Mothers-in-Law or Monsters-in-Law

Abstract In the African kinship system, elders have significant roles. Especially within families, roles including care and socialization are established by cultural normativity. Since socialization processes are intergenerational, older generations inculcate these norms and the values of the society in the younger generation. This makes mothers-in-law relevant in families. The roles of mothers-in-law in younger families are widely acknowledged as key in providing intergenerational training and general family support in Nigeria. However, these intergenerational roles are complex and variously interpreted and constructed to the extent that they may engender inherent conflicts across generations in Nigerian families. These differential interpretations and constructions form perspectives of how people interpret the roles of mothers-in-law. They have implications for family wellbeing, social change, and demographic ethos, yet previous studies have not sufficiently captured these nuances. Therefore, this article empirically examines the intersectionalities of Mothers-in-Law (MsIL) roles, perspectives, social constructions of roles, and existentialities in the context of Nigeria within a broader framework of family demographic change and social development. Specific objectives of this article include understanding constructions and drivers of opinions, ideas, and worldviews about mothers-in-law and examining the preferred choice of family and perceived continuities and discontinuities relative to MsIL realities among unmarried youths.