INCLUSIVE MATRIMONIAL GENDER EMPOWERMENT AS IT AFFECTS SUSTAINABLE SECURITY AND DEVELOPMENT IN ISU LGA, IMO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Globally, cultural values, changing migration and interaction patterns raise security questions that affect the economic position of women in marriage, to the extent that the quest for existential survival becomes a struggle to contend with. The balance between inclusive and discriminatory empowerment across the gender line points to the increasing conflict lines emerging from most matrimonial contexts, especially in a developing climate such as Africa, particularly Nigeria, where rural economic survival largely depends on subsistence agriculture. This situation has implications for insecurity due to the criminality it throws up to affect women’s quality of life and role in the development agenda. Hence, the focus of this paper is to examine Inclusive Matrimonial Gender Empowerment and its effects on Sustainable Security and Development in Isu LGA, Imo State, Nigeria. Combining both descriptive and exploratory designs and guided by patriarchal and systems theories, the paper interrogated the place of security and sustainable development without due cognisance of rurality and the rural economy anchored in inclusive matrimonial gender empowerment. It argues that there is a need for social change that transforms society and enforces stability and security, which requires the inclusive involvement of all stakeholders to drive the needed change. Resting its case, the paper concludes that, since literature statistics show the female population slightly exceeds the male population, there is no economic sense or wisdom in any economy to pursue exclusive economic empowerment, as it has dangerous implications for sustainable security and development in Isu LGA, Imo State, Nigeria.