Abstract
This study examined gender based violence inequality and discrimination. The word gender has been an explicit concern in women's history. Across the world generally, a large proportion of women don’t have an equal share of land, credit, education, employment, and political power, in comparison to the men of their society. Yet, in many societies across the world, women have seen to have played crucial roles in development of a nation. However, in Nigeria, women have been demoted to the background.
The research objectives were to; examine the effects of gender based inequality on women development in Nigeria; determine the effect of gender based discrimination in the employment process in Nigeria; assess the influence of gender based violence on women political participation in Nigeria; and to identify the factors responsible for gender based discrimination in Nigeria. This research work made use of quantitative source of data, through which data were gathered using a self-structure questionnaire and administered to 50 women in Ikorodu and Alimosho local government area of Lagos State.
The findings showed that, gender based inequality has a significantly effect on women development in Nigeria. The study as well revealed that, gender based discrimination has negatively affected women employment process in Nigeria. It was further revealed that, gender based violence has restricted women political participation in Nigeria. Lastly, the study found that, the patriarchal nature of Nigeria, godfatherism, cultural and religious factors are responsible for gender based discrimination in Nigeria.
The study recommends that, policy makers should formulate policies that will enhance women empowerment and bring about gender equality in all spheres of public affairs. Government and other agencies should ensure there are work opportunities for female in the society in order to bring about women empowerment, and to promote organizational equality. The study concludes that, it is high time for everyone, women in particular to realize that gender identities are largely culturally created and no sex/gender is more important than the other
CHAPTER ONE
1.1. Background to the Study
The word gender has been an explicit concern in women's history. Across the world generally, a large proportion of women don’t have an equal share of land, credit, education, employment, and political power, in comparison to the men of their society, (Blackden & Bhanu, 2014). Yet, in many societies across the world, women have seen to have played crucial roles in development of a nation. In rural areas, for instance, women perform the bulk of 'unpaid' and unappreciated household work, as well as contributing significantly to agricultural production, (Walby, 2012). About half the world's food is grown by women and an estimated two-thirds of women workers in developing countries work in the agricultural sector, (Rhodda, 2016). Nevertheless, a lot of government agencies (not to mention agencies like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund) assign little or no economic value to women's labor.
Gender-based violence is a key health risk for women globally. Violence against women is now widely recognized as a serious human right abuse, and an important public health problem with substantial consequences such as physical, mental, sexual, and reproductive health, (WHO, 2015; Dunkle, Jewkes, Brown, Yoshihama, Gray, McIntyre, & Harlow, 2014). Despite the fact that Nigeria is a signatory and member to almost all of the international conventions on women’s rights, which heralded the national gender policy to promote gender equity, the country’s efforts have not really translated into the expected social sphere for the women folk, (Country Information and Guidance, 2015 & Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey NDHS, 2013). As a result, women have continued to be at the receiving end of violence in Nigeria, (Oladeji, 2013 & Okemgbo et al, 2014). For example, women are perceived to be as an object to be used for pleasure, temptation and elimination, (NDHS, 2013). In addition, Arisi and Oromareghake (2011) reported, men’s double standard against women. While the concept ‘women’ is used generically for females, (George, 2015). Studies affirmed that, gender based violence is outrageously high and not limited to Nigeria, (NDHS, 2013). The development of the socio-economic status of women and professional counseling will greatly minimize the occurrence of violence against women, (Oluremi, 2015; Oladepo, Yusuf & Arulogun, 2014 and Adekeye, Abimbola & Adeusi, 2016).
Gender-based violence inequality against women has been defined as any act that leads to, or is likely to lead into physical, denial, sexual, or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or private life, (United Nations, 1995, Platform for Action D.112). Gender-based violence impeded the MDGs for women and girls, (Saferworld, 2015) and currently affecting Sustainable Development Goals. Specifically, this violence includes women’s double burden of productive and reproductive labour; the number of women dependents (including the injured and orphaned); the diseased and malnourished women and girls, (Saferworld, 2015; Ormhaug, Meier and Hernes, 2014 & Rehn and Sirleaf, 2017).
In gender based violence, NDHS (2013) reported that justification for battering women by their spouses includes: ‘argues with him’, ‘burns food’, ‘goes out without telling him’, ‘neglects the children’ and ‘refusal of sex’. The absence of national laws criminalizing gender-based violence hasn’t helped and some federal laws even allow such violence. For instance, the law permits husbands to use physical means to chastise their wives as long as it doesn’t result in ‘grievous harm’, which is defined as loss of sight, hearing, or speech; facial disfigurement; or life-threatening injuries, (Alokan, 2015). In effect, this doesn’t exempt any category of women whether employed or not, (Adekeye, Abimbola & Adeusi, 2016).
