Gender Differentials in the Perception of Family Structure Changes in Benue State, North-Central Nigeria

Family structures have experience various changes globally in recent times. These changes are being influenced by one factor or the other. The study reports the level of experience of family structure changes among male and female in some selected Local Government Area of Benue State, North-Central Nigeria. Data was obtained through questionnaire. Purposive sampling method was used to select six Local Government Areas, while 386 households were chosen as sample size. Descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentages, chart. graphs were used for the analysis. Family system theory was used to explain the changes in family structure with the assumption that a shift in one part such as nuclear family to a new modern family arrangement of cohabitation, divorce, separation, delayed marriage affects the functioning of entire parts of the family. Result from the findings indicates that 78.% of the respondents have experience changes in the family while 22% have not. The gender differentials in the level of experience of family structure change shows that the level of experience of cohabitation and divorce is slightly higher among women with about 1.1% and 2.5% respectively than men. Also, the level of experience of marital separation and single parenthood is slightly higher among men than women with about 0.1% and 3.2% respectively. Finally, change in household size and delayed marriage is more experience among women than men with about 10.9% and 7.1% respectively. This suggests that the traditional values are experiencing a changes and the cultural chastity are no longer promoted and encouraged in recent times. The chi-square test results show that for all the six indicators (cohabitation, divorce, separation, single parenthood, household size, and delayed marriage), there is no significant difference between males and females in terms of their experience of family structure changes. The p-values for all tests are greater than 0.05, which suggests that gender does not significantly influence family structure change. It is therefore recommended that there is need for policymakers to develop gender-neutral policies and support services. For instance, support systems such as counseling, divorce mediation, housing assistance, and child support programs should be made available equally to all genders without assumptions based on gender roles, there is need by government to strengthen marriage institution to promote stable family pattern, Public awareness campaigns and educational programs should emphasize that family structure changes affect both men and women, Family support programs that address challenges such as single parenthood, delayed marriage, and cohabitation should not prioritize gender but instead focus on the universal needs of individuals undergoing these changes.