CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

Across the world especially in developing countries, there have been growing and

continuous agitations for a level playing ground for both women and men in the political,

economic and social dimensions of a nation‘s development resulting from age long

domination and marginalisation of the female gender by the male. Gender discrimination is a

pervasive global phenomenon which has occasioned intense gender inequality in many

countries of the world. The phenomenon is as old as mankind itself. Studies (Abegunde,

2014; Ejumudo, 2013; Allanana, 2013; and Abara, 2012) have shown that gender inequality

has created wide gender gaps in many countries of the world with very devastating social,

economic and health consequences on especially the female gender that have been intensely

marginalised and relegated to the background. This discrimination according to Sylvia and

Ogugua (2012), has not only bred feminised poverty and its attendant consequences but has

in recent times intensify the feminisation of HIV epidemics, as there is now linkage between

gender discrimination and high susceptibility of women to HIV/AIDS pandemics. About 70%

of women, who constitute half of the world‘s population live in poverty due to lack of access

to opportunities and control over resources (UNDP, 1995).

The gender situation in Nigeria is not any way better than the rest of the world. In fact, it

is even worse. Reports have established that gender discrimination is higher in developing

countries of which Nigeria is one (World Economic Forum, (2013); British Council, (2012);

and WACOL, (2008). Tradition, culture and religion have been identified as the major factors

that are responsible for the high level of gender discrimination in Nigeria. The Nigerian

14

society is patriarchal in nature. This has perpetuated the domination of women by men, thus

bringing about the socialisation of women into a culture of female subordination.

According toShehu, et al (2011), gender inequality permeates all aspects of Nigerian life.

It manifests in the family institution, educational sector, labour market, politics and social

service institutions. A close examination of the gender situation in Nigeria reveals a lot of

discrimination. In the family institution, the male child is usually preferred to the female

child. The male child in mo