CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1. Background to the Study
There has been a growing discussion among scholars (such as, Oyediran, & Isiugo-Abanihe, 2016) as regard women participation in politics in Nigeria. However, this debate has resulted into a lot of controversies rather than providing solutions to the apparent marginalization of women in terms of their political participation in both developed and developing countries (Muhammed, 2016). Women in Nigeria, just like their foreign counterparts (Pacific Island States, Northern Africa, Western Asia and Oceania) around the universe, have been faced with gender discrimination which has limited their opportunities to develop their full potential on a basis of equality with men.
In the world generally, women represent a significant proportion of the world’s population, (Adeleke, 2015). Women participation in politic and governance at each level can be seen as an index of democracy level because women often represent over half of the population of most countries of the world. In the past few years, the discrimination of women in political participation have led to a global attention in which the problems restricting or affecting women progress are currently being addressed concretely (Parizeau, Shillington, Hawkins, Sultana, Mountz, Mullings, & Peake, 2019), which has enhanced women political awareness and consciousness.
In the continent of Africa, it has been proven beyond doubt that the woman has been down flattened and cannot be heard. African derogatory ideologies on women are inhuman and unmerited. According to Adu (2018), he claimed that women are seen to be properties and as a result have been thoroughly enmeshed in the people’s mind. In African countries like Tunisia and Zimbabwe, it was observed that women business owners worked in time intervals throughout the day. The time involved in maintaining a business with little pay was undesirably restrictive and directly conflicted with their family responsibilities. As a result, a lot of women were not empowered in the countries (Adu, 2018).
In Nigeria, the issue of marginalization of women is very common, given that woman has been the most exploited, the most underprivileged, the worst abused and the most relegated segment of the society (Idowu, 2015). Although, women consist of a majority of the population, nonetheless they are often treated like a minority group assigned a definite place in the societal order, denied access to careers and power in the public arena and viewed as dependent, weak and submissive by nature (Brill, 2015). Afonja (2007) traced the origin of female subjugation to men as not deriving from any nature inferiority but in the age-old dominance of men. The author argued that only a woman is compelled to define herself as a woman in every circumstance, whereas a man takes his manhood for granted. Generally speaking, women in Nigeria have not really held positions in the parties beyond those of one of many vice-chairpersons. The negligible presence of women in institutionalized politics is equally clear in their low participation as party executives, elected officers and political appointees, (Ajayi, 2020). Under the superimposed attempts at postcolonial democracy women were granted a token presence in systems that remained largely patriarchal. Their political presence in decision making remained highly circumscribed. The marginalization of women has continued in the Fourth Republic.
Women political participation is seen to be an active role that is performed by women in the political party they belong (Agablaobi, 2015). However, the perception of womanhood in general affects this role. Thus, womanhood perception is germane in providing a clarification of the opportunity and structures available to both gender for self-actualization and effective participation in party politics, which eventually contributes to governance, leadership position and decision-making, (Madunagu, 2016). In explaining the view of womanhood, it is referred to as the beliefs, concepts and ideas individuals have as regards females in terms of what they represent in their relationship to men as well as expectations regarding appropriate female roles, (Awe, 2014).
Political participation on its own is a civic duty expected from all citizens. Generally, its high level is a sign of the political health of a country, while its absence, particularly for individual citizens, is a sign of political poverty. It is as well one of the assured ways through which a person’s private interests can be assured. According to Simbine (2013) political participation is referred to as those voluntary activities through which members of a society or community share in the selection of rulers and directly or indirectly in the formation of public policy. There are various factors that affect women participation in politics which includes traditional and cultural hindrances, lack of education, lack of resources and lack of opportunity, (Simbine, 2013). Although, these listed factors are seen to be affecting both genders participation in politics in Nigeria, however, a review of women participation in politics shows that, the females seem to be most affected.
Due to the low cases of women participation of politics, women couldn’t greatly influence the course of government policies. In spite of this, they are bound by the outcomes of the policy process of which they were and are an insignificant part. Similarly, their peculiar needs and interests couldn’t be adequately projected as they had few advocates in policy institutions. As a result, a number of policies and programmes adopted by Federal and State governments to improve sustainable human development were and are sometimes gender insensitive, (Agablaobi, 2015). Thus, with more women embracing education, the situation has gradually changed and more women are now participating in politics. It is therefore important to carry out a study on women political participation in Lagos State, Nigeria.
