Readiness for Marriage – JSS2 Social Studies Lesson Note (First Term)

Readiness for marriage means being prepared to enter and sustain a marriage. The conditions are physical maturity, psychological maturity, sociological stability and financial readiness. Couples who are ready can handle challenges such as unfaithfulness, infertility and poor communication. Those who are not ready may face constant misunderstanding, poverty, separation or divorce.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. State the conditions for marriage.
2. Explain the importance of marriage in society.
3. Identify the problems and challenges in marriage.
4. List the effects of lack of readiness on a marriage relationship.
5. Suggest solutions to challenges in marriage.

What are the conditions for marriage?

The following are some of the conditions for marriage:

1. Physical maturity
2. Psychological maturity
3. Sociological stability
4. Financial readiness

Why is marriage important in society?

1. It reduces immoral practices in society. Marriage reduces indiscriminate sexual relationships. It provides couples the opportunity to satisfy themselves sexually.
2. It establishes the family. Through marriage, a family is established. The man, his wife and their children make a family.
3. It gives couples respect and recognition. A married man or woman is seen as a responsible person. Society gives greater respect to those who are married.
4. It helps to preserve social values, beliefs and culture. Marriage produces a family. The family provides a medium through which societal values are passed to the next generation through the process of socialisation.

What problems and challenges can affect marriage?

1. Unfaithfulness: Couples must be faithful to their marital vows. An extra-marital affair is a form of unfaithfulness that has scattered many homes.
2. Infertility: This causes childlessness in the family. Unless there is strong marital understanding between the couple, it could destroy a happy home.
3. Absence of male children: Some families have broken up over the absence of a male child, even where there is no barrenness. This happens in families that recognise and value male children more than female children.
4. Communication gap: This brings disaffection into the home.
5. Intruder activities: When couples allow parents, in-laws and friends to interfere in their family issues, they are likely to run into trouble.
6. Lack of respect and love for each other: When couples fail to respect themselves, this creates a lot of problems in the home.

What are the effects of lack of readiness on a marriage relationship?

1. Constant misunderstanding
2. Poverty
3. Problematic children
4. Separation or divorce

What are the solutions to challenges in marriage?

1. Forgiveness
2. Demonstration of true love
3. Fidelity
4. Maturity and openness in financial matters
5. Respect and co-operation
6. Resisting third-party influence
7. Setting aside time for communication
8. Readiness to accommodate each other’s weaknesses

Evaluation

1. State the four conditions for marriage.
2. Explain any three ways in which marriage is important to society.
3. Describe two problems that can affect a marriage.
4. List four effects of lack of readiness on a marriage relationship.
5. Mention four solutions to challenges in marriage.

Assignment

Choose any three problems in marriage from the lesson. For each one, explain how it can affect a home and suggest one solution.