The exclusion of women participation in politics, has robbed mankind of their unique potential for governance. It has led to gender insensitivity in the design and implementation of public policy and helped to perpetuate gender inequality in different aspects of social life.
The customary practice of many contemporary societies are biased against women and serve to subjugate them to men and to undermine their individual self esteem.
It is not a deniable fact that the cultures of Nigeria communities approve such practices as preference for the male child, payment of bride price, female circumcision or female genital mutilation, negative attitude towards childlessness, degrading widowhood practice and inheritance practices that discriminate against women. The traditions of some communities also approve giving away girls in marriage early and without their consent. And when the marriage do not result in children, it is often the wives that are blamed and consequently subjected to inhuman psychological pressures in the families, which May result to divorce.
The overall impact of the negative cultural norms has been to engender very low regard for women, entrench a feeling of inferiority in the individual woman and place her at a disadvantage vis a vis her male counterpart. As a result of gender biased cultural norms and practices.
The widespread preference for the male child means, in part, the families, as they often prefer to send the boy to school and not the girl since she is expected to stay at home to help nurture her siblings and to be married off soon.
It is therefore not surprising that women constitute the majority of the illiterate population of most communities, especially in the North, West and some other regions in Nigeria.
Given out girl early in marriage, not only have their education aborted, but also exposed them to different marital problems because of lack of experience.
Dr Mary Alile Idele (PhD)
Has been Agitating for female Education, as she has used her good office to launched different party’s projects in recruiting, training and mobilizing women participation in politics.
