POL 121 MODULE 5
UNIT 2 GENDER POLITICS IN AFRICA
POL 121 INTRODUCTION TO AFRICAN POLITICS
Today, it has acquired political connotation and is being untidily used to denote the different and unequal perceptions, views, roles, relevance and rewards that a society assigns to the two sex categories particularly the female, or women group.
In the world today, the female gender has always been considered the weaker of the human race. Women are generally considered, as“softies”
who should be kept away from strenuous activities, especially politics.
Initially, women took this as a sign of respect from the understanding their delicate physical features. However, over time they have come to resent this treatment that has consigned them to a secondary role in society;
which is preventing them from-having equal chances to show their equal potentials and capabilities with men. This equal access cut across all facets, of human endeavours: sports, economy, and social activities, including politics. It is the political aspect of this discrimination that is of more importance to us in this unit.
Before discussing the African context of gender problems and challenges, it is important to stress that there is no human society where women are not discriminated or marginalised. The reason is that to be male or female goes along with many stereotypes that eventually imposes both role performance possibilities and imitations/ opportunities of different kinds. In the world today, though women constitute about 50% of the world population; and in Nigeria, according to the 1991population census, they account for 51 per cent of Country’s population, yet they do not occupy comparative positions in public offices.
Worldwide women only began to vote in national elections a little more than a century ago. In 1893 New Zealand was the first country to recognise the right of women to vote. Other countries followed.
Switzerland in 1971 was the least economically developed country (EDC) to allow female suffrage. Except for key Arab nations, most countries, have accepted role for women. The first woman other than a monarch to become a head of state was President of the Presidium of Mongolia, Y.N.
Shaataryn, and the first woman Prime Minister was S.R. Dias Bandaranaike of Ceylon, now Sri Lanka in 1960
SELF-ASSESSMENT EXERCISE
Define the concept of gender equality.
3.2 Factors Responsible for Women Marginalisation
As noted in the previous sections, the political importance of women
POL 121 MODULE 5
itself absent from the administration of post-colonial African states. More than four decades after independence, women are still struggling to make an active and meaningful representation, or participation in politics, if not gender parity, will remain a tall dream. We can identify the followings as several factors responsible for this:
a. Social-Cultural Factors
Gender differences are created and sustained by society through its traditional customs, conventions, norms and regulations. The patriarchal system in Africa has contributed to the inferior roles ascribed to the female by society, and not by nature. The overall impact is that a woman is constructed by the society to occupy subordinate positions vis-a-vis men. This has also led to the stereotypes that portray women as timid, submissive and passive.
Men, on the other hand, are competent, rational and independent.
Religion preaches; culture enforces and the people accept these norms skewed against women.
b. Economic Obstacles
Apart from colonialism which had a damaging effect on women economic status, the present economic system which is based on acute competition which, in most cases, does not favour women.
Political campaign everywhere in the world is always a very expensive project. While men are willing to take risks, including taking loans or selling their properties to finance their electioneering, women are averse to taking risks or lack tangible properties to take an active part in politics.
c. Political Obstacles
Until recently, political parties in most African states do not provide a level playing field for both male and female aspirants.
Most African governments still fail or refuse to promote and implement gender-friendly national laws and international conventions that can enhance unabridged access for women in politics and government. A United Nations statement once blamed the low number of women in government to the refusal to give women a fair deal in the nomination process.
d. Statutory Hindrance
The existing laws in some African countries do not give recognition to women as equal to men. Until 1988, a married Nigerian woman was given discriminating leave and housing allowance, while her husband obtained rebate in taxation on her behalf and her four children. Yet women prefer to be married because society discriminates against the unmarried woman.
POL 121 INTRODUCTION TO AFRICAN POLITICS
e. Lack of Equal Access to Education
In Africa, most families prefer to send the male child rather than the female child to school. The boy is considered the pillar of the family and the key to the continuation and retention of the family. The girl’s education is not as important because she is expected to stay at home to help nurture her sibling and to be married off soon. It is therefore not surprising that women constitute the majority of the illiterate population in most African communities. Their lack of education makes them ineligible for either elective or appointive political offices. According to Lawal (2006:336) factors responsible for the disparity between men and women can be grouped into three:
a. Situational explanation - which examined the different roles played by women at each stage of their adult life.
These include “the burdens of motherhood and the role of housewife, both of which discouraged political participation.
b. Structural explanation – the existence of gender inequality in other sectors of society such as economy, law and education.
c. Socialisation explanation - which analyzed the childhood socialisation process of males and female into different participatory roles.
It is restating the obvious to say that women globally have been and remain second-class citizens economically, politically and socially.
Current statistics are enough proof. No country has achieved gender equality socio-economic or political. Today women constitute 70 per cent of the world’s illiterates (Boyer, 2003) women are less likely to have access to paid employment. Life for women is, on the average, not only hard and poorly compensated, it is dangerous. As the UN report put it, “the most painful devaluation of women is the physical and psychological violence that stalks them from cradle to grave” (UNDP 1995:7).
4.0 CONCLUSION
In African society, the patriarchal system has consigned women to the backstage in the scheme of things. This is reflected in the power structure in Africa today that has survived the colonial interlude. Under patriarchy, motherhood is a crucial factor which excludes women from politics, and the fact that the home front will necessarily clash with the demands of the public sphere. To prevent this potential source of conflict, women education is discouraged, thereby giving men undue advantage to monopolise the centre stage in politics and government. However, in
POL 121 MODULE 5
5.0 SUMMARY
The unit examined the issue of gender politics in Africa. We noted that women participation in politics is low. We traced the changes in the status of women from the pre-colonial, through the colonial, until the present era. We identified the major impediments to women participation and their subsequent marginalisation.
6.0 TUTOR-MARKED ASSIGNMENT
1. Examine the factors responsible for the marginalisation of women in African politics.
2. Suggest ways of enhancing the role of woman in African politics.
7.0 REFERENCES/FURTHER READING
Williams, P. (1992). “Women in Politics in Nigeria” In: Ayo Fasoro,et al (Ed). Understanding Democracy. Ibadan: Book Craft Ltd.
Ogwu, J. (1996). “Perspective of Critical Implements to Women in Decision-Making Process” in Chinua Achebe and Nina Mba (Eds). Nigerian Women in Politics. (1986-1993). Lagos: Malt House Press Ltd.
Awe, B. (1992). Women and Politics in Historical Perspective in J.A.A.
Ayoade et al (Eds). Women and Politics in Nigeria. Abuja Centre for Democratic Studies.
Makkinnen, A. C (1989). Toward a Feminist Theory of the State.
Massachusetts: Havard University Press.
National Gender Policy, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development 2006.
POL 121 INTRODUCTION TO AFRICAN POLITICS