1.2. Statement of Problem
In the past years, there has been an escalating discussion on women political participation in Nigeria, most especially in Lagos State. Generally, women are seen to be the bedrock upon which a country is built in all sectors such as social, economic, and political development. Women political participation in Lagos State needs to be encouraged and promoted due to the great and significant roles played by women in the development of state of affairs. Izugbara (2017) argued that, women participation in politics are been affected by a number of factors which are; gender discrimination, social or environmental norms, cultural factors, and so on, which have disregarded their massive and significant roles and have position them in a more inferior position to men in the development of politics both at the local and nationwide level.
In the political scene in Nigeria, women are nearly non-existent at the local, state and federal levels. The domination of male in decision-making and conflict has result to women not feeling free and comfortable enough to engage in political matters. Besides, successful political advisors in Nigeria are not likely to support female candidates, which have been proved to be a challenge for them to strive in politics. Similarly, the factors affecting women political participation can be attributed to lack of adequate education, literacy rate, employment, and leadership roles (Abayomi, 2018). Socio-culturally, there exist a number of norms and traditions stopping women from realizing their full potentials, and which makes them second class citizens and lesser to men (Ajayi, 2020). Despite the declaration in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, gender discrimination against women has remained fully entrenched in the power configuration of the society, with consequences of limiting their participation in the political process, (Anifowose, 2018).
Based on the above, it is therefore essential to carry out a study on women political participation in Lagos State.
1.3. Research Objectives
This study main objective is to assess women political participation in Lagos State, Nigeria. As to achieve the main objective, the following specific objectives are to:
- examine the factors contributing to women political participation in Lagos State
- identify the strategies and policies in by Lagos State to enhance women political participation
- find out the factors affecting or restricting women political participation in Lagos State
- determine the nature of women political participation in Lagos State.
1.4. Research Questions
The following research questions were formulated for the study.
- What are the factors contributing to women political participation in Lagos State?
- What are the strategies and policies in Lagos State to enhance women political participation?
- What are the factors affecting or restricting women political participation in Lagos State?
- What is the nature of women political participation in Lagos State?
1.5. Significance of the Study
The study will examine women political participation in Lagos State, Nigeria. This study will draw the attention of the discrimination that the women do feel as they seek to develop a society or country politically. The findings will help provide adequate information for a policy review vis-à-vis women roles towards political participation in Nigeria.
Besides, the finding of 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.
Furthermore, the finding of this study will as well provide policymakers with institutional frameworks and policy inputs in the area of policy formulation in relation to gender equality, discrimination, and women participation in politics.
The study will as well make available relevant data to government and varying women politicians’ tools that hitherto can catapult them into leadership positions. In addition, this study will add to knowledge in the peculiar nature of women political participation in Nigeria, especially in Lagos State.
Lastly, this study will be of beneficial to other researchers who will be interested in carrying out future study on women and their quest for political participation in Nigeria.
1.6. Scope of the Study
This present study examined women political participation in Lagos State, Nigeria. Lagos State was chosen because it is the center of excellence, and it is regarded as the main as the political hub in Nigeria, and thus, Lagos State was chosen to unravel the factors affecting women participation in politics. The timeframe for the study is for a period of 10years which ranges from 2010-2020. The specific areas to be considered for the study are; the number of women in politics in Lagos State, nature of women participation in politics in Lagos State, and the factors restricting and contributing to women participation in politics in Lagos State.
1.7. Methodology of the Study
Methodology is part of the research that shows the ways and approaches of collecting the data (Oliver, 2004). This research is primarily a descriptive qualitative as it is based on women political participation in Lagos State, Nigeria. The reason for adopting the qualitative approach is because it enables the researchers have a clear understanding of the respondents’ opinions, experiences, and perception in relation to the questions asked. Ten respondents will be selected purposively for the study and data will be gathered using the interview method. The study respondents will consists of women in politics across all levels. Data gathered will be analyzed theoretically using the content analysis.
1.8. Operational Definition of Terms
Political participation: refers to the level of women participation in politics and their ability to hold elective and appointive positions at all levels
Party Politics: is an organized group of individuals who have the same ideology, or who otherwise have the same political positions, and who held candidates for elections, in an attempt to get them elected and thereby implement their agenda.
Women: refers to the female gender, the opposite of male gender who consists over half of the country’s population.
Participation: refers to the participation of women in the political structure of Nigeria.
1.9. Organization of the Study
This work is organized into five chapters. Chapter one which is the general introduction contains the background to the study, problem statement, objectives, research questions, significance of the study, scope of the study and the operational definition of terms. Chapter two presents the appraisal of literature and it comprises of the conceptual and theoretical framework. Chapter three covers the research methodology adopted to carry out the study. Chapter four provides the content analysis to the data collected through the interview. Chapter five provides the summary, conclusions and recommendations for the study.
