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The Marginalization Of Women In Politics And Its Effects On The Development Of Women
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1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
Marginalization of women politically is
prevalent in most societies. Over the years, there has been raging
debates over the participation of women in politics. It must be noted
that we live in a man’s world as a result men have domesticated all
spheres of the society and women have been relegated to the background
(UNICEF 2005). Their place is in the kitchen and they should not
participate in anything except when given the permission by men (peters
1988). This has placed women at the bottom of the ladder politically,
socially and economically as observed by UNICEF 2011.Women’s
participation in Nigerian politics has been only in the shadowy fringes.
Yet when it is time for election, women are mobilized to vote. Women
are considered only good for dancing, after which they are given
insignificant gifts like bags of rice, salt, magi cubes (Luka 2011).
Right
from the point of being a child, gender inequality has condemned
millions of children particularly the girl child to a life without
quality education which results into a life of missed opportunities
(Olatunji 2010). The situation is relatively common in the Northern part
of the country where there is a problem of girl child drop out from
school which has been attributed to many reasons like poverty, teenage
pregnancy, early marriage and cultural as well religious biases as
observed by UNICEF 2007. The low level of girl child education in the
country is a contributing factor to the low level of women participation
in politics. Politics needs solid educational back ground which
enhances interaction. Education is generally considered as a core right
as it is a fundamental gateway to other rights. In most communities in
Nigeria today, many female children of school age are not enrolled into
schools and in cases where they are enrolled, they do not attend school
regularly because their labour may be needed at home to perform certain
task, like hawking, taking care of their younger ones or helping their
parents in the farm in other to augment for the family up keep (Aisha
2012).
More so, a number of barriers are imposed on women’s active
participation in politics by cultural practices. Nigerian society is
permeated by patriarchy where by women are expected to conform to and
confine themselves to male dominance and female subservience (Nda 2003).
Women are seen to be incapable of making sound decisions and it is
unbecoming of women to expose themselves in public for political
activities such as campaign rallies (Lloh and Ikenna 2009). The
customary practices of many contemporary societies are biased by
subjugating women to men and undermining their self-esteem (Ikonne
2005). The overall impact of gender bias, cultural norms and practices
has entrenched a feeling of inferiority in women and place them at a
disadvantage vis-Ã -vis their male counterpart in the socio-political
scene even in urban centers. These socially constructed norms and
stereotype roles make women overplay their ‘feminity’ by accepting that
they are ‘weaker sexes’, overemphasizing the dainty nature of their sex
and regarding exceptional achievement as masculine (Genyi 2010).
The
high cost of financing campaign is a big obstacle to women. The minimum
cost of gubernatorial election could go as high as 200million Naira. How
many women can mobilize such huge amount of money and how many men can
mobilize such amounts for their women? Which political party will
nominate a woman for a high post considering her very small contribution
to party finance and formation (Nda 2003).
Furthermore, the nature
of political party formation also affects women’s participation in
politics. It is usually in form of a club and informal meetings
initiated by male friends and business partners. Other members of the
society of the society including women are contacted at a later stage
when party structures have been put in place. So women are naturally
excluded from the formation stage of political parties thus denying them
of the benefits accruing to foundation membership (folorunso 2010).
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