in the society. She added that these factors have impacted the family resulting in divergent family forms. Hence Fulcher and Scott (2003) again defined the family as a small group of closely related persons who share a distinct sense of identity and responsibility for each other that outweighs their commitment to others. This broad definition has a different concept of family. It does not fit the traditional conception of the family. This group is not based on marriage, biological descent or adoption. It embraces different forms of family relationships such as cohabiting (unmarried couple living together). In this context Fulcher and Scott ( 2003) cited Gittens (1993) who argued that the term family should be families, in order to give recognition to the various forms of family relationships. Cohabitation is categorized into three forms by Fulcher and Scott (2003) as:  Long- term relationships similar to marriage ( consensual)  Short-term relationships with little commitment.  Pre- marriage relationships. In Britain, cohabitation takes the form of pre-marriage which may lead to marriage. If it fails, it may result to single parenthood. (Social Trends, 2002) A look at the Caribbean Society shows that the African Caribbean has different forms of marital relationships. Rodman (1971) indicated that in Trinidad, there are three types of marital or quasi- marital relationships – friending, (visiting relationship) living (Common-law) and married. These three types of marital relationships are common to all the regions in the Caribbean. Beasie [2008] indicated that In Guyana, union status is defined to include any legal civil status of marriage of a man and wife as husband and wife as well as other stable cohabitation. He further stated that a stable cohabitation is a relationship whereby a man and woman living together in common- law relationship with or without legal binding. Statistics in 2002 showed that the number of those who were married was 34.7 percent and those who were cohabiting was 34.5. ( Beasie, 2008) .Cohabitation being one of the causes of single parenthood may explain the commonality of this family relationship in Guyana. Cohabitation therefore is an unstable marital relationship. Cohabitation in the Caribbean has its roots in the slave society. Chavannes (1985) noted that research in the Caribbean generally indicated that the slave society did not encourage stable family relations and this was the probable cause of the chaos in the family forms, such as multiple relations, denial of paternity, aversion to domestic stability, neglect of financial responsibility for the children, high incidence of female – headed households and poor socialization of the male child. He further noted that the generally held view was that Africans were stripped of their culture- their behaviour pattern, values and beliefs. From observation, female headed households are common in the Caribbean, for example the Afro Guyanese households in Guyana. The experience of the African- American family may be similar to that of the African Guyanese family. Herskovits (1941) argued that slavery shaped the tradition of matriarchal dominance among the African- American family. He indicated that under slavery, the only enduring bond was that which existed between mother and children. Aronson, Wilson and Akert (1996) noted that marriage in the Caribbean is weakly institutionalized and it is common for women to head households. They added that the bond between mother and children is stronger than between father and children. Matriarchal dominance is contrary to the African culture of patriarchal dominance. Matriarchal dominance implies that the males were marginalized in the family. Families were connected together with a network of women. It is noted that marginality of the males is traced to the days of slavery. Patterson ( 1967) indicated that males played only a marginal role in the family since some of them were father substitute to children living in the household. This was due to the mating pattern of the women. The woman bore and kept children of several fathers. Further arguments explained the marginality of the male partner. Debien (1960) as cited by Barrow (1996) stated that there was no sexual division of labor on the estate. This devalued the labour of the man. Besides, woman became superior over the man being a common-law partner of the master of his foreman. Other attendant effects of slavery experience in the Caribbean, include migration and abandonment. These have posed some challenges to the family relations in the Caribbean Nevertheless, Waite ( 1995 ) pointed out that migration was a coping mechanism for the Caribbean to catch up with development of the developed countries. This has persisted to date. It is worrisome to note that in the modern day, with early teenage pregnancies as noted by Waite ( 1995 ) migrating parents leave their children with working grand parents without the support of the extended family. The children are therefore denied quality time and attention. The attendant effect is the feeling of abandonment which is manifested in the deviant