CHAPTER ONE

1.0   INTRODUCTION

1.1   BACKGROUND OF STUDY

Nigerian women constitute about half of the population of the country and are known to play vital roles as mother, producer, time manager, community organizer and social and political activist. But despite the major roles they play and their population, the society has not given recognition to these and to the fact that they are discriminated against. This is due to some cultural stereotype, abuse of religion, traditional practices and patriarchal societal structures. Nigerian women have therefore over the years become target of violence of diverse form based on their positions in promoting transformative politics.

According to Afolabi et al. (2003), women constitute over half of the world’s population and contribute in vital ways to societal development generally. In most societies women assume five key roles: mother, producer, home-manager, community organizer and socio-cultural and political activists. Of these roles mentioned, the last has been engendered by women movements attributed to historical gender discrimination and inequality. Hitherto the emergence of these movements, gender roles was divided between the male and female sexes.

These roles can be broadly classified into- the productive and the reproductive gender roles. Whereas the productive gender roles were mainly associated with the male sex, reproductive gender roles were exclusive to their female counterparts. This societal reality was deeply rooted in the cultural beliefs and values of societies in the world. “…from those societies we might want to call most egalitarian to those which sexual stratification is most marked, men are the locus of cultural value.

Some area of activity is always seen as exclusively or predominantly male and therefore overwhelmingly and morally important” (Rosaldo and Lamphere, 1974). ‘As a consequence, women had for long suffered various forms of gender discrimination, inequality and exclusion, especially in the area of politics’.

The movement for alleviation/eradication of gender discrimination is also a multiple consequence of this system of beliefs and cultural values and norms. These societal beliefs, as well as ethnic and most times religious doctrines and norms, have turned into self fulfilling prophecies. Sex role socialization assign distinct and often unequal work and political positions to biological sexes turning them into socially distinct gender -economists see this as the sexual division of labour.

        This concept is central to the Nigerian political system where sexes are assigned to different complementary tasks, now inherent in the labour market and the political scene (sector). Throughout recorded history in all part of the world, women have been subjected to domination by men. This is as a result of persisting cultural stereotype, abuse of religious and traditional practices, patriarchal societal structures in which economic, political and social power are dominated by men and the role women have historically played as the followers of male political leaders. This form of discrimination is not simply an African or Nigerian phenomenon but a global one. The only difference is that, it has lasted for so long in this part of the world as other developed nations of the world are moving towards gender equality and equity.

        Women are unjustifiably discriminated against in many ways. For instance in some courts and police stations in Nigeria today, women who propose to stand for sureties for accused persons who have secured bail routinely disqualified simply because they are women. In spite of the fact that world over today, democracy has become a vital tool for attaining sustainable development; the impact of the definition of democracy remains elusive. Political participation which is sine qua non of democracy and allows for diversity of opinion and participation of both men and women cannot thrive by excluding the women folk that constitute half of the world’s population.

1.2   STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The study on woman and political participation came as a result of argument that women are regarded as weaker sexes are social constructs owing to social value, norms and beliefs, which have neglected their meaningful contributions and have placed them in a subordinate position to men in the nation’s political system. Finally, most of the research has been carried out political participation but not even a single research has been carried out on woman and political participation in Ekiti democracy, Nigeria.

1.3   AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF STUDY

The main aim of the study is to examine woman and political participation in democracy. Other specific objective of the study include:

1. to determine the effect of women participation in politics.
2. to determine the effect of gender in political participation.
3. to determine intervening variables that affects women’s increase in political participation.
4. to determine the extent to which political participation affect women in Nigeria.
5. to determine the problems militating against women participation in politics.
6. to proffer possible solution to the stated problems.

1.4   RESEARCH QUESTIONS               

1. What is the effect of women participation in politics?
2. What is the effect of gender in political participation?
3. What are the intervening variables that affect women’s increase in political participation?
4. What is the extent to which political participation affect women in Nigeria?
5. What is the problems militating against women participation in politics?
6. What is the  solution to the stated problems?

1.5   STATEMENT OF RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

H0:    Nigerian Politics and participation does not have any significant effect on women.

H1:         Nigerian politics and participation has a significant effect on women.

1.6   SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY

The study on woman and political participation will be of immense benefit to the entire nation, Nigeria in the sense that it will enable the male gender leaders to carry women along in the political affairs of the country, because like the saying goes “for every successful man is a successful woman” and so for every successful political affairs is a successful political woman in the country. It will encourage Nigerian women to seek for quality education that will enable them participate in active politics and politicking without fear of intimidation. Women in rural areas will also be encouraged to start participating in local politics because it is the grass root, from there they now move to state, federal level with little or no hindrance at all. Finally the study will contribute to the body of existing literature and knowledge in this field of study and provide a basis for further research.

1.7   SCOPE OF STUDY

The study on woman and political participation in democracy is limited to Ekiti, Nigeria.

1.8   LIMITATION OF STUDY

Financial constraint- Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

Time constraint- The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.

1.9   DEFINITION OF TERMS

Woman    Is an adult female human being.

Political  Relating to the government or public affairs of a country.

Participation  The action of taking part in something.

Democracy      A system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives.