“I Reported My Wife to Her Mother . . .” An Analysis of Transgressions Within Child- and Parent-In-Law Relationships in Ghana

Abstract

We investigated transgressions in the context of in-law relationships in Ghana. In-laws form an integral part of the family structure in Ghana. However, psychological studies on in-law relationships in this country are rare. The current study interviewed thirty-seven individuals, aged between 32 and 76 who had been married between 2 and 59 years, from two regions in Southern Ghana. Through semi-structured interviews, participants described transgressions in-laws commit in the context of marriage. Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analyzed thematically. Findings revealed two major transgressions: role failure; and failure/resistance to changes in the in-law relationship. For children-in-law, failure to discharge roles as child bearers and meet financial obligations were considered as transgressions. Transgressions committed by parents-in-law include poor conflict handling, failures associated with customary postnatal care duties, privacy violations, and usurpation of daughter-in-law’s cooking rights. Findings have implications for couple and family interventions.