Why is it customary for women to move in with their husband’s family in Equatorial Guinean culture?

Question

Responses

Men and women are expected to observe the traditional practice of living in extended family units.

Women enjoy few job opportunities so find the most support in living with their husband’s family.

Men are considered the head of the family and are responsible for supporting all family members.

Women are expected to live within the family unit since her children will legally belong to the father.

Answer 1

Living with the husband's family is a customary practice in Equatorial Guinean culture due to a combination of factors. One reason is that men and women are expected to observe the traditional practice of living in extended family units. This means that the husband's family is seen as the primary unit of support and stability, and it is expected for the wife to move in with them after marriage.

Another reason is that women in Equatorial Guinea generally have limited job opportunities. By living with their husband's family, they can have access to economic resources and support from the extended family network. This provides them with a sense of security and helps meet their socio-economic needs.

Furthermore, Equatorial Guinean culture places significant emphasis on the role of men as the head of the family. Men are expected to be responsible for the well-being and support of all family members, including their wife and children. By living with the husband's family, women can rely on their husband and his family for financial support and other forms of assistance.

Additionally, women are expected to live within the family unit because the children legally belong to the father. In Equatorial Guinean culture, lineage and inheritance are typically traced through the paternal line, so it is important for the children to be raised within the husband's family.

Overall, the customary practice of women moving in with their husband's family in Equatorial Guinean culture is influenced by the traditional extended family structure, limited job opportunities for women, gender roles, and the importance of lineage and inheritance.