Abstract

Introduction

A role model that can never be under value is a woman in African society,  she is a great influence in the formation and building of a formidable family, community and society at large, she is said to have the will to make or mar her home which in turn is what the society looks like. The influence she wields at home both on her husband and children is like a nourishing fluid that enlivens her home and flows to her society. As a girl child, her family and society have built-in her the wisdom, strength, and foresight to multitask. Hence she begins her duty from being a guardian to both her immediate family to extended and the society, as a woman her interest and duty grew to that of a mother, educator, caregiver, homemaker.

As a mother, she is said to be a jewel and supreme as the Yoruba’s referred to her as “Iya ni wura”, meaning “mother is gold”, it is as a result of the love she has for her child or children which begins right from pregnancy to birth and further….. As an educator the psychologist noted that the values held on to by a child, his/her view of others and life generally is a transmission from the mother, this view is supported by Beecher ( ) According to Mohhamed (2003) “mother is the first and most valued school in life”   … As a care giver right from the womb being careful of what to eat and not, what to wear and not, activities to engaged at that may be harmful to the child et cetera. She is a nursery that is abreast with what is suitable for which child and when, knows the right songs and has the schedule of all activity from when to eat, what to eat, and wear, what is comfort and discomfort for each child. Hirs-Pasek & Burchinal (2006). As a home maker house chores are a the points to begin and end her day with, a woman is to turn a house into a home, where each one can identify with, a place of comfort and refuge, she design the atmosphere and environment, she build a child’s identity. This identity is formed from the various values she learned from traditional norms and culture and teaches like: honesty, respect for elders, gentleness, modesty, self-control, patience, tolerance to mention but a few.  Her family not leaving out her husband all receive her care and know by the mentioned identity. 

Amidst changes, increase in knowledge and civilization a woman’s role hasn’t changed, so is her position in the family and society at large. Societies today still hold on to the culture of patriarchy, and male chauvinism which undermines the rights of women and subject her to exploitation and marginalization by unchanged men. Women choose freedom, education, involvement in private and public affairs, desire to have an impact in globalization.

All at the expense of her home, health, role as a woman and her natural endowment of being a mother, because she’s fighting the socially, culturally, religiously and traditionally tag that women are to be low - key players, whose place ends in her husband’s kitchen. Mark (2003)

With all stated above, which position is best for the woman? A career woman, or a mother? Or better still can women be both without either over riding another? These and many more are the questions this study seeks to find out.The general objective of the study is to explore the Woman and the challenges of sustaining her strength in a changing world, and the specific objectives are:i.Identify the natural desire of a woman over her immediate family;ii.Explore the roles women play in the society;iii.The implication of modern day individualism; iv.Implication of being a career woman on the family.