Abstract
Due to restrictive laws, cultural practices, institutional barriers, and disproportionate access to quality education, healthcare, and resources, women worldwide continue to be marginalized from the political sphere. There are multiple barriers that prevent women from taking their place within the political arena, including legal, political, and cultural constraints. Breaking down these barriers and creating opportunities for women calls for a collaborative effort among states, civil society, and the international community. This study adopted descriptive survey research design. Two hundred (200) respondents were randomly selected from three local government areas in Ogun State. These respondents comprise of a cross section of women from varied occupation, educational status, party affiliations, ethnic and religious backgrounds. The data were collected using a designed questionnaire titled: Social acceptance of Women Political Participation Questionnaire (WPPQ, r = 0.74). The data were analyzed using descriptive frequency, mean, grand mean, and standard deviation. The results revealed that low participation of women in politics was fostered by marginalization, discrimination, ethnicity, religion, and the nature of post-colonial politics. Government should eliminate structural and legal obstacles that hinder women’s participation in politics and decision-making and hold those obstructing them accountable. Civil societies and government should offer training programs for young people, women, and men on political systems, women’s right to participation, and roles in decision-making.
Recommended Citation
Olubela, Afolabi
(2023)
"Nigerian Women’s Participation in Politics: Historical and Social Acceptance Issues,"
African Social Science Review: Vol. 12:
No.
1, Article 5.
Available at:
https://digitalscholarship.tsu.edu/assr/vol12/iss1/5