Speak Wednesday

DISRUPTING PATRIARCHY

According to Wikipedia, Patriarchy is a social system in which men hold primary power and predominate in roles of political leadership, moral authority, social privilege and control of property. Some patriarchal societies are also patrilineal, meaning that property and title are inherited by the males only.

Patriarchy influences different areas of the society including culture, family, school, the workplace and relationships. Its presence can translate to inequality and gender-based violence. The idea of patriarchy is not peculiar to a specific group of people, but one that extends and supersedes all borders, socioeconomic class, race, and more.

In Nigeria, it is observed by different researchers including European Scientific Institute that . Hence, there is the commonality of general belief system that the best place for women is in the ‘Kitchen’. This trend has brought about tremendous misrepresentation of women right at the level of the family down to the circular society. Women are therefore discriminated upon from, in most cases, acquiring formal education, accessing proper health care, receiving equal pay, among others.

In so many parts of the world, women are forbidden to own landed properties or inherit any. In cases where the diseased did not have male children, his properties are distributed amongst his male relatives, excluding his widow and daughters who are left to fend for themselves. In these societies, women who are financially stable have to buy properties in the name of their fathers or other male relatives. All these expose women to violence before they are born until they are aged.

Zig Ziglar once said, the first step to finding a solution is to recognize there is a problem. Because of how ingrained patriarchy is in the society, it may be difficult to identify. However, if patriarchy can be learnt, it can be unlearnt. Together we can achieve a society with equal opportunities for all human irrespective of the gender differences.

Speak Wednesday is an initiative of Centre for Family Health Initiative to stop the cycle of domestic violence by breaking the silence around gender based violence and gender bias. Join us every Wednesday on all our social media handles for more episodes.

Community Development, Female Roles in Nation Building, Nation Building, Speak Wednesday, Women, Women in Leadership / cfhinitiative

FEMALE ROLES IN NATION BUILDING

Nation Building encourages active participation of all citizens of a nation in order to reduce social and economic disparities, create an enabling environment for citizens to display their identities, cultures, languages and religions without any form of discrimination, maintain a politically stable environment, and enjoy the potentials of its human resource.

In Nigeria, women have made indelible contributions through active participation to advance the nation dating from the pre-colonial era. Late Queen Amina was a Hausa warrior from the city of Zazzau, present day Zaria in Nigeria. She was the first to become queen in a male-dominated society. Tales of her exploits include expanding the territory of the Hausa people of North Africa to the largest in history, creating routes for trade throughout Northern Africa, ordering the construction of fortifications called ‘Amina Walls’ and introducing the cultivation of Kola nuts within the region.

The pre-independence era featured the likes of Margret Ekpo, Janet Nwadiogo Mogelu and Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti who were politicians and activists championing the cause to fight discriminatory and oppressive forms of colonialism committed against women and to protest against incessant killings of innocent citizens. Their activities set the pace for the advancement of gender equality in Nigeria.

More women are populating various professions and sectors in present times contributing greatly to the economic workforce. Through engaging in formal and informal labour, many women have improved the livelihood of their families through their incomes and have become strong contributors to the national economy. Others have introduced reform programs and enacted policies that have helped stabilize the nation’s economy, encourage government transparency, and advance progress. Ngozi-Okonjo-Iweala, Late Dr. Dora Akunyili and Dr. Oby Ezekwesili are few examples of such women.

According to Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, “When we empower women, we empower communities, nations and the entire human family.” As key players in national development, nations must continue to empower women by investing in girl-child education, enacting female-friendly policies, promoting programs that support women, and ending harmful practices that abuse their rights as humans to enhance development.

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