Educational Inequalities And Women's Disempowerment In Nigeria

Abstract

As obtainable in parts of the globe where instances of discriminatory disposition toward the womenfolk are steadily attenuating due to effects of globalization, and of course, attainment of most of the MDGs' targets, Nigeria is yet to put in place any relevant gender mainstreaming policy. With the MDGs' 2015 target year half gone, fixed gender ascriptions, which were rife in pre-colonial African societies, still loom considerably in contemporary Nigeria. This study therefore aims at understanding the impact of such gender stereotypes on women's educational and socio-economic empowerment. It observes unequal access to educational opportunities as the bedrock of ignorance and powerlessness associated with women's social disempowerment in the country. Essentially, the study adopts the methods of content and secondary analyses as its modes of inquiry, while the entire work is situated on the postulates of ‘Weberian Power Analysis'. In all, it is observed that educational equity and women's socio-economic empowerment are necessary consequences of a well-orchestrated gender mainstreaming strategy.

Gender and Behaviour Vol. 6 (1) 2008: pp. 1559-1576