Gender analysis of the butchery and meat selling industry in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study was carried out in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. It analysed the differential activities based on gender in the butchery and meat selling industry. Data was collected using structured questionnaire administered randomly to ten percent (10%) of the members of the butchers association from the three major abattoirs in Ibadan metropolis, giving a total of one hundred and eighty (180) respondents consisting of both males and females. One hundred and sixty eight (168) questionnaires were retrieved back for analysis. Majority of the respondents (78.57%) were males, married (77.98%) and Muslim (92.26%). The more energy tasking and more financially rewarding activities like slaughtering, bleeding, evisceration and sales of livestock carcasses were done by men, while women dominated those activities that deals with processing and sales of visceral organs of livestock animals. The result of the Z-tests showed a significant difference in the income earned by male and female butchers and meat sellers in Ibadan (p ≥ 0.05; Z-cal 5.1). The result revealed that activities in the butchery and meat selling industry are gender-specific with men earning more. Building modern abattoirs with job earning facilities will reduce the drudgery in the industry. The different religions and cultures should encourage women to engage in all the aspects of the industry, hence, increasing their income-earning abilities. Keywords: Gender analysis, butchery, meat selling industry Journal of Agriculture, Forestry and the Social Sciences Vol 3(1) 2005: 51-58