behavior of the pre-teen and teenage young people. These challenges among others might result to unstable family life. It is important to note that the stability of the family is very important to every society. Stability of the family enhances the development of every nation. This study therefore was undertaken to ascertain family marital relationships and their challenges among Afro Guyanese student teachers at University of Guyana . The implications for Family Living Education as a way forward for achieving a stable family life was discussed. Additionally, a recommendation was made that would also promote a stable family life Purpose of the study The purposes of the study were to ascertain the:  Marital/quasi-marital relationships of Afro Guyanese student teachers at University of Guyana.  challenges of the Afro Guyanese family in Guyana. Research Questions  What are the forms of marital/quasi- marital relationships of student teachers in Guyana?  What are the challenges of the Afro Guyanese family in Guyana? METHODOLOGY This study was a survey of Afro Guyanese student teachers at University of Guyana who were in marital or quasi marital relationship. The target population was four hundred and fifty .The student teachers were trained practicing teachers in different Regions in Guyana. The researcher used them as the target population since they deal with children in schools as practicing teachers ; moreover they have experience of marital relationship Sample and Sampling Purposive sampling technique was used to sample one hundred Afro Guyanese student teachers who were in marital or quasi-marital union from the target population. Instrumentation The instrument for the study was questionnaire which consisted of seventeen statements for (17) Likert scale. It was a modified version of a four point scale. Strongly Agree (SA)= 4 , Agree ( A) = 3 ,Disagree (DA) = 2,Strongly Disagree (SD) = 1). The instrument was validated by two experts ,one in Measurement and Evaluation and the other one in Family Living Education. This was in terms of content validity. Technique of data collection The researcher administered the questionnaires to the sample with the assistance of two undergraduate students at University of Guyana. One hundred questionnaires were administered but ninety eight completed questionnaires were returned. Technique of data Analysis Mean and percentage were used to analyze the data. The mean was calculated as follows: SA = 4 A = 3 DA = 2 SD = 1 Total = 10 Mean = 10/ 4 = 2.5 Thus a mean response of 2.5 and more was classified as an important challenge for the family while a mean response of below 2.5 was classified as not an important challenge for the family. RESULT AND DISCUSSIONS Research question One Table 1 What are the forms of marital / quasi marital Relationship among Afro Guyanese student teachers ? Forms of marital / quasi marital relationship Forms of marital/ quasi marital relationship Frequency Percentage Married 45 45.9 Common- law 31 31.6 Visiting Relationship 22 22.4 Total 98 99.9 The result of the study (table 1) showed that there are different forms of marital or quasi marital relationships among Afro Guyanese student teachers . From the study, 45.9 percent, 31.6 percent and 22.4 percent of the respondents were in relationship of married, common – law, and visiting respectively. Although the union status in Guyana are comprised of the married union and common- law unions (Beaie, 2008) the result of the study showed that there are those who are involved in visiting relationship. The visiting relationship is same as the friending relationship. Rodman (1971) indicated that in this relationship, the man has certain obligations to the woman and to any children they both have. Common law and visiting relationships are unsuitable because the ties between the partners are not extensive. From the study, only 45 percent were married. Common- law and visiting relationships have their roots in the slave society. Barrow ( 1996) stated that in Caribbean, the blacks were considered outside the institution of legal matrimony. He added that marital life was a luxury and was incompatible with the regiment efficiency of the plantation system. He indicated that the outcome of the prohibition of family life among the blacks was the development of common- law unions and other informal patterns of mating. Barrow (1996) cited some studies carried out in the Caribbean. It was noted that families were unstable, many households contained individuals with female heads, others consisting of the woman, her children and other grand children. He further noted that though matrifocality is marginal in the contemporary society, it might have been important in the period of slavery. Smith ( 1956 ) argued that several factors explained the central place occupied by this concept in the anthropological and sociological literature of the 1950s onwards. First, male played weak roles, and this was characterized by the frequency of common-law unions of which some of them were unstable visiting unions. Some males in such unions were not committed to their responsibilities; the