The Burden of Expectation: Religious Narratives, Reproductive Health and Gendered Agency in Ikwerre Culture

This paper examines the burden of reproductive expectation on women in Ikwerre culture, highlighting the interplay between religious narratives, patriarchal traditions, and gendered reproductive responsibilities. It critically explores how cultural and religious constructions of fertility shape women’s social roles, psychological well-being, and agency, often constraining their reproductive autonomy. Indigenous practices, including the Mgbede (female seclusion) rites, beliefs in fertility-related deities, and patriarchal marital systems, reinforce these pressures and embed them within analytical approach, the study draws on in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, participant observation, documentary analysis, and oral histories to provide a nuanced understanding of these dynamics from an emic perspective, foregrounding the lived experiences and voices of Ikwerre women. While fertility beliefs across African societies have been widely examined, engagement with Ikwerre women’s own narratives remains limited. Guided by feminist theory and social constructivism, the study interrogates how religious and cultural narratives shape reproductive expectations, influence women’s health and decision-making, and inform strategies of negotiation, resistance, or conformity. The findings underscore the necessity of re-evaluating socio-religious and cultural constructs that perpetuate gender inequality and curtail women’s reproductive agency, highlighting the importance of amplifying women’s voices in discussions about fertility, health, and social roles.