Womens political participation and representation in state. Yero department of social studies college of education, jalingo, p. We are trusted partners for advocates and decisionmakers from all walks of life, and a leader in the effort to achieve gender equality. Gender and political participation in nigeria 1999 2010. Abstract this study investigates the factors that limit womens participation in nigeria s politics using as a case study, the period between 1999 and 2007, with emphasis on lagos states. Monitoring participation of women in politics in nigeria. Political participation is good for democracy, but all democracies are plagued by systematic inequalities in participation lijphart 1997. Abstract this study investigates the factors that limit womens participation in nigerias politics using as a case study, the period between 1999 and 2007, with emphasis on lagos states.
An analysis of gender inequality and national gender policy. Oluyemi oloyede nigeria national bureau of statistics abstract. There is a general sense that traditional politics and representative democracy. Feminism and political participation in nigeria 1080 gender equality, some feminists argue that mens liberation is therefore a necessary part of feminism, and that men are also harmed by sexism and gender roles. The first two chapters attempt to provide one possibility for understanding womens rights conditions in middle east, north africa mena and subsaharan africa through the theory of governance. Perceptions of women in political leadership positions in.
Thus the western cultural notion of colonialism woven around male superiority reflected in their relations with nigerians. This basic interpretative qualitative study sought to address the issues of gender equality in nigeria and women participation in the political administration of. According to our law, another census will hold in 2 years time, since we practise democracy, which is a game of number, our population counts for who would like to govern at each level of. Gender relations in nigerias democratic governance core. Regional organizations, gender equality and the political empowerment of women the implementation of quota systems or other mechanisms that promote gender equality. However, concerted efforts have been made by government and. Barriers and enablers for womens participation in governance. Temesgen 2008 argued that women in nigeria, like their counterparts in other african countries, are not given the same access to education as men. The paper is a foray of issues in gender inequality in nigeria with a view to proffering solutions. The findings of the study revealed that 57% of the participants were not actively involved in political activities. Pdf gender and political participation in nigeria 1999. Monitoring participation of women in politics in nigeria ms. In the struggle for gender justice, usha narayanan argues, political participation constitutes the first and foremost step in that direction.
An exploratory study of women in political leadership in. The problem of women s political underrepresentation in nigeria is seen, strictly, as a question of women s lack of resources. A sexist and patronagebased political culture, combined with gendered economic and household inequalities, are seen to be the main barriers to womens participation in governance. Gender inequality has been a topical issue in academic debate in nigeria.
The authors adopted both conceptual and theoretical analysis of issues on political participation and. Gender gaps in political participation across subsaharan. The results indicated that the rise of womens political participation in the world and africa has been possible through access to education by men and women, the use of some form of gender affirmative action plans, multiparty democracy, concerted efforts of civil organization both local and international levels and. Promoting women participation in local governance audanepad. Levels of female participation and representation in nigerian politics are low. Three research questions were raised and answered in the study. Political participation, politics, gender inequality, sexism, women in nigeria. Of these roles mentioned, the last has been engendered by women movements attributed to historical gender discrimination and inequality. Levels of female participation and representation in nigerian politics. However, concerted efforts have been made by government and nongovernmental organizations to increase the level of participation of women in politics in line with the declaration made at the. The study areas are lagos state of nigeria between 1999 and 2007, though the historical background to women s political participation in the country is relevant to the study in order to bring out the stages of women s marginalization in nigeria s politics. Democracy, womens political participation and the policy environment in nigeria leke oke, phd department of political science, faculty of the social sciences, ekiti state university, ado ekiti, nigeria email.
A study of some selected local government areas in ondo state, nigeria. Introduction gender inequality especially in the political arena is a serious challenge being faced by women in recent times. Gender differences in voting behavior and participation rates persist across democracies. Gender inequality and women participation in politics. Gender relations in nigerias politics throughout the history of nigeria, there has been varying levels of womens political participation. It is against this background that this paper examines the history of womens participation in politics in nigeria, the legal framework for the promotion and protection of womens rights in the country, the implications of gender parity for the domestication of international treaties protecting womens rights and what could be done to achieve. In any political system, right from the developed to the developing countries, presence of women is very low compared to men. It is a truism that gender blind and gender biased political agendas can distort. Challenges to women involvement in nigeria s development fapohunda, tinuke, m. Womens participation and the political process in nigeria. Gender politics in nigeria political science project topics. In precolonial nigerian societies though womens political participation was not equal to that of men, the position of women in traditional political governance was. Commissioner of the independent national electoral commission, professor lai olurode, has submitted this analysis of women in nigeria s 2011 general elections.
The inability of the nigerias patriarchal state to accede to the imperatives of gender equality and active women political participation in governance, constituted the. It is in a bid to find a lasting solution to issue of women s misrepresentation in nigeria political system which often led many gender activists to demand for the united nations 35% quota of. One of them is the aforementioned plac, which runs a project called expanding political participation of women in nigeria with the support of the ford foundation. Political participation is a voluntary act which encompasses wide range of political activities, including voting at election, contesting for political and party offices, attending political rallies, joining political parties and many more. Nigeria has been recording low participation of women in both elective and appointive positions. In spite of the extensive discussions in various conferences, academic debate and fora the issue of gender imbalance and poor women participation in politics is still very low.
It traces their leadership roles from precolonial through postcolonial eras with emphasis on 1914 till date. Womens agitation for increase political participation over time has received backing from international instruments. Nigerian politics is one of the areas in dire need of genderfocused inclusion. One of the most persistent has been according to gender, such that women are found to participate less than men, and suggesting that half the populations interests are less well represented andersen 1975. Pdf political participation is a voluntary act which encompasses wide range of political activities, including voting at election, contesting for. Women are largely absent from positions in the local, national and international institutions that govern our daily lives. Gender and political behavior oxford research encyclopedia. The last population census in nigeria was conducted in 2006. Abstract this paper examined the extent to which the citizens are involved in political activities. Womens political involvement in abia state has remained increasingly low in spite of decades of struggle to ensure gender equity and womens empowerment. Recently, however, important research has considered the gendered nature of political participation in other regions of the world. As one of africas underutilized resources, increasing female political participation, representation and influence is key to achieving many of the developmental goals set for africa.
Challenges to women involvement in nigerias development fapohunda, tinuke, m. The role of women in politics and in the sustenance of. Pdf since nigerias independence in 1960, nigerian women have continued to struggle to be renowned within all professions. Political participation is a voluntary act which encompasses wide range of political activities, including voting at. Gender inequality has been an issue for several centuries, the world over.
Discussion of barriers to women s participation in politics focus largely on issues that diminish women s political resources and undermine their capacity to engage in politics. Women and political participation in namibia and nigeria. The burgeoning field of gender and political behavior shows that the way in which ordinary citizens connect to the democratic process is gendered. Among these factors are socioeconomic development, the. Political participation, politics, gender inequality, sexism, women in. Department of industrial relations and public administration, lagos state university ojo, lagos, nigeria email. Impact of traditional and new social media on womens engagement with democratic processes 23 5. Barriers and enablers for womens participation in governance in.
By passing on the sum total of several decades of inquiries and studies, debate and efforts to work out norms and strategies oncerning womens c participation in political life, the union thus endeavoured to enrich the work of the united. Perceptions of women in political leadership positions in nigeria annette anigwe. Genderbased violence an analysis of the implications. Political participation of women in india an overview. Globally, nigeria ranks 181st out of 193 countries. The process lasted for 8 months, after the approval of the national gender policy by the federal executive council in 2006. This strategic development results framework, designed for implementing the nigeria national gender policy is the product of an intensive consultative process and hard work by several individuals and institutions. Gender politics in nigeria abstract despite the advances towards recognition of womens political, economic and social interaction with men during the 21stcentury, there is a continuing lack of women policy makers in nigeria. However, youths influence on national politics remains limited.
For 10 years, the womens democracy network wdn has brought women activists from around the world together to identify and. Factors which have enhanced womens increased political participation there is no single factor that can be accredited for the contemporary positive trends in womens political participation. Department of industrial relations and public administration, lagos state university ojo, lagos. Guide on political participation fggpp was used to obtain qualitative data. Gender, participation, politics, democracy, nigeria. Regional organizations, gender equality and the political. This gender bias in nigeria s political system is often traced to the onset of colonialism in nigeria.
In short, women participation in nigerian politics is a topic of importance. Oloyede oluyemi national bureau of statistics nbs, abuja, nigeria abstract nigeria has been recording low participation of women in both elective and appointive positions. At the same time, countries vary substantially in the size of these gender gaps. Women and political participation in nigeria request pdf. An analysis of gender inequality and national gender policy in nigeria by sani mustapha kura ramat polytechnic, maiduguri, department of social services, p. The national average of womens political participation in nigeria has remained 6. Perceptions of women in political leadership positions in nigeria. Political participation here entails various variables of participation but basically voting in elections, contesting elective public offices. This gender bias in nigerias political system is often traced to the onset of colonialism in nigeria. Aug 03, 2019 gender inequality and women participation in politics2011 general election in nigeria is a complete project materials from chapter one to five with reference and abstract. Our aim in this study is to examine the extent of women. Empowering women and girls for shared prosperity, the world banks. It is argued in the paper that gender imbalance in leadership is a bane to peaceful coexistence and development in nigeria.
Genderbased violence an analysis of the implications for the. This masters thesis seeks to shed light on the general connection between good governance and gender equality. Focusing on enugu state, this study sets out to examine how the media can be used to access and accelerate women participation in political programs and activities in nigeria. The phenomenon of women low participation in nigerias politics became worrisome following the. Political participation, representation and gender equality 18 4. Womens political participation and politics of dis. Feminist scholars have always presented meticulous exposition on sexual inequalities and patterns of feminine. Gender inequality and women participation in politics2011 general election in nigeria is a complete project materials from chapter one to five with reference and abstract. Commissioner of the independent national electoral commission, professor lai olurode, has submitted this analysis of women in nigerias 2011 general elections. Emerging trends in womens participation in politics in africa. The paper examines womens political participation in abia state of nigeria with a view to determining the factors that constrain womens equal representation in the political system. Patriarchy affects gender relations, as is evidenced in almost all spheres of activity, notably with regard to decision making, access to education, health status.
Monitoring participation of women in politics in nigeria paper presented by mrs. Also, there was effect of gender on political participation. A number of factors have worked together in raising womens participation in politics in africa. Conclusions and recommendations 31 recommendations 32. Gender equality and political participation, an assessment. The study adopted both qualitative and quantitative means of data collection.