ABSTRACT
The study is to assess the gender inequality and
women participation in politics: Anambra state experience between 1999-2015.
The scope of the study was restricted to the 1999-2015 general elections in Anambra
state. A total of 150 questionnaires were used, only 110 were recovered
successfully. The questionnaire was analysed using statistical and frequency
tables, bar chart and pie chart. The objective of the research also (a)
assesses the nature of women participation in politics between 1999-2015 general
elections in Anambra state (b) and identify the disadvantages associated with
the women failure in general elections(c)To identifies the cost of running
electioneering campaign which was high in the
general elections. The methodology was through the use of both primary
and secondary data form. The findings suggests that economic disadvantage plays
a key role in the poor performance of women in the general elections between
1999-2015. The recommendation suggested that in order to ensure active
participation of women in politics, government and political parties should
increase the level of awareness of women by organizing seminars, workshops not
only in the cities but also in the villages.
CHAPTER
ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1
Background
of the Study
Gender
inequality has been an issue for several centuries, the world over. Though
history has it that fewer women have been in power even before colonialism.
Instances are the Queen of Daura, the Sarauniya of Zazzau in pre-jihad, the
Angwu Tsi who was almost the counterpart of the King, with her own Palace, in
the middle belt, Iyayun the Queen who ruled in fifteenth century in Oyo, after
the death of her husband (Modupe, 2001).
Though
from the foregoing, it will be seen that very, very few women have had the
opportunity in a leadership position, yet in every one or single case of women,
there are several hundreds of the male counterparts.
Sexism
has become a major problem in Nigerian politics. Women have been politically
considered endangered species and their low participation in Nigerian
government and politics is often associated with culture, religious, economic
constraint and male chauvinism. The African society in general and Nigerian
society in particular has placed most of the leadership roles on the men folk,
thereby championing the course of gender inequality.
Economically,
some feminist perceive women’s marginality in the conduct and management of the
public affairs as arising from their entrenchment of the globalized capitalists
relations of production. The traditional society did not recognize the
contributions of women in any decision making process. The women are carefully
ignored in any important meeting of the family, community and even in
government establishments. Till today, community development meetings are
always held at night thereby making it impossible for most women to attend.
A
relationship, which ensures that majority of Nigerian women are peasants and
home makers. Nonetheless, feminists have failed to fundamentally unravel in
their explanatory analysis to the feminine gender self-emulating attitudes.
Feminine gender-self-destructive factors is the decline of women participation
in government and it is often lay in exist analysis, for instance, the 1991
population census put the number of Nigerian women at about 44 million which is
almost 50%, and by implication, half of the Nigerian electorates (National
Population Census Commission). This electoral power has not been converted to
assertive feminine electoral and political advantages over the years (NNCC
Report, 1991).
In
recent past, however, especially in the wake of the millennium and also between 1999-2015 general elections,
many women have risen up to the challenges of the time. Many women have come to
assume leadership positions in both politics and religion. This is a giant step
in the right direction as it will go a long way in breaking the jinx of gender
inequality and male chauvinism in Nigeria society.
The
general elections presented women with good opportunities to navigate the way
to power, those in attendance were female legislators, representative of
various women’s groups, women and male gender activists, the market women’s
association, professional associations and media practitioners. All these
groups of women are after the actualizing the 35% Affirmative Action Committee
by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.
The
general election was seen as a good platform to authenticate the voting pattern
of Nigerian women. It is truly evident the active participation and the support
of women to the campaigns and elections between
1999-2015, hence the need for reflection and focused advocacy for the
conscious and quality inclusion of women in the structures of the newly elected
government and parliament through clear pronouncements and action (AIT’s Focus
Nigeria, 2012).
1.2
Statement
of Research Problem
Gender
inequality especially in the political arena is a serious challenge being faced
by women in Anambra State.
The
statement of the problem therefore, is the issue of economic disadvantage which
might have impacted negatively on the women’s participation between 1999-2015 general election in
Anambra State.
