Journal of Emerging Trends in Educational Research and Policy Studies: Home

Article Title: Panacea to the Problems of Gender Inequality and the Building of A Gender Friendly Society in Nigeria
by Temitope Abiodun Balogun

Abstract:
This work is an empirical attempt to trace the abusive cultural rites, values and practices of gender disparity rooted in the Nigerian society. The work discovers that the feminist crusades over the years have got some positive impacts on how the culture of gender inequality could be changed. However, the pace of these changes is very slow. The paper therefore sets to see whether the younger generation is holding the same patriarchal belief common to the traditional Yoruba society and also attempts to re-orientate the upcoming generation if they are still holding to this convention, on the correct views and role relationships between the two sexes. The paper digs deeper into the reasons for the slow pace of achieving gender biased free society and consequently proffers pragmatic solutions to the associated problems. Questionnaires were used in gathering data. The questions were formulated to test whether young men and women were free from the stereotypical behaviours, which characterized gender inequality down the ages. 150 questionnaires were distributed to selected undergraduates and secondary school students across Oyo and Ogun states, Nigeria. The study is limited to cultural beliefs amongst the upcoming generation and how they can be re-orientated from the patriarchal dictates. The findings show that majority of these respondents still have the stereotypical belief of gender inequality and biases, which is a clear indication that gender crusades over the years have not really achieved its overall aim. The paper consequently suggests that gender crusaders should focus their searchlight on the upcoming generation, given the background knowledge that this group constitutes a large percentage of the total population in Nigeria. Also, it suggests that the patriarchal system that dominates African societies must be reviewed and correctly interpreted in a bid to produce a gender sensitive society without any friction from either of the sexes concerned. On the whole, the significance of the work is seen in the fact that a change of mindset of the upcoming generation towards role specifications of male and female will help to provide a gender biased free society as well as enhance the MDG goals of 2015.

Keywords: culture, gender bias, patriarchy, panacea, inequality.

Download full paper