Navigating Patriarchy: The Influence of Male Control and Fear of Subjugation on Non-Marital Childbearing in Mushin, Lagos State

Patriarchal structures and associated power differentials between men and women have long shaped family formation patterns in Nigeria. This study examines how male control and the fear of subjugation within marital relationships influence women's decisions to bear children outside of marriage in Mushin Local Government Area (LGA) of Lagos State. Drawing on qualitative data from 40 in-depth interviews with women who had given birth outside marriage, the study employed purposive and snowball sampling within a qualitative research framework, with data analysed using content analysis. The Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) provides the conceptual anchor, linking individual attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control to the decision to engage in non-marital childbearing. Findings demonstrate that the anticipation of male domination, the erosion of women's autonomy within marriage, and the perceived psychological and social costs of patriarchal control constitute significant drivers of non-marital childbearing. Many respondents expressed a preference for single motherhood over subjugation within patriarchal marriage, citing the desire for independent decision-making and freedom from coercive male authority. The study further reveals that feminist consciousness, evolving gender norms, and greater economic independence are reshaping women's attitudes toward marriage and motherhood in contemporary urban Nigeria, contributing to the conditions under which non-marital childbearing becomes a viable and sometimes preferred reproductive option. The findings call for gender-sensitive policy frameworks that address power imbalances within family structures and support women's reproductive autonomy.