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Chapter One of A Comparative Analysis of Women Political Participation in Politics in Nigeria and Usa
Abstract of A Comparative Analysis of Women Political Participation in Politics in Nigeria and Usa
This study examines a comparative analysis of women political participation in politics in Nigeria and USA. Party politics in a large number of cases, is the launching pad into political positions in most Democracies. Observations from past and present practices reveal that women participation in party politics in Nigeria and USA has been marginal, especially when marched against their numerical strength. The study engages both secondary sources, including textbooks, journals, online, library etc.
This finding revealed that: Gender inequality in political participation of well educated women groups challenge the initial belief that education by itself abolishes gender differences. Few women who ventured into politics in the First and Second Republics were intimidated by unwritten traditions which men foster while women acquiesce. The few women who were bold to enter into the political terrain were used for mass mobilization / campaigns and dumped after party victories. From the 1990s, a new dimension was added to the trivialization of women’s participation in party politics. Mama (1995) revealed that polygamous men now organize their wives from different ethnic origins to mobilize fellow women.
The study concluded that Women politicians must support themselves regardless of differences in political affiliations and efforts must be made by women associations to campaign intensively across the federation (rural and urban) to break the gender stereotypes of women’s public roles vis-à-vis men, also mass mobilization campaigns must be stepped up towards breaking traditional attitudes and stereotypes of women’s public roles and inequality with men in decision-making.
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This study recommends; The creation of an enabling environment to enhance women’s participation in politics. Improvement in the constitutional law framework to incorporate the needs of women in politics. The need to intensify campaigns to promote women’s representation in political platforms. Women should be economically empowered through access to education, employment and credit facilities. There should be equality in the sharing of political offices on the basis of quota system between competing candidates. The federal should make it mandatory that certain public offices be allotted to women on equal basis. Money politics should be discouraged in Nigeria and USA while women who want to take active part in politics be encouraged to do so without any fear or favour. There should be structures put in place such as the legal funds.
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