WOMEN EMPOWERMENT AND DIVORCE RATES AMONG COUPLES IN NORTHERN TARABA STATE, NIGERIA.

Abstract

Women's empowerment is one of the critical factors affecting marital stability and divorce rates. Empowering women through education, economic opportunities, and social support gives them the power to take informed decisions concerning their lives and relationships. The broad objective of the study is therefore to examine the relationship between women's empowerment and divorce rates in Northern Taraba. The survey research design was adopted in the study, while Taro Yamane formula was used to draw the sample size of 240 respondents from the population. The liberal Feminist theory was adopted as a theoretical anchorage for the study. Findings from the study revealed that women empowerment has significantly influenced divorce rates. The study further revealed that women who were economically independent were likely to be less submissive to their husbands. The study further showed that there was a relationship between women empowerment and marital dissatisfaction, a precondition for divorce. As such, the study recommended that government at all levels should promote education and economic empowerment that promotes girls' education and women's economic independence, address sociocultural factors contributing to divorce, such as domestic violence and the lack of support for women, provide support services for women navigating divorce and its aftermath, and to encourage healthy relationship skills and communication among couples to reduce divorce rates.