Impact of Rural Women’s Associations on Women’s Political Empowerment in Nigeria: A Study of Akwa Ibom State
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2013
Authors
Eshiet I.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Carolina Academic Press
Abstract
Rural women’s associations are women’s groupings that are locality based. They serve as platforms for the articulation of women’s interest in the community. Associations also serve as avenues through which women organize their participation in local representative and decision-making bodies. In view of the low participation and representation of women in politics, both at the local and national levels, this study investigated the impact of rural women’s associations on women’s political participation in Nigeria with a focus on Akwa Ibom State. The study hinged its arguments on the sociological theories of gender roles. The study adopted the mixed methods to gather both quantitative and qualitative data. Cross sectional survey was used to gather quantitative data, while focus group discussions were used to gather qualitative data from a sample of 800 women, aged 18 years and above, who were randomly drawn from various associations, using the multi-stage sampling procedure. The quantitative data was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences, while qualitative data was analysed using content analysis. Findings reveal that associations have not significantly impacted on women’s political empowerment, as associations activities did not significantly enlighten women about their rights in order to raise their consciousness about the need for women’s active participation in politics. The common notion that ‘politics is not for women’ was still held by the women. Hence, women were not represented in most of the village councils, and where they were, such representation was disproportionate vis-à-vis the men. Study recommends that associations should engage in political activism, discard the traditional notion that ‘politics is not for women’ and use the strength of their numbers to make their ‘voice’ a significant one that cannot be ignored in the communities.
Description
Keywords
Citation
Eshiet, I. (2013). Impact of Rural Women’s Associations on Women’s Political Empowerment in Nigeria: A Study of Akwa Ibom State in Lai’ Olurode (ed). Perspectives on Feminism from Africa. Durham, North Carolina, USA: Carolina Academic Press, Pp 123-140.