Gender based discrimination in the world can be seen in various religions, countries and communities. As revealed by Waltke (1995), ancient Jewish prayed every morning saying “Thank you Lord that I was not born a woman; Christian boys are taken to the special room of the church but the girls are not during the name giving ceremony; women are not supposed to be priest or father in temples and church. The situation of the gender based discrimination has been worsened with the development of science and technology as it predicts the sex of a fetus before it turns to a baby. In 1978 and 1983, seventy eight thousand of fetuses were aborted in Mumbai, as they were known as female fetus, (Bastola, 2014).
As a male dominated society, Nigeria isn’t an exceptional in gender based discrimination of women. Gender inequality and discrimination against women in Nigeria is linked to the traditional culture and deeply rooted in the society; that establishes the hierarchical relationship between male and female, (Jekayinka, 2015). Gender inequality and discrimination has been a cultural tradition that is accepted by women and applied by men as social value. Nigeria is a religious and male dominated society where women are considered as secondary to men, (Abdullahi, 2013). Preference of son birth is more common almost in every community. Gender based discrimination in diverse forms starts right after the birth and it continues all through the life cycle. There are different sets of behaviors for boys and girls to perform. Such discrimination and inequality has helped to establish the hierarchical relationship between men and women in the society and as well helped to create many rigid gender norms that restrict women’s opportunities and stifle their development in the private and public sphere, (Odimegwu & Okemgbo, 2017).
A number of authors have reported the various types of gender based discrimination and it is diverse based on ethnicity. Brahmin and Chhetri are regarded as the most vulnerable group as they often practice early age marriage. The girls from Brahmin and chhetri families are forced to get marry at early age without their consent, (Luitel, 2012). Similarly, women are not allowed to move and talk freely which sometime turns into violent. It was reported that woman was beaten and as well put a paste of chilly powder and garlic inside her vagina for speaking with two boys, (The Kathmandu Post, 2007). Asiri and Oromareghake (2017) as well reported that newly married brides do not eat meal as they want since they are not supposed to move in a day time if they eat as they want they might have to go outside for defecate and men will see their face.
Gender based inequality and discrimination in decision making for family, property right in the form of less expense in education, food and health care for girl child than boys is old practice in rural areas of Nigeria (Odimegwu & Okemgbo, 2017). Women in rural area are considered as relatively uneducated and rarely involved in formal meetings and planning phase. Women are discriminated to make decisions in formal meetings and as well to involve in political participation due to illiteracy, (Pandey, 2013). Women are excluded in planning and decision making process of the community forestry due to lack of education and awareness, (Shrestha, 2016). Besides education, workloads as well make women less available in attending meetings. Household responsibilities make women less available for the extra meeting or social events where information is exchanged, (Jekayinka, 2015).
Based on the above backdrop, this study will seek to examine gender based violence inequality and discrimination in Nigeria.
1.2. Statement of Problem
Women in Nigeria are perceived to be a divine being with a noble role of motherhood and never as "rib", "an appendage" or "afterthought to man", (Ivan, 2012). Thus, there is no important facet in Nigerian life where women haven’t been fully represented. The so-called domestic violence and crime against women, therefore, may be a behavioural pattern that is adapted in a disaggregated environment which is essentially devoid of the intention to harm, (Abdullahi, 2013). Traditionally in Nigeria, like other African countries, children and women battering is regarded as a corrective measure, (UNICEF, 2015). This portrays violence against women in a non-violent way. However, it will be injurious to assume violence against women is harmless in this era when structural violence and systematic discrimination against women manifest continuously, (Idoko, Ogbe, Jallow, & Ocheke, 2015; Fisher et al, 2012 & Odimegwu and Okemgbo, 2017). Similarly, intimate partner violence (IPV) is both a human rights issue, driven by stigmatization, and an important public health concern, (Maxwell et al, 2015; Idoko et al, 2015).
