Using Nigeria as a case study, we
are going to discuss this topic under the following headings:
1. CULTURAL
DIVERSITY AND DEVELOPMENT
2. MARRIAGE
AND MOTHERHOOD
3. WOMEN
AND RELIGION
4. INTERNATIONAL
CONFERENCE
5. POLITICAL
INSECURITY AND HARRASSMENT
6. GLOBALIZATION
AND GENDER DISCRIMINATION
CULTURAL DIVERSITY AND DEVELOPMENT: African culture has elements of
unity and disunity on the status of women in governance and it still remains
the bone of contention in the society as our women will always strife to gain
their right and freedom back in this perspective. Among others, culture is a
factor that enforces societal change when created, transmitted, learned and
enforced for human comprehension and assimilation of the message is pass to the
communities and the nations of the world. Also the monotony and regularity of
women responsibilities are justified in two ways:
·
Women are
seen as weak and unstable: This is why they are not entrusted with important
affairs such as legal action or
making decision about the allocation of resources, In Nigeria for example,
different cultural sectors narrows in social values and status of women and
specifically their participation in traditionally government. Using the Ibo
traditional society as a case study here, their women had lesser role in
directing political and ritual affairs and that informed the present of the
male counterpart to intrude in their affairs today. Comparing this to where
provisions are made for women to occupy the ruling position in the council,
they were inactive as compared to the males and lacked the boldness that
accompanies the authority because of this cultural effect. Similar tribe that
also has this condition in Nigeria are the Idomas tribe situated in the central
Nigeria comprising the Kogi and Benue
State in Nigeria: their pro-male has severe condition for the survival of women,
their women are denied membership in association which make societal
decisions and they are not permitted to
own a land compared to their male counterpart. The same is applicable to other
tribes as the Ibo tribe traditional politics is considered to be a form of “MALE BONDING” and this explains why
the male gender has greater domineering power over the female gender in the
traditional political culture.
·
The
Nigerian Colonialism contributed to cultural belief towards women: The coming of the Europeans to Nigeria was a
system that empowered the traditional system of the Hausa’s, Fulani’s and Yoruba’s
traditional leadership to be effective through the indirect rule system which
failed amongst the Ibo tribe and as a result the Aba Ibo women riot of 1929 was
a violation to this system of government
where colonialism was a regime that was established and sustained through the
use of military dictatorship. The indirect rule system was not successful among
the Ibos as other tribes that yielded fully to the leadership through the
traditional political set up. This was why the white men could not intervene to
support the Ibos during the Nigerian
Biafra War, ammunition were
supplied to the Hausa’s tribe compared to the Ibos because of the past
rebellious attitude towards their leadership. The appearance of political culture was distinguished
by abuse, restraint, defeat, discrimination and other dictatorial culture. The demonstration
of these attitudes in an environment where women had unimportant political
cultural impact still made greater number of women immaterial in colonial
political setting. Therefore, the nationalist fight for freedom was mainly men
affairs. Also the postcolonial government was founded on Gender-based platform.
The imperialistic warring pattern did
not allow for sustainable democratic government in Nigeria. The principle of democracy
such as political equality of citizens was totally destabilized by some
twenty-eight-years of armed forces over rule as women remains the most
disempowered in our society. The situation has not been better during
independent testing. Woman continues to experience discrimination in political
and public arena of the country.
MARRIAGE AND MOTHERHOOD: Marriage and motherhood is another case
study as regards features of African women in Gender based politics. Marriage
and Motherhood means changes in the affairs of young women and growth of family
and societal anticipations; In Nigeria for example though with relative
freedom, being single is not appreciated or trust for status mostly for women. Continentally,
Africa continues to be distinguished by the both the lowly levels of education
found worldwide for girls as well as the lowest ages at birth and marriage.
This practice contributes enormously to the disempowerment of women because
they are banned from developing the very same qualities which identify people
as members of socio-economic elites which render people more likely to take
part in politics. Though there are improvements in female access to education,
many women throughout the rural areas in Nigeria and particularly in the
northern part of the country are still lacking the access to secondary school
both as a result of traditional bias of educating females and economic crisis.
And this makes a reasonable number of these women both in urban and rural areas
to lack the competent and courage to make and take meaningful and informed
decision and action in politics at all level of government. This does not mean
that the educated ones are favored in this area. It is also observed that the shock
of motherhoods with the accompanying increased recurrence of task and the loneliness
which is so common in the life of a young mother may lead to a change which may
result in political efficiency among better educated women. These change
statuses fix women service and home mode of behavior to the extent their setup
leads to socialization of false awareness, which make women to define the position
a most desirable and secure state. Therefore finding motherhood as a
complicated and marvelous adventure, most mothers prefer to sacrifice free time
and much of their social life to make sure that their children are well cared
for and as such they would not trade for the world these esteemed dear moments
they enjoyed. Motherhood becomes further complicated when it is associated with
single parenting and polygamy. In Africa, single parenthood among mostly female
family, single headed family is recognized form of family. This development
places single mothers with multiple challenges as they are sole breadwinners
and distributors thereby getting over tired in an endless struggle in demonstrating
the highest feminine virtue. Also in so many polygamous families women are responsible
for catering for their children irrespective of how wealthy their husband
becomes for instance a woman marrying to a polygamist will take up the
responsibility of paying children’s school fees, providing for food and other
related expenses. This not the same in monogamous relationships; men has to
play their vital roles in monogamous family because they are well united but in
some family in African yet they don’t yet see it as their responsibility alone
especially in children upbringing.
