10 Factors Affecting Gender Equality in Nigeria

Factors Affecting Gender Equality in Nigeria – Despite the fact that the Constitution of Nigeria allows room for the equal treatment of both genders, the rate in which some women still suffer discrimination is still on the increase both in the political and social sphere. Certain unwritten laws still prevent women from having access to certain rights and privileges. These laws, serving as limiting factors deter women from generally maximizing their potentials in their field of endeavor.Information Guide Nigeria

Despite some of the laws that tend to hold women down, some women are still advancing in their various careers to become icons. Though, the discrimination exists but these women fight their way through to the pinnacle of human achievement. However, the government and other well-meaning individuals need to stand up to certain issues that sponsor discrimination among women and the vulnerable, beginning from the lowest level of government, business and life.  In this article then, we will look at some of the factors that tend to affect the equality of gender in the country.

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Gender Equality

Gender equity and gender neutrality are activities and modes of thinking that aid in accomplishing the goal of gender equality, which is the ultimate objective. Gender equality can be achieved with the help of gender parity, which is a measurement of the gender balance in a particular context but is not the end in and of it. Equal representation is only one aspect of gender equality; it is closely linked to women’s rights and frequently necessitates changes in policy. Factors Affecting Gender Equality

According to UNICEF, gender equality “means that men, women, and children of both sexes are entitled to the same opportunities, resources, and safeguards. It does not mandate that men and women be treated equally or that women and men be identical to one another.”

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Factors Affecting Gender Equality in Nigeria

1. Women’s equality:

Unfair treatment or judgments of people that are entirely or partially motivated by their gender or sex are referred to as gender inequality. It results from variations in gender roles that are socially established. Diversity in cultures and beliefs has an impact on gender disparity in Nigeria. Women are generally viewed as inferior to men in Nigeria, particularly in Northern Nigeria as well as in other fields like the country’s music industry, politics, and educational system. 50 Best University In Nigeria To Study Pharmacy

The prevalent consensus is that women make the best housewives.

Women still have less access to education than males around the world, which is the first factor affecting gender equality in Nigeria. One-fourth of young women ages 15 to 24 will drop out of elementary school. This category accounts for 58% of those who do not finish that basic education. Two thirds of the world’s illiterate people are women. Girls’ futures and the chances they will have are greatly impacted when they are not educated to the same level as boys. 10 Best University Of Technology In Nigeria

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2. A Lack of Workplace Equality:

Only six nations in the world grant women the same legal rights to employment as do males. In fact, women in most economies only have 3/4 of the rights that men do. According to studies, if the workplace were more gender neutral, it would have a favorable domino impact on other fields that are prone to gender imbalance. NYSC Portal

3. Job Discrimination

The division of labor is one factor in gender disparity in the workplace. There is an ingrained notion in most countries that men are just more capable of doing particular tasks. Those are typically the jobs with the highest salaries. Because of this inequality, women earn less money. Women are also primarily responsible for performing unpaid work; therefore even if women work in the paid employment, they perform extra tasks that are never paid for.JAMB Portal

4. Absence of Legal Safeguards

Over a billion women lack legal protection from domestic economic or sexual violence, according to research from the World Bank. Both have a profound effect on women’s capacity to flourish and enjoy freedom. Additionally, there are frequently no legal safeguards against harassment at work, in school, or in public. Without protection, women frequently have to make choices that compromise and restrict their ambitions in these risky environments.JAMB Result

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5. Absence of Physical Autonomy

Many women around the world lack control over their own bodies and having children. Birth contraception is usually very difficult to obtain. Over 200 million women who don’t want to become pregnant are not taking contraception, according to the World Health Organization. This is due to a number of factors, including a lack of options, restricted access, and cultural and religious hostility. Around 40% of pregnancies worldwide are unplanned, and while 50% of them eventually terminate in abortion, 38% of them give birth. These women frequently lose their independence and become financially dependent on another person or the government.

6. Poor medical care:

In addition to limited access to contraception, women overall receive lower-quality medical care than men. This is linked to other gender inequality reasons such as a lack of education and job opportunities, which results in more women being in poverty. They are less likely to be able to afford good healthcare. There’s also been less research into diseases that affect women more than men, such as autoimmune disorders and chronic pain conditions. Many women also experience discrimination and dismissal from their doctors, broadening the gender gap in healthcare quality. 200 romantic love message for her

7. Lack of religious freedom:

When religious freedom is attacked, women suffer the most. According to the World Economic Forum, when extremist ideologies (such as ISIS) come into a community and restrict religious freedom, gender inequality gets worse. In a study performed by Georgetown University and Brigham Young University, researchers were also able to connect religious intolerance with women’s ability to participate in the economy. When there’s more religious freedom, an economy becomes more stable thanks to women’s participation.

8. Lack of political representation:

Of all national parliaments at the beginning of 2019, only 24.3% of seats were filled by women. As of June of 2019, 11 Heads of State were women. Despite progress in this area over the years, women are still grossly underrepresented in government and the political process. This means that certain issues that female politicians tend to bring up – such as parental leave and childcare, pensions, gender equality laws and gender-based violence – are often neglected. 105 good morning messages

9. Racism:

It would be impossible to talk about gender inequality without talking about racism. It affects what jobs women of color are able to get and how much they’re paid, as well as how they are viewed by legal and healthcare systems. Gender inequality and racism have been closely-linked for a long time. According to Sally Kitch, a professor and author, European settlers in Virginia decided what work could be taxed based on the race of the woman performing the work. African women’s work was “labor,” so it was taxable, while work performed by English women was “domestic” and not taxable. The pay gap between white women and women of color continue that legacy of discrimination and contributes to gender inequality.

10. Societal mindsets:

It’s less tangible than some of the other causes on this list, but the overall mindset of a society has a significant impact on gender inequality. How society determines the differences and value of men vs. women plays a starring role in every arena, whether it’s employment or the legal system or healthcare. Beliefs about gender run deep and even though progress can be made through laws and structural changes, there’s often a pushback following times of major change. It’s also common for everyone (men and women) to ignore other areas of gender inequality when there’s progress, such as better representation for women in leadership. These types of mindsets prop up gender inequality and delay significant change.

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Conclusion:

In conclusion, gender equality in Nigeria is influenced by several factors such as cultural norms, religion, education, economic opportunities, and government policies. The persistence of traditional gender roles and unequal power dynamics between men and women continue to perpetuate gender inequality in the country. However, with increased efforts to promote education, provide economic opportunities, and enforce equal rights policies, the future for gender equality in Nigeria is hopeful.

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