woman was abandoned if she was pregnant. The second factor was the migration of slaves in search of jobs after emancipation and this also explains the concept of matrifocality. Against this background, it is safe to state that the commonality of common-law and visiting unions among the Afro Guyanese student teachers as shown in table 1, may be attributed to the frequency of female- headed homes and single parenthood among the black families Research Question Two What are the challenges of Afro Guyanese family ? Table 2 Challenges of the family Mean (Married) Remark Mean ( Common- Law Union) Remarks Mean ( Visiting Union) Remarks Social/Moral Behavior (parents and children) 1 Violence among spouse/partner is on the increase 3.2 Important 3.2 Important 3.2 Important 2 Violence among youth sibling is on the increase 3.3 Important 3.2 Important 3.1 Important 3 Violence between parents and children is on the increase 3.1 Important 3.2 Important 2.8 Important 4 Most children do not have respect for elders 3.3 Important 3.2 Important 3.0 Important 5 Most children do not have respect for constituted authority 3.0 Important 3.0 Important 2.8 Important 6 Infidelity among spouses/ partners is on the increase 3.4 Important 3.2 Important 3.1 Important 7 Sexual abuse of children by adults member of the family is on the increase 3.2 Important 3 Important 2.9 Important 8 Sexual promiscuity among youths is on the increase 3.5 Important 3.6 Important 3.5 Important 9 Mode of dressing among parents do not reflect good morals 3.1 Important 3.2 Important 3.3 Important 10 Mode of dressing among youths does not reflect good morals 3.4 Important 3.1 Important 3.1 Important Education 11 Most parents do not attend parents teacher association (P.T.A) and parents teachers conference 3.1 Important 3 Important 3.3 Important 12 13 Most parents do not have the time to supervise their children academic work is on the increase Most parents do not provide educational materials for their children 3.1 2.9 Important Important 3.1 3.1 Important Important 2.9 2.9 Important Important 14 Most children are not hard working in their studies 2.9 Important 2.9 Important 2.9 Important 15 There is increasing rate of examination malpractice among students 3.3 Important 2.9 Important 3 Important Family Nutrition 16 Most parents do not have time to prepare meals for their children is on the increase 3.1 Important 3.1 Important 2.5 Important 17 Eating out by family members is on the increase 2.9 Important 2.7 Important 3.5 Important 18 Eating out by children is on the increase 3.1 Important 3.4 Important 3.4 Important In table 2, there was no mean response below 2.5. The result clearly showed that all the respondents -the married, the common-law unions and the visiting unions -perceived all the items in table 2 as challenges of the Afro Guyanese family in Guyana. Social/Moral Behavior of parents and children The result of the study showed that violence among spouses/partners and among youths/siblings, is on the increase. Waithe (1995) noted that physical abuse of women by men has always been one of the unfortunate features of the Caribbean society. This could be attributed to the prevalence of common-law and visiting unions ,since there is no legal binding on the partners. The unstable relationship could result to violence if any one of the partners decides to quit when dissatisfied. Besides, it has been observed and noted that father or father figure tends to be marginal in the day to day relationship of households. The mother-child bond is strengthened when the woman is economically empowered. Waite ( 1995) indicated that the poor and more materially deprived men are, the greater the marginality and the greater the role of women. The marginality of men could result to violence among such spouses when the woman tries to assert herself over the man. The behaviour of the parents has influence on the social/moral behaviour of the children. Hence the result of the study showed that violence among youths/siblings is on the increase. To corroborate this, Hartup (1995)indicated that the type of family into which a child is born can affect the expectations , roles, beliefs, and interrelationships the child later experiences throughout life. The family also affects the child’s physical cognitive , emotional and social development. Similarly, Craig and Dunn (2007) noted that the network of interrelationships and expectations within the family is a unique and major influence on the child ‘s social, emotional and cognitive development. Waithe (1995) stressed that parents feuding with each other may blame the child and punish the child for things they see in the child which they dislike in themselves and in their spouse. The attendant effect could be child abuse and neglect. Hence Craig and Dunn (2007) emphasized that child abuse and neglect occur in families where there are other domestic violence. They added that regardless of age, an abusive parent destroys the expectations of love, trust and dependency that are so essential to healthy personality and social development. The result is developmental