Social, Cultural and Economic Discrimination to Women Participation in African Politics: The Case of Nigeria

Mofoluwawo E.O

doi:10.5296/ijld.v4i1.5427

Abstract

Women discrimination in politics is a phenomenon that excludes majority of women from politics. This practice is a waste of human resources. Nigerian women constitute about fifty percent of Nigeria’s population and are known to play vital roles as child bearers, child rearers, house managers, producers of over 70% of the nation’s food and community organizers among others. However, women’s participatory level in government and decision making is below 50% currently. The causes of women discrimination in Nigerian politics are directly associated with gender complex because women are seen as inferior to men in our society and culture. Its roots are found in the past political, economic, social and cultural events which over the years have ensure the subjugation, oppression and domination of women by men. Women’s discrimination in politics occurs everywhere be it in the developed or developing countries, thus perpetuating gender inequalities; this informed the declaration by the United Nations Goals Two, which is to “promote gender equality and empower women”. This paper therefore examines the status of women in politics, problems women face in their quest to participate in politics , and possible measures to their political empowerment such as given political education to women and allowing women to participate at any level of political powers among others.

Highlights

Discrimination against women is a global phenomenon as old as human history
Women participation in decision making at all level has been very low, warranting the conclusion that women are at the periphery of the Nigeria politics, despite the fact that they have been constituting a larger proportion of active voters
Suffice it to say that some women in Nigerian politics could not be forgotten because many of them were elected into various positions both within and outside Nigeria

Summary

Introduction

Discrimination against women is a global phenomenon as old as human history. Throughout the ages, there has always been bias and prejudice against women in all societies and in all epochs. This is to say that without clear understanding of the way men regulate their own access to political elites, the conditions which govern that of women will remain obscure The implication of this is that dictate the tempo of political activities in African society and Nigeria in particular. Women participation in decision making at all level has been very low, warranting the conclusion that women are at the periphery of the Nigeria politics, despite the fact that they have been constituting a larger proportion of active voters. Suffice it to say that some women in Nigerian politics could not be forgotten because many of them were elected into various positions both within and outside Nigeria. The CEDAW report presents comprehensive statistics of women participation and representation in the last four general elections as shown in the table below

State Houses 990

Findings

Conclusion