Women’s socialization hasn’t helped the prevalence of gender based violence against women For instance in Gambia, 80% of women believe it is acceptable for a man to beat his wife thus encouraging the perpetration of violence against the women (Idoko et al, 2015). Such beliefs maintain the frequency, severity of variation in violence and allow the control of victims through fear and intimidation which might preclude victims’ reaction against violence. Gender violence against women manifests in several ways. Some of these are high domestic violence, rape, sorcery, physical abuse, verbal abuse, incest, female genital cutting/mutilation (FGC/M), denial of food, denial of time for relaxation, etc. (George, 2017, Ola, 2013 & Joda et al. 2014).
It is worthy of note that gender based violence isn’t attributable to cases involving women folk alone, as there is no category of persons that cannot be subjected to violence. However, violence against females is common simply because they are considered to be the weaker sex and are easier targets worsened by the culture of silence, (George, 2015 and Idoko et al, 2015). Nwammuo (2013) revealed that, the social media as a tool used to perpetuate gender-based violence. Earlier studies on gender-based violence are relevant however, many of these studies didn’t provide in-depth analysis of gender based violence inequality and discrimination, which is a gap this study will fill by examining gender based violence, inequality and discrimination in Nigeria.
1.3. Research Objectives
The primary objective of this study is to investigate gender based violence inequality and discrimination. However, the specific objectives of the study will be to:
- examine the effects on gender based inequality on women development in Nigeria
- determine the effect of gender based discrimination in the employment process in Nigeria
- assess the influence of gender based violence on women political participation in Nigeria
- identify the factors responsible for gender based discrimination in Nigeria.
1.4. Research Questions
To achieve the objectives of the study, the research sought to answer the following questions:
- To what extent is the effect of gender based inequality on women development in Nigeria?
- How does gender based discrimination affect the employment process in Nigeria?
- What is the influence of gender based violence on women political participation in Nigeria?
- What are the factors responsible for gender based discrimination in Nigeria?
1.5. Research Hypotheses
Based on the above research questions, the following hypotheses will be formulated in their null form.
Ho1: Gender based inequality has no significant effect on women development in Nigeria
Ho2: Gender based discrimination has no significant relationship on employment process in Nigeria
Ho3: Gender based violence has no significant effect on women political participation in Nigeria
1.6. Significance of the Study
The study will examine gender based violence inequality and discrimination in Nigeria. This study will draw the attention of the gender discrimination that the women do feel as they seek to develop a society or country politically. The findings will help provide raw material for a policy review vis-à-vis women roles towards the development of a country.
This study would as well be beneficial in all sphere of the country in ensuring greater roles and involvement of women in both political and economic development of a community or state. The findings of this study will equally provide policy makers with institutional frameworks and policy inputs in the area of policy formulation in regard to policy formulation. The study will as well expose to government and varying women organizations tools that hitherto can catapult them into leadership positions. The research will add to knowledge in the peculiar nature of gender based violence inequality and discrimination in Nigeria.
Finally, this study will be of beneficial to other researchers who will be interested in carrying out further studies on gender based violence inequality and discrimination will find this study very useful in the governance and system of Nigeria.
1.7. Scope of the Study
This research will evaluate gender based violence inequality and discrimination. Furthermore, the research intends to examine the causes of gender based discrimination and inequality and provide remedy for it. The study would be limited to women participants at Ikeja Local Government area of Lagos State.
1.8. Methodology of the Study
The methodology of this study will be qualitative in nature using primary and secondary sources of information. The primary source shall entail interview while the secondary sources shall be through journals, reports, articles, newspapers, treaties, textbooks and various statutes which would be obtained from online sources. The issue under discussion is a global menace which cuts across all the countries of the world, there have been so many literatures on the subject matter across the globe, this shall be referred to in discussing the topic at hand.
1.9. Operational Definition of Terms
Gender: is better understood as a product of the way a particular society views and analyses the relationship between male and female, which again are determined by a number of factors, especially, the cultural values of that society
Gender Discrimination: is a practice that confers privileges on certain class or that denies privileges to a certain class because of race, age sex, nationality, religion, or handicap or differential treatment, especially a failure to treat all persons equally when no reasonable distinction can be found between those favoured and those not favoured.
Women: Refers to the female gender, the opposite of male gender.
1.10. Synopsis of the Study
This study is organized into five main chapters. Chapter one entails the background, statement of problems, research objectives, research questions and hypotheses, and significance and scope of the study. Chapter two consists of the literature review that reveals the findings and research that already exists on the topic. Chapter three summarizes the scope and methodology used to organize and carry out this study. The discussion of the results after analysis of the findings and comparison to the information revealed within the literature review is conducted within Chapter four. Chapter five provides a summary of the study, its limitations and further recommendations.
