GENDER DISCRIMINATION AND WOMEN PARTICIPATION IN POLITICS
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CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
Gender inequality has been an issue for several centuries, the world over. Though history has it that fewer women have been in power even before colonialism. Instances are the Queen of Daura, the Sarauniya of Zazzau in pre-jihad, the Angwu Tsi who was almost the counterpart of the King, with her own Palace, in the middle belt, Iyayun the Queen who ruled in fifteenth century in Oyo, after the death of her husband (Modupe, 2001).Though from the foregoing, it will be seen that very, very few women have had the opportunity in a leadership position, yet in every one or single case of women, there are several hundreds of the male counterparts.
Sexism has become a major problem in Nigerian politics. Women have been politically considered endangered species and their low participation in Nigerian government and politics is often associated with culture, religious, economic constraint and male chauvinism. The African society in general and Nigerian society in particular has placed most of the leadership roles on the men folk, thereby championing the course of gender inequality.
Economically, some feminist perceive women’s marginality in the conduct and management of the public affairs as arising from their entrenchment of the globalized capitalists relations of production. The traditional society did not recognize the contributions of women in any decision making process. The women are carefully ignored in any important meeting of the family, community and even in government establishments. Till today, community development meetings are always held at night thereby making it impossible for most women to attend.
A relationship, which ensures that majority of Nigerian women are peasants and home makers. Nonetheless, feminists have failed to fundamentally unravel in their explanatory analysis to the feminine gender self-emulating attitudes. Feminine gender-self-destructive factors is the decline of women participation in government and it is often lay in exist analysis, for instance, the 1991 population census put the number of Nigerian women at about 44 million which is almost 50%, and by implication, half of the Nigerian electorates (National Population Census Commission). This electoral power has not been converted to assertive feminine electoral and political advantages over the years (NNCC Report, 1991).
In recent past, however, especially in the wake of the millennium and also in the 2011 general elections, many women have risen up to the challenges of the time. Many women have come to assume leadership positions in both politics and religion. This is a giant step in the right direction as it will go a long way in breaking the jinx of gender inequality and male chauvinism inNigeriasociety.
The 2011 general elections presented women with good opportunities to navigate the way to power, those in attendance were female legislators, representative of various women’s groups, women and male gender activists, the market women’s association, professional associations and media practitioners. All these groups of women are after the actualizing the 35% Affirmative Action Committee by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.
The 2011 general election was seen as a good platform to authenticate the voting pattern of Nigerian women. It is truly evident the active participation and the support of women to the 2011 campaigns and elections, hence the need for reflection and focused advocacy for the conscious and quality inclusion of women in the structures of the newly elected government and parliament through clear pronouncements and action (AIT’s Focus Nigeria, 2012).
1.2 Statement of Problem
Without recognizing girls and women as equal participants in the game of life, empowering them, enhancing their skills and investing in the world’s best companies, we cannot make meaningful progress on local, national or international platforms. It is clear that development is not possible.”Women’s empowerment empowers communities, nations and entire human families,” said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
We live in a world where most girls and women face real poverty, extreme inequality, oppression and injustice from birth to death. From inadequate education to inadequate nutrition, from violence and cruelty to precarious and underpaid jobs, the range of discrimination and cruelty that women can face throughout their lives is unacceptable, but we All too common in society. Joy Ogu, then Nigeria’s ambassador to the United Nations, rightly pointed out in her assessment of gender inequality that “women’s progress means progress in the world.” According to the 2012 Nigerian Gender Report published by the British Council and funded by the Department for International Development (DFID), up to 70% of young women aged 20-29 in northwestern Nigeria can read and write.
It turns out it can’t be done. Up to 9.7% in the Southeast. This is according to a gender report released lastThursday by the British Council in Abuja. The report also found that just 9% of Nigerian parliamentary candidates in April 2011 were women, below the global average and far behind candidates in Rwanda and South Africa. The lack of women in leadership positions may explain Nigeria’s low investment in areas such as health and education that are critical to human development outcomes. Women’s representation in all political decision-making bodies is underrepresented and has not increased since the establishment of democratic governments.
However, in an attempt to encourage women’s participation in Nigerian politics, President Jonathan has promised to increase women’s participation in government. However, several factors influence women’s participation in Nigeria. These include cultural and religious factors, low levels of education, lack of political orientation, male dominance, etc. In particular, despite the above problems, the trend of women’s active participation is very noticeable, and the active participation of women is conspicuous.
In the political arena, gender relations are collapsing and the country’s stability is at risk. It seems that there is also fear. This concern centered on the vulnerability of natural male dominance and the diminishing role of women in reproducing their respective morals and cultures. As one respondent noted, there is concern that men no longer dominate women. “For example, only 8 out of 109 women were elected to the Senate, and only 24 out of 360 were elected to the Senate, despite the gender barriers being overcome by women in key government posts was elected in the House of Representatives. Never in our history has a woman been elected governor.
Dame Virginia Ngozi Etiaba served as governor of Anambra State from November 2006 to February 2007, becoming the first female governor in Nigeria’s history since the dismissal of Peter Obi. Lessons can be learned and parallels drawn with women’s political leadership elsewhere. Between the end of 2010 and the middle of 2012, there were 20 female leaders working in parallel, but in recent years it has increased to 19. Some countries have female presidents or their equivalent.
Only two of them are African: Helen Johnson-Sirleaf from Liberia and Joyce Banda from Nigeria. But other developing countries, Bangladesh, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, now have women commanders-in-chief. All other female world leaders were democratically elected, with the exception of the Malawian gangsters who succeeded her predecessors and a handful of other female nominees. Nigeria is no exception. The denial of women’s political participation can strip women of their political primacy and undermine their leadership potential. These and many other powerful factors undermine women’s refusal to participate in the political process.
Gender discrimination especially in the political arena is a serious challenge being faced by women in Rivers State. The statement of the problem therefore, is the issue of economic disadvantage which might have impacted negatively on the women’s participation in the 2011 general election in Rivers State.
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