WOMEN PARTICIPATION IN POLITICS IN LAGOS STATE (2005-2015)
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1Â Â Â Â Â Â Background of the Study
The political world is essentially male dominated despite the increase participation of women in politics in recent years. An examination of the political development in Nigeria suggests that the role of women in politics is minimal. Women participation in politics in the world especially Nigeria has been a sabotage for years, twenty to fifty years ago the women political participation was below 20% compared to five years ago, the rate of women participation has drastically increased to 35% probably because of the high rate of education women now has in the world and Nigeria in particular (Bello, 2003). Different scholar’s arguments have cropped up about the place of women in politics over the years.
Thus while the conservative theorists (Arowolo and Aluko, 2010) argue that the actual role of women and in fact, female folks generally ends in the kitchen, the liberalists. (Yetunde, 2003; Agbalajobi, 2010 and Erunke, 2009), have variously opined that women’s political process as those of their male counterparts, and hence, such responsibilities cannot be washed away in the societal scheme of things.
Discrimination has also played out with networking and in preferential treatment within the economic market. Men typically occupy positions of power within the job economy. Due to taste or preference for other men because they share similar characteristics, men in this position of power are more likely to have and promote other men, thus discrimination against women.
In no region of the developing world are women equal to men in legal, social and economic rights. Gender gaps are widespread in access to and control of resources in economic opportunities, in power and political voice. This has dealt a deadly blow to women participation in politics in Nigeria and Lagos state in specific.
Women who are intelligent are resourceful are relegated to the background simply because of age-long tradition and culture. What this means is that these women cannot contribute their own quota to development and politics in Nigeria and Lagos in particular. The time has come for Nigerians, most especially the Lagos State, to map out strategies that will promote high women political participation with gender equality which will consequently lead to development and high women attendance and participation in Lagos State politics. Nigerian politics have constituted a huge problematic in gender discourses as it patterns to the low level of women involvement in politics at whatever level of analysis.
According to Simbine (2003) factors affecting participation include traditional and cultural hindrances, lack of education, lack of resources and lack of opportunity. Even though these factors affecting participation apply to both sexes, in Nigeria, a review of women’s participation in party politics reveals that the females seem to be most affected.