problems that are manifested in the personality of the individual in later life. Hence children who are denied love and affection, who are brought up in an abusive environment may become abusive. This suggests reason for the prevalence of violence among other vices in the society. With regards to infidelity among spouses, the result of the study showed that it is on the increase (table 2).This is a serious concern in the society. Usman (2002) cited Adams (1991)who stated that infidelity is a killer that has set many homes ablaze. This immoral act, might have affected the moral life of some youths, since from the study sexual promiscuity is on the increase (table 2).It is also sad to note that the immoral act has degenerated to sexual abuse of children by adult member(s) of the family (table 2). This problem has its roots in the slave society where unregulated sexual mating was prevalent. Patterson (1967) indicated five basic types of associations that characterized the Jamaican society : Prostitution, unstable unions, stable inions, multiple association and monogamous association. He noted that prostitution was frequent on the plantation estates. Besides migration one of the attendant problems of slavery, may be a contributing factor to the immoral sexual mating in the family. In support of this, Waithe ( 1995 ) noted that since emigrants were mostly males there was a high sex imbalance. The men made sexual demands from a surplus female population and this resulted to a high frequency of social mating, extra marital births and multiple father hoods of children from individual woman. It is also important to add that migration led to child abandonment as earlier noted. Children who are left with working grandparents and other relatives are not given quality time and attention. The children then develop the feeling of abandonment which is manifested in the deviant behavior such as immoral behavior which may also reflect their mode of dressing (table 2. This may result in juvenile delinquency in later life if the situation is not controlled. As regards respect for elder and constituted authority, the study showed that most children do not have respect for elders and constituted authority (table 2). As earlier noted, children may become abusive when they are brought to up in an abusive environment. The result of the study therefore suggests that the family which ought to be a conducive/supportive environment for the child has become abusive. This to some extent could be as a result of unstable family relationships which their roots in the slave e society. Haralambos and others (1993) emphasized that the family bears the main responsibility for primary socialization. During the early years of life, the child learns many of the basic behaviour patterns of the society. It is therefore worrisome that since the family seems to have become abusive, most children might not have been nurtured to develop good moral behaviour. Education of the child With respect to education of the child, the result of the study showed that most parents do not show interest in the education of their children (table 2). It is the primary responsibility of parents to provide quality education for their children. Since most parents do not supervise their children’s academic work, do not provide them with educational materials and since they do not attend Parents Teachers Conference/ Parents Teachers Association, in order to monitor the progress of their children, the result of the study is therefore not a surprise that most of the children are not hardworking in their studies and there is increasing rate of examination malpractice (table 2). This problem can be linked to migration - an attendant problem of slavery among the black families. Children whose parents have migrated to greener pastures may not receive quality academic attention. The scenario where only one of the parents emigrates, or in case of single parent hood, the female ( wife/mother) may be saddled with too many challenges in the family to cope with. This in turn might impact the quality of academic given to the child. Hence Ogowewo (2002) cited Akinosho ( 1999) who emphasized that a child who has never been stimulated and who lacks attention in early childhood cannot be expected to perform well where intellectual exercise is demanded. Parents should provide the child attention and intellectually stimulate the child by providing the child educational materials and supportive home environment to study. Family Nutrition The result of the study showed that most parents do not have time to prepare meals . The result also showed that eating out by members of the family is on the increase (Table 2). This might have accounted for the increasing rate of poor health conditions. Ogowewo (2002) indicated that good nutrition is essential for normal organ development and function .It also provides resistance to infection. Parents not having time to prepare meals for the family could be due to the problem of single parent hood which might have resulted from common law or visiting relationship . Besides, working grand parents of children, whose parents might have migrated, may be faced with the difficulty of having time to prepare meals for the family. CONCLUSIONS / RECOMMENDATION The result of the study showed that there are three forms of marital / quasi marital relationship - married , common law and visiting relationships among the Afro Guyanese student teachers. Common law and visiting relationships have their roots in the slave society. As previously noted, the commonality of common-law and visiting unions among the Afro Guyanese student teachers could be attributed to the frequency of female- headed homes and single parenthood among the black families in the slave society. The study also found out that the Afro Guyanese family in Guyana had challenges to contend with – Social / moral behavior of parents and children, education of the child and family nutrition. From observation common law and visiting relationships are prevalent among the Afro – Guyanese . The aforementioned challenges confronting the Afro- Guyanese family could be attributed to common law and visiting relationships. These relationships have weak family ties with attendant effect of unstable family life. Finally, since the Africans in the Caribbean were stripped of their culture during slavery, this paper recommends the establishment of an Institute of African Studies at the University of Guyana. This will expose students to African culture that would promote stable family life in the society. IMPLICATIONS FOR FAMILY LIVING EDUCATION From the foregoing, slavery negatively impacted family relationships among Afro Guyanese in Guyana .To have a balanced society and to enhance national development, the family which is the basic unit of the society, should carry out its responsibilities creditably. The challenges of the family among Afro Guyanese in the contemporary Guyanese society suggest that the persistence of the abnormalities may be due to lack of awareness of the expectations/ values of the family. This assertion is based on the fact that during slavery, the blacks were stripped of their culture and due to conditions in the slave society, family life was unstable. The socialization function among other functions of the family might have been hampered by the unstable family life. In line with this, Idibie (2005) indicated that unusual family structures affect the way off springs are socialized. It tends to make the children adopt the behaviour of the parents in their immediate environment and the behaviour may not be true to the child’s sex role. Bearing in mind that the family moulds the personality of the child, which in turn will impact the social and economic status of a nation, the family status of the Afro Guyanese in the contemporary Guyanese society is of great concern. A way forward is to educate the family to fulfill its obligations. It is therefore important that every individual should be exposed to Family Living Education. Family Living Education as the name implies, is the study of the family. It embraces concepts of the family and family obligations. It equips the learner with the knowledge that will enable him/her to conceptualize the true meaning of family, the expectations of the family and that of the society at large. The individual will appreciate his role as a member of a family and the society. Family Living Education would equip the individual with knowledge and life skills that would enable him / her to develop and demonstrate the spirit of commitment to ensuring stability of the family and the larger society. For instance, developing the spirit of commitment would minimize the incidence of parents migrating and abandoning their children for their grand -parents . Although the researcher recognizes that some concepts of Family Living Education are taught to secondary school students who choose Social Studies as one of their options, Family Living Education should be a compulsory course at the tertiary level. Apart from the regular school system, it should be a regular Educational programme on television and radio . This is necessary for the education of the masses. Suggested Concepts that should be taught at the tertiary level include the following:  The concept of family  Concept of Nuclear Family and Extended family  Family life cycle  Roles of the family  Lines of Descent  Concept of marriage  Pre- Requisites of marriage  Forms of Marriage  Transition from singleness to Marriage  Modes of contracting marriage REFERENCES Aronson, E. , Wilson,D.T. & Akert, M. R. ( 2005), Social psychology, New Jersey : Pearson Education Inc. Barrow, C. ( 1996), Family in the Caribbean, Themes and Perspectives, Kingston: IRP ( Ian Randle publishers), and James Currey publishers. Beaie, S. T. ( 2008), Marriage , Divorce and Cohabitation , The Co- operative Republic of Guyana, Population and Housing census 2002, National census Report, Beau of statistics, Guyana. Chavannes. B. ( 1985), The Role of man in families in the Caribbean. A Historical perspective , Unpublished manuscript, Kingston, Jamaica, National Planning Board Craig, J. G. & Dunn, W. 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