article

Marriage instability among the Kanuri of northern Nigeria

American anthropologist63 (6) • Published In 1961 • Pages: 1231-1249

By: Cohen, Ronald.

Abstract
In this article Cohen examines the reasons for high divorce rates among the Kanuri. For one, there are no moral sanctions against divorce. Islam does not proscribe against it and there are socially accepted roles for divorced women to hold. However, Islamic teachings and the patriarchal structure of Kanuri society do place women in a subordinate position to men, although not all men have the social and economic means to back up their superordinate position. According to Cohen, divorce is the result of women subverting the traditionally sanctioned role of male domination (see also Cohen 1971.)
Subjects
Gender status
Marriage
Family
culture
Kanuri
HRAF PubDate
1998
Region
Africa
Sub Region
Western Africa
Document Type
article
Evaluation
Creator Type
Ethnologist
Document Rating
4: Excellent Secondary Data
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
Ian Skoggard ; 1996
Field Date
1/1955-8/1957
Coverage Date
1950s
Coverage Place
Borno State, Nigeria
Notes
Ronald Cohen
Includes bibliographical references (p. 1248-1249)
LCCN
17015424
LCSH
Kanuri (African people)