WOMEN AND RELIGIOIN: All over the globe people see religion from
different perspectives, to some religion become an unscientific and mystical
act while other are not, apart from all this assumption Religion notwithstanding
continues to exist in great diversity and
to control billions of supporters all over the world, even to the unpredictable
future. Open in all forms of religion is awareness that man needs support to
understand himself and his environment. In this direction, what is the view of
Jewish Christian religion in comprehending the position of women as relating to
the struggles for gender freedom through equal Delegation? In Jewish religion a
woman is meant to work hard for the progress and welfare of her family as
specified in Proverb 31 verse 10 which describing her as a capable wives
meaning a virtuous woman who is able to make all thing work together for the
progress of her family and her husband especially. The religious view of
women’s abilities towards her family in this area encourages Gender Equality in
the society, and this also forms a basic foundation for building successful
women for political career in Nigeria system where Gender equality is not yet
appreciated as in the western world.
On the other hand, There are
other areas of teaching in the Christian
religious areas that discourages Gender equality in the church which also tend
to affect the entire view and fate men has towards women and this is the issue
relating to the apostolic churches then
that sanctioned women to stop speaking in the church or at public places : “it
specified that women should keep silent more especially in the church and that
when they want to learn, they should indicate by raising their hand up for it
was a disgraceful thing for a woman to
speak in the church( I Corinthian 14:34).
This is one the scripture Christian religious group uses to counter Gender
Equality. But it does not worth it, as this instruction came as a result of the
present situation at hand then.
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE: United Nation Organization (UNO) is one
of the major international organizations that are known for ensuring international
peace and security. Its general concern for universal Issues extends to women
issues like Gender equality. There was a conference of women recorded in 1979
where women issues were discussed on the elimination of all discrimination
against women. These became effective since then and discrimination as well was
defined as any distinction, prohibiting or constraint made on the basis of sex
which has the effect or purpose of damaging or nullifying the recognition,
enjoyment or exercise of right by women irrespective of their marital status on
the basis of equality of men and women of their human rights and fundamental
freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any other. This
conference also touches issues concerning state parties in order to amend their
social and cultural patterns of conduct by both men and women with view to
eliminate discrimination, habitual and other economic vices that encourages inferiority
or superiority complex from both Genders in the society.
Besides, it is necessary for
states parties to take necessary measures to eliminate Gender discrimination against
women in the society more especially in the political arena and public life of
a country where women are discriminated much in Nigeria in order to encourage
international relation with the western world where fellow women features much
in politics.
POLITICAL INSECURITY AND HARRASSMENT: The political environment in
Nigeria is full of doubts, though the regulation of the game is clear and bold;
there is a reasonable level of non obedience by member of actors. Therefore,
the roll call of the victims of political killings during fourth and fifth
Republics included the minister of Justice and Attorney General of Federation CHIEF BOLA IGE and MR. MONDAY NDOR of
Rivers State House of Assembly to mention but few. This political war
atmospheric condition is in favor of men as the male human species is larger in
the society and possesses the superior upper body strength and greater natural masculine
nature with additional implication, agitation, excitability and violence. The
use of violence to accomplish political corruption in Nigerian politics is a
witness to the culture of passionate violence. This aspect has posed a danger
to women in Nigerian politics.
GLOBALIZATION AND GENDER DISCRIMINATION: Globalization with
multiple changes affects both the developed and developing countries. The current
global trend is the promotion of democratic governance, which is increasingly commercialized.
Hence, democracy is synonymous with plutocracy which is Government by the rich.
Globalization as operated today increases poverty among and within nations
therefore despite increasing global wealth, there is frightening increasing in poverty
and with malnutrition present across the developing world, particularly in Africa and South Asia. In today’s world, Globalization promotes privatization and resultant down-sizing and subsequent
unemployment that weaken the abilities of families to meet basic needs of their
members. In the face of these realities, more and more people, mostly women are
disadvantaged in the process of political recruitment; therefore, in this reinforcement
for the removal of barriers imposing on the surfacing of women in the political
leadership.
In Nigeria, are we going to enter a Gender
order? Are we approaching a gender reinvention and more specifically, national
restructuring of current men over representation? Still is there going to be
hegemonic and decline in which the system will continue more or less in same
manner, with merely some adjustment or Row bow them sees as “ Just going
backwards and forwards., up and down the same hill. The emergence of women
political leadership is still at the infancy few years back but recently has
grown wings to dominate in Nigerian system. On the other hand one factor that
gives accounts for cultural unison of women and that is modern democracy only
succeeds in giving recognition to equality if humans provide no universal unity
in reversing women under demonstration. Hence there is global awareness of
gender marginalization as well as global unpreparedness for cultural revival
for equal representation. Generally politics is still men’s game and they determine
the rules of entry and exit.
ONYIA EMEKA HARFORD
(PUBLISHER/WRITER: +2348186388641)
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