1.3
Research
Questions
1
What are the roles of women in Anambra State politics, past and present?
2
Why has there been this near absence of women in politics?
This
study analyzes the gender inequalities in Anambra State politics and redefines
this problem in terms of the present political situation. The questions to be
answered by this research work include the following:
i)
What were the measures used by the
government to improve women’s participation in politics during the general
election between 1999-2015?
ii)
To what extent did women’s participation
improve the politics of Anambra State?
iii)
Are the primary roles of wife and mother
too demanding to permit women’s other kinds of activity in politics?
iv)
What were the factors that combined to
enforce discrimination against women in the general election between 1999-2015?
1.4
Objectives
of the Study
The
objective, which this research work seeks to achieve includes:
i)
To assess the nature of women
participation in politics in Anambra State general election.
ii)
To identify the economic disadvantages
associated with the women failure in general election.
iii)
To identify the cost of running
electioneering campaign which was high in the general election.
1.5
Significance
of the Study
Women’s
participation in Anambra politics is a contentious issue in the Nigerian
political life. The issue of inequality has therefore been perceived by
different people especially the women folk as an attempt to erode their
fundamental rights. This research work therefore will address the following:
–
To proffer an enduring solution through
its findings and recommendations.
–
Contribute to the bulk of knowledge in
the existing literature. Nevertheless, the project will also serve as a guide
to future researchers who intend to investigate in this area.
1.6
Hypothesis
H1:
Women’s participation in politics is hindered by cultural, religious and
economic factors.
H0:
Women’s participation in politics is not hindered by cultural, religious and
economic factors.
1.7
Scope
of the Study
This
study is aimed at women participation in politics and it shall be narrowed to
the general election between 1999-2015.
The study will investigate the electoral process general elections and it will
concentrate on gender and party politics.
1.8
Limitation
of the Study
The
researcher was faced with a number of constraints in the process of carrying
out this study. Some of them are discussed below:
1)
Time: Time
is one limiting factor of the study. This relates to the fact that this
research work is one out of a number of different courses, the researcher is
pursuing for first semester examination for the final year.
2)
Inadequate Finance:
The price of most of the materials needed for the study had been increased in
the recent past. This constrained the researcher to strict conservation of
almost everything at the expense of presenting a better work.
1.9Definition of Terms
–
Gender: Gender
refers to the socially constructed roles, behavior, activities, and attributes
that a particular society considers appropriate for men and women.
–
Gender Inequality:
Gender inequality refers to disparity between individuals due to gender. Gender
is constructed socially through social interaction as well as biologically
through chromosomes, brain structures and hormonal differences (Wikipedia).
–
Woman:
Women is defined as an adult female person.
–
Women Right:
These are inalienable, integral and indivisible parts of universal human
rights.
–
Women Violation:
These are gender-based violence, which may likely result in physical, sexual
or psychological harm or suffering to
women including threats, coercion, or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether
occurring in private or public life.
–
Women Empowerment:
This refers to the provision and availability of opportunity and services which
enables women to actively participation and contribute to political, economic,
social and cultural development of the nation.
–
Discrimination against Women:
According to the new edition of Oxford Advance Dictionary, discrimination is
the practice of treating somebody or a particular group in the society less
fairly than the others. Discrimination against women therefore, stands for the
practice of treating women less fairly than men in the society.
–
Women Participation in Politics:
According to Ibrahim and Salihu, the marginalization of women in the society
can be traced back to humanity’s history. It is not restricted to specific
culture and people, variations often occur in its nature and manifestation.
However, it is by no means inherent in man’s nature but social phenomenon that reveals
itself through relationship and the emerging culture values and norms often
affirmed through existing institutional and legal structure of the society. It
is in the light of the foregoing that Odofu ad Omojuwa posited that, women
worldwide are in a disadvantageous position and that the above statement
currently situates the negative plight of women in